Houseplants in aquariums

[Wills]

Towards the end of January I added a Mini Monstera to my tank (growing from the surface) and in the last few weeks its root system has really taken off but its probably taken 10 weeks to get to that point. Growth in terms of leaves has taken off too, it was growing from one stem but a second has started now too. I want to try and add some more plants to this tank and in my research have found some aquaponic house plants that are grown in water so would presumably have "aquatic" roots already.

These are expensive because you get the vase with them - though my Mini Monstera in a terracotta pot was £20 - and I'm sure my wife would make use of the vase anyway. But what do people think? Any bad experiences?

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/a...-Czq3cz3eIJdRWcWIrILipAnczCpZN44aAvv-EALw_wcB

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/hydroponic-collection-trio/KC8510TM <---- not sure what these are, anyone have any ideas?

https://bloomboxclub.com/products/h...6QCjIxPpjI73WOFsNThTrN6Ekor0NnCoaAmyREALw_wcB

https://bloomboxclub.com/products/h...7iO44NUw3YrFuJk5yWeWHF9Yef3cb6UsaAhenEALw_wcB

Let me know what you think

Wills

 

[Colin_T]

I wouldn't buy those plants form a hydroponic store. Look for them at a nursery or hardware store, they will be cheaper.

Mother in laws tongue is not the sort of plant I would use in permaculture. They like good drainage. It might survive like that (in the picture) but we have always had them in dry conditions.

You can grow most marsh plants with their roots in water. Amazon sword plants, Cryptocorynes, Hygrophilas, Ludwigias, Bacopas, Milfoil, etc, all do well with wet feet and dry leaves. They also flower when grown out of water.

Blackberry do well with wet feet too but can get a bit big for indoors. Spathiphyllum can be grown with wet feet.

I would have a chat to a horticulturist at a nursery and see what they recommend for a damp boggy part of the garden. Then get some small plants that suit those conditions.

 

[itiwhetu]

These are a couple of Dracaenas, that i have just bare rooted at the back of my tank

 

[Wills]

I wouldn't buy those plants form a hydroponic store. Look for them at a nursery or hardware store, they will be cheaper.

Mother in laws tongue is not the sort of plant I would use in permaculture. They like good drainage. It might survive like that (in the picture) but we have always had them in dry conditions.

You can grow most marsh plants with their roots in water. Amazon sword plants, Cryptocorynes, Hygrophilas, Ludwigias, Bacopas, Milfoil, etc, all do well with wet feet and dry leaves. They also flower when grown out of water.

Blackberry do well with wet feet too but can get a bit big for indoors. Spathiphyllum can be grown with wet feet.

I would have a chat to a horticulturist at a nursery and see what they recommend for a damp boggy part of the garden. Then get some small plants that suit those conditions.

The aquarium plants are an interesting point as most of them, especially Echinodorus species are grown out of water anyway. I'd be able to keep some of the fancy pattern leaves you loose underwater too... Interesting! The thing I like about these though is that they are already established for water roots which would save me 10-12 weeks of time and big mother plants like this would make an impact to my water quality straight away.

These are a couple of Dracaenas, that i have just bare rooted at the back of my tank
View attachment 159826

These look awesome! Whats the red species called? Are they just hung using that wire? I have a plastic hanger at the moment but want to find something more minimal or natural, I'd like to try and do a scape where they can be positioned on wood or rocks that balance that out.

I've been watching Serpa Designs on YouTube a bit recently as he does this kind of thing a lot found some good ideas so far but nothing perfect for me...

Wills

 

[Stan510]

Any jungle plant sold as a hardy houseplant would work. I tell you my secret- I take the plant of choice to the backyard and remove it from the pot and spray wash off ALL the potting soil its in..all of it. Then plunk into the aquarium with roots only below the surface. It will soon develop water roots. It's even done with Orchids. Wash off all the soil..etc use Moth Orchid as they are like $5 to learn.

 

[Wills]

Any jungle plant sold as a hardy houseplant would work. I tell you my secret- I take the plant of choice to the backyard and remove it from the pot and spray wash off ALL the potting soil its in..all of it. Then plunk into the aquarium with roots only below the surface. It will soon develop water roots. It's even done with Orchids. Wash off all the soil..etc use Moth Orchid as they are like $5 to learn.

I've broadened my search to looking for any plants commonly grown hydroponically as thats realistically what we are doing and there is a good degree of options. I'm trying to decide how to attach them to the tank as I'd like to do it naturally which is tricky but the simplest way would be some kind of narrow trough attached to the rim of the tank.

I like the idea of the Orchid but they are really expensive in the UK - though could just be looking in the wrong places.

Wills

 

[StevenF]

Anubias nana is a dwarf version of a common house plant (Pothos) and it does well fully submerged as well as some of the larger house version. The larger house version will also climb trees and when they do the leaves go from the normal 2-3 incheas long to over about 12 inches more.

Many tropical marsh plants are used in aquariums These plants are often high and dry during the dry season (but the soil still stays moist). But in the wet season when the rivers flood they are often fully submerged for months. Most often flower when they reach the surface of the water or during the dry season when flood waters are not pressent. Most plants in aquariums today were found in this type environment.

 

[Essjay]

Have you looked at orchids in your local supermarket or garden centre? Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are everywhere these days. If you can find any without a fancy pot holder they are not very expensive - it's those fancy pot holders which push the price up.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I've broadened my search to looking for any plants commonly grown hydroponically as thats realistically what we are doing and there is a good degree of options. I'm trying to decide how to attach them to the tank as I'd like to do it naturally which is tricky but the simplest way would be some kind of narrow trough attached to the rim of the tank.

I like the idea of the Orchid but they are really expensive in the UK - though could just be looking in the wrong places.

Wills

Could you attach some roots minimally to a piece of wood or stone? Hopefully the roots would then attach themselves, as we do with anuibius or buces.
I got a load of these with the intention of using them to hold some portos and peace lily to side/back of my tank, hiding the clip behind some handscape or planting. But it's not the natural look you're understandably looking for!

 

[itiwhetu]

The aquarium plants are an interesting point as most of them, especially Echinodorus species are grown out of water anyway. I'd be able to keep some of the fancy pattern leaves you loose underwater too... Interesting! The thing I like about these though is that they are already established for water roots which would save me 10-12 weeks of time and big mother plants like this would make an impact to my water quality straight away.

These look awesome! Whats the red species called? Are they just hung using that wire? I have a plastic hanger at the moment but want to find something more minimal or natural, I'd like to try and do a scape where they can be positioned on wood or rocks that balance that out.

I've been watching Serpa Designs on YouTube a bit recently as he does this kind of thing a lot found some good ideas so far but nothing perfect for me...

Wills

I'm sorry I have no idea it was a cutting that I got from a friend

 

[itiwhetu]

This is the Orchid I have in the end of the tank, found this plant and have no idea what it is, I'm waiting fo it to flower

 

[Wills]

Anubias nana is a dwarf version of a common house plant (Pothos) and it does well fully submerged as well as some of the larger house version. The larger house version will also climb trees and when they do the leaves go from the normal 2-3 incheas long to over about 12 inches more.

Many tropical marsh plants are used in aquariums These plants are often high and dry during the dry season (but the soil still stays moist). But in the wet season when the rivers flood they are often fully submerged for months. Most often flower when they reach the surface of the water or during the dry season when flood waters are not pressent. Most plants in aquariums today were found in this type environment.

Wow thats really interesting! I did not know Anubias was a Pothos!

Have you looked at orchids in your local supermarket or garden centre? Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are everywhere these days. If you can find any without a fancy pot holder they are not very expensive - it's those fancy pot holders which push the price up.

I've seen them but didnt know they were moth orchids! Will have a look!

Could you attach some roots minimally to a piece of wood or stone? Hopefully the roots would then attach themselves, as we do with anuibius or buces.
I got a load of these with the intention of using them to hold some portos and peace lily to side/back of my tank, hiding the clip behind some handscape or planting. But it's not the natural look you're understandably looking for!

View attachment 159862

This is kind of what I want to do but with a smaller hardscape

If I can avoid plastic or perspex etc I'd like to

I'm sorry I have no idea it was a cutting that I got from a friend

No worries it is really nice

Wills

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

No worries it is really nice

There are a ton of varieties of draecena, if you go to any garden centre, you'll be able to find red and brown varieties. Could even do a mix with some deep green or bright green, and a bright red and a brown.

 

[Guyb93]

Towards the end of January I added a Mini Monstera to my tank (growing from the surface) and in the last few weeks its root system has really taken off but its probably taken 10 weeks to get to that point. Growth in terms of leaves has taken off too, it was growing from one stem but a second has started now too. I want to try and add some more plants to this tank and in my research have found some aquaponic house plants that are grown in water so would presumably have "aquatic" roots already.

These are expensive because you get the vase with them - though my Mini Monstera in a terracotta pot was £20 - and I'm sure my wife would make use of the vase anyway. But what do people think? Any bad experiences?

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/a...-Czq3cz3eIJdRWcWIrILipAnczCpZN44aAvv-EALw_wcB

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/hydroponic-collection-trio/KC8510TM <---- not sure what these are, anyone have any ideas?

https://bloomboxclub.com/products/h...6QCjIxPpjI73WOFsNThTrN6Ekor0NnCoaAmyREALw_wcB

https://bloomboxclub.com/products/h...7iO44NUw3YrFuJk5yWeWHF9Yef3cb6UsaAhenEALw_wcB

Let me know what you think

Wills

I did the same with monstera maybe a year ago now ish and honestly I have 4 cuttings the same size Iv got more than I can use , not sure weather it’s the type of monstera I bought but it’s not grown in a strong free standing way it’s more like a vine having to be supported and pined to the rim of the tank but the roots are almost down to the substrate nearly 2ft long , I bought them from Wilkos 2 for £15 I think might be worth a look if there’s one near by , iv also added two peace lily which have also established easy and in comparison to the Lily’s my wife has in soil they have flourished, only issue is finding these house plants so to say are taking so much nutrients out of my water it’s almost starving the aquatic plants , not a problem for me as that exactly what I intended as I don’t have great luck with aquatic plants anyway

 

[Wills]

I did the same with monstera maybe a year ago now ish and honestly I have 4 cuttings the same size Iv got more than I can use , not sure weather it’s the type of monstera I bought but it’s not grown in a strong free standing way it’s more like a vine having to be supported and pined to the rim of the tank but the roots are almost down to the substrate nearly 2ft long , I bought them from Wilkos 2 for £15 I think might be worth a look if there’s one near by , iv also added two peace lily which have also established easy and in comparison to the Lily’s my wife has in soil they have flourished, only issue is finding these house plants so to say are taking so much nutrients out of my water it’s almost starving the aquatic plants , not a problem for me as that exactly what I intended as I don’t have great luck with aquatic plants anyway

I think you might have the same as me I cant remember the name but its not a true monsterra it just looks like it with the leaves and gets similar kind of leaves. How long did you have yours before you noticed a difference in nitrates etc?

Just come across this video - really like how he has done the external planted area by siliconing the wood to the glass. I've never had luck with silicone though as its always comes away when I've tried to do it with rocks etc so might modify the idea with wire or something? Or even screw some hooks to a piece of wood for the plants to sit on?

Wills