whats the diff between potted and non potted

[houndour]

Just looking at buying plants online...

Whats the difference..or the benefit of buying potted versions? Is it worth it?

So far I'm planning on 5 anubias nana (£20 ) seems a lot of money to me. These plants don't propagate though do they?

25 glosso (£10)

and 5 of MICRANTHEMUM MICRATHEMOIDES (£1.50) or should I get the potted one for £2.50?

The other thing, Can anybody recommend a background plant I can use. It needs to grow to about 10cm, but have really small leaves...and preferably greenline sell it! I've been thru all their foreground and midground plants and cant see anything really.

 

[nodding_dino]

hey houndour...

the order I got yesterday

3 x (pack of 5) Glosso
3 x (Pack of 5) Dwarf four leaf clover
5 x Dwarf Sagittaria
3 x Micro Sagittaria
3 x Heteranthera Zosterfolia

included some 'normal' and some of the premium potted plants. As seems the norm with Greenline, the plants themselves are small cuttings, but as we all know, it doesn't take them long to get going!

I followed a tutorial and split all of the glosso up into small peices which I then planted every 2 or 3 centimeters:


It covered a section of foreground approx 3"x10" I could have added more, but got so fed up with picking out the little tiny plantlets!!! Just in case you've not planted glosso before (I hadn't until today) I think you will really struggle without some tweezers...I bought these (luckily arrived this morning) and am *really* pleased with them. It meant I could plant the glosso quite easily, and I don't think a single one floated out of position!

The 'Premium potted' plants come as much bigger bunches, and to be honest, I think if you can get the 'normal' ones, then it's probably a better option. I simply removed them from the pots and planted as normal.

Anyway, I think that should help you on at least some of your questions...I'll add a few more piccies to the hand holding thread soon!

 

[zig]

Cant really help you much im afraid im not familar with Greenline plants at all as they dont ship over here, i usually buy Tropica plants which are all potted, i think the potted plants will be more established than unpotted plants.

The Anubias Nana i would buy potted, you would be forever trying to propagate them as they grow so slowly, they can be propagated by cutting the rhizome, but like i say it could take a very long time.

You will really have to give those plants shade also because they are notorious for spot algae if put in highlight, so a shady spot is best.

The Micranthemum micranthemoides is better known these days as Hemianthus micrantheoides its also known as Pearl grass, some people also call this plant Baby tears, im not familar with the plant other than it needs highlight, so i dont know how sucessful it would be from cuttings which i presume are the cheaper version.

and thats all i know

 

[houndour]

Thanks guys.

That tweezer set looks cool. Might be useful for my 5 gallon, I can imagine its going to be harder to move things in such a small tank and I'm not sure how my puffer will like my hands in there much! I will hold off a bit though as these plants are going to cost this months 'pocket' money anyway.

You will really have to give those plants shade also because they are notorious for spot algae if put in highlight, so a shady spot is best.

Thanks for that Zig, I didn't know. Originally I didn't want any plants growing across the surface cos I was going to have a betta, but now I'm looking for more growth (hiding places) for the puffer, so I should have some shade now.

This is why I'm looking for a taller background plant. Was going to use the baby tears, but it says it only grows to 5cm. I guess I could try a floating plant for a corner. I shall have a think.

The potted anubias nana is £6 so an extra tenner for 5 of those. I was going to hopefully attach it to some wood (when I can find a nice piece small enough). I think I'll stick with 5 loose ones.

 

[Dangerousdan]

The potted anubias nana.

Excellent plant. Grows well even with heavy green eating fish.

 

[George Farmer]

Most Greenline plants are cuttings from mother plants, even potted. Personally I'd go for non-potted - cheaper and less hassle planting.

I had trouble growing their Micranthemum micranthemoides but at the time I only had 2 WPG with 20ppm CO2 (and no EI). You should have an easier time with it.

As for a background - I wouldn't personally bother in a 5G - I assume that's what you're planting with a 10cm background. Twisted Vallis might look good though if you have hard water.

Good luck

 

[houndour]

As for a background - I wouldn't personally bother in a 5G - I assume that's what you're planting with a 10cm background. Twisted Vallis might look good though if you have hard water.

Yeah I wanted something bushy and tall (well tall in terms of 10cm ) just to hide the equipment really.

My reasons for the baby tears plant is purely because it has small leaves. I really don't know what else to get. Anyway at £1.50 for 5 cutlets its cheaper than the rest of the stuff I'm planning on buying!

 

[zig]

It says on Tropica that it grows 5-15+cm, it also says growth fast, demands-difficult, and it requires medium high light.

With my experience with tropica plants when they say difficult it usually means it needs highlight.

I have some "difficult" plants from them and they all grew fine.

 

[houndour]

so it could grow large enough to hide the equipment. I have 4.8 watts per gallon on this little tank, I'm not sure what my CO2 is measuring at, haven't checked yet.

 

[zig]

so it could grow large enough to hide the equipment. I have 4.8 watts per gallon on this little tank, I'm not sure what my CO2 is measuring at, haven't checked yet.

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According to them anyway and i presume they know what they are talking about

Heres the link its a good little site anyway for plant information but they dont use any of the common names eg. baby tears so you have to know what your looking for.

Anyway its under Hemianthus micranthemoides, 13th column down, click on it and it will open a new window, or you might find something else there as well.

Tropica

 

[houndour]

Tropica

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Thanks zig. great link. not seen that before.

 

[zig]

Tropica is a brand for plants, usually always potted, but allways excellent quality, im sure they are available in some lfs in London, they are usually the verity i have to get, but with the lfs over here your lucky if they have maybe 5 different types.

 

[George Farmer]

Tropica are the best plants in terms of quality that I have ever bought. The trick is to buy them from the LFS as soon as they're delivered. Most shops cannot keep the more demanding speicies alive for long.

 

[jimbooo]

and 5 of MICRANTHEMUM MICRATHEMOIDES (£1.50) or should I get the potted one for £2.50?

The other thing, Can anybody recommend a background plant I can use. It needs to grow to about 10cm, but have really small leaves...and preferably greenline sell it! I've been thru all their foreground and midground plants and cant see anything really.

hi hondour,

you've answered your own question there "baby tears" (cant be bothered to type the other name) grows to about 10 inches and has really small leaves. it's on the left side of my 12G sig pic. (that has been deleated by the mods, thanks for that!!)

try this pic
This is one potted plant, put it this way if i tried to plant individual stems i'd still be there now. get a potted one in my opinion it's a lovely plant and grows quite easily in my tank so should be fine with yours.

hope that helps

 

[houndour]

oh bugger, thanks for your advice jimbooo, but a bit too late. In the end I ordered:
10 cuts of baby tears
1 anubias
25 glosso

Also got the £2 foreground mix. God knows what will be in that but I'm sure I'll find a home.

Shame about your sig.