Ready to plant?

You've brought the package in, and you're eagerly unboxing your new green goodness.

A new scape is just around the silicone-and-glass corner! The possibilities are tantalizing.

But just as we all know to acclimate our new fish or shrimp, plants need a little consideration as well. They've had a long, dark journey to you!

Acclimating your aquarium plants is a crucial step to promote their health and longevity. Sudden changes in water parameters or lighting can stress plants, leading to poor growth or even a complete, irreversible melt.

Here’s what we do when we get new plants:

Prepare Your Tank

Before adding new plants, check and adjust your water parameters, lighting, temperature, and nutrient levels. Nitrites and ammonia are the most concerning.

💡 Does your tank have enough light for the plants you're planning to introduce?

Introduce Gradually

I often float plants in their bags on the water's surface for gradual temperature acclimation.

🌡️ It's not super necessary, but it helps lessen the stress a tiny bit.

Inspect and Trim

Give your plants a good once-over for damage and trim any dead or mushy leaves to promote healthy growth. Damaged leaves can regrow easily if the roots are healthy and intact.

🐌 Snails are an important member of your tank's tidying crew, but if they aren't for you, do a snail inspection. Look for jelly-like egg sacs on leaf surfaces, which are easily scraped off with a fingernail.

Bleach Dip for Safety

Want to make sure your plants aren't bringing in any unwanted hitchhikers like algae or pests? A quick bleach dip can help.

Here's how:

1. Mix a solution of 1 part bleach to 19 parts water (that's roughly 5% bleach).
2. Submerge the plants in the solution for 1-2 minutes. 🌿 Be careful—certain sensitive plants like mosses or delicate stem plants may not handle this well.
3. Rinse the plants thoroughly in dechlorinated water to remove any bleach residue.
4. After rinsing, let the plants soak in clean water for a few minutes before adding them to your tank.

Plant with Precision

Gently plant acclimated specimens into the substrate, ensuring secure root placement and proper depth.

Know what your plant needs.

Some plants prefer to be glued/tied to something and not have their roots buried like Anubias and Bucephalandra.

Some heavy root feeders like Swords (Amazon Sword, Kleiner Bar, Ruffle Sword..etc..) will need root fertilizer tabs.

💊 Be sure to bury them well!

Monitor and Adjust

Keep a close watch on new plants, adjusting lighting or nutrients as needed for optimal health. Yellowing leaves at the tips mean a nitrogen deficiency. 

If your plant has roots that go below the substrate (most stems, crypts, swords), they'll probably absorb the most nutrients through a root tab. 

If your plant grown in the water column (like anubias, mosses, floaters, buce, Java ferns), they'll get the most out of an all- purpose liquid fertilizer. We like and use Aquarium Coop's Easy Green line.

If your leaves start to look mushy and 'melt' away, your plant could just be converting above-grown leaves to underwater-grown leaves.

✂️ Keep trimming the old to help your plant convert.

Acclimating plants may take a little time, but it's worth it to watch them thrive in their new home.

Happy planting!