Transcript Jackie`s Plant Presentationx

Presented by Jackie O’Neil
Pictures by Jackie
Planting ~ where to start?
 You might find it helpful to draw your plant design on paper first,
considering placement and taking into consideration the mature height
of each plant. Look at different types of plants that will suit your
needs and likes and how they will interact with your lighting and the
time you have to take care of them.
 Use glass bowls or clay pots to plant in. Sterilize pots in boiling water
for 5 minutes. Shop the thrift stores for great shapes, sizes and
heights, or just plant in your substrate.
 Use a fortified substrate such as Eco-complete and/or fertilizer root
tabs to provide essential nutrients. Consider using a liquid fertilizer
once a week and organic carbon liquid every other day. Alternatively
you could set up a carbon dioxide fertilization system if you like.
 Different plants have different lighting requirements. Do your
homework.
Get rid of hitch-hikers
Below are suggested types of ways to disinfect plants. I would strongly
suggest the use of some type of “dip” to rid your new plants of snails and
other intruders that could be harmful to your aquarium and it’s
inhabitants. Better to be safe than sorry!
Please research these plants dips and choose wisely to what suits your
needs and follow directions.
 Potassium Permanganate. Sold at Walmart by Jungle Laboratories,
called Clear Water.
 Chlorine bleach.
 Alum which is aluminum sulfate and can be found in grocery stores in
the spice aisle.
Aponogeton Crispus
 Aponogetons are grown
from bulbs. They are
graceful in a tank.
 Likes nutrient rich
substrate. Medium lite.
 Only plant the roots
not the stem of the
plant.
Sword plant Echinodorus
 There are many different
species, some are very tall with
different coloration others are
much smaller, depending on
where you wish to plant them –
take your pick.

Angels love to spawn on the
leaves of Echinodorus. Good
alternative to a spawning slate.
I have at least one in each tank
for my angels.
 Plant only the roots. Low to
medium light.
Ancharis, Egeria densa
 One of the easiest
aquatic plants to
keep.
 Medium light. Fast
grower and is a great
oxygenating plant.
Good background
plant and can be
easily trimmed.
 Makes great food for
crayfish and plant
eating fish.
Anubias
This plant has a rhizome
root system which means
the root grows
horizontally.
Never plant the rhizome
as this would result in root
rot. Plant only the air
roots. Requires low light.
I have tied this Anubias
with thread to driftwood.
Water wisteria
Hygrophila difformis

The rapid growth of this
feathery plant may help
prevent algae as it absorbs
a great number of
nutrients from the water
competing with algae.

Water wisteria is a fast
grower. When trimming,
allow the trimmed part of
the plant to float until it
produces roots. Then plant.

Needs bright light to be at
it’s best.
African Fern, Bolbitis heudelotii.
 This African Fern has a
rhizome root system. It is
tied to the driftwood with
button & carpet thread.
 Growth is very slow at
first, be patience. This one
is about three years old.
It likes to be in a soft
current, slightly acidic
water but mine does fine in
alkaline water.
 Grows very nicely in low to
medium light.