Best Beginner Plants for Your Aquarium

Unsure Where to Start on Your Planted Tank Journey?

Setting up a planted aquarium can feel overwhelming with so many plant options, lighting setups, and care requirements.

The good news? You don’t need to be an expert to grow a lush, thriving tank! Choosing beginner-friendly plants that adapt well to different conditions will set you up for success. 

Here are six bunches of the easiest, best growing stem plants we have. Perfect for low to medium light tanks, Walstads, and other low-tech aquariums!

Hornwort

Hornwort is one of the easiest plants to grow, making it a perfect choice for beginners. It thrives in a wide range of water conditions and doesn’t need to be rooted, allowing you to float it or plant it in the substrate.

Plus, it grows quickly, helping absorb excess nutrients and prevent algae.

Moneywort

With its bright green, vertical stems, Moneywort adds height and structure to any aquarium. It’s a slow-to-moderate grower that can be rooted in the substrate or grown as a floating plant.

Its resilience to various water conditions makes it an excellent choice for beginners.

Bronze Cabomba

Bronze Cabomba brings a unique touch of color with its feathery, reddish-bronze foliage.

While it prefers moderate lighting, it can adapt to lower light setups over time. Regular trimming encourages bushier growth, making it a beautiful and functional addition to any tank.

Rotala H’ra

This vibrant stem plant adds a pop of red to your aquarium, creating contrast with green plants.

It thrives in moderate light and benefits from occasional trimming to encourage denser growth. With time and care, it can develop a striking, bushy appearance.

Pearlweed

Pearlweed is a versatile plant that can be used as a carpeting plant or left to grow taller as a midground bush.

It’s fast-growing and adapts well to different lighting conditions. Trimming and replanting cuttings will help it spread, filling your tank with lush greenery.

Brazilian Pennywort

Brazilian Pennywort is a hardy, adaptable plant that grows both submerged and emersed.

It has round, coin-shaped leaves that create a natural, trailing effect. You can let it float or plant it in the substrate, and it’ll continue growing with minimal care.

Start Growing with Confidence

A beautiful planted tank doesn’t have to be complicated—these hardy, fast-growing plants make it easier than ever to build an underwater oasis.

With just a little trimming and care, you’ll soon have a lush aquascape that looks great and keeps your fish happy. 

Ready to get started? Grab your plants and watch your aquarium come to life!