Plant fertilizer in tank without fish

[JuiceBox52]

I have a friend who is obsessed with plants, she just came home with some aquatic plants in a jar. She wants to know how to keep them alive and what fertilizer is best. I believe it is anubias and Java fern. She is not interested in even one of my small aquariums that I am selling, just for the purpose of plants, so there is no plant light either. I know some ferts are bad for fish, since there is no fish (I think there’s a pond snail) what would be the best since just water isn’t gonna cut it?

 

[Colin_T]

I would use a liquid plant fertiliser for terrestrial plants, but use it at 1/4 to 1/2 strength. Have the jar on the window sill or near some light source. Change the water every week and fertilise the new water.

Alternatively get a liquid aquarium plant fertiliser and use it at half strength.

 

[Byron]

An aquatic plant comprehensive supplement, like Flourish Comprehensive Supplement, or Brightwell Aquatics' FlorinMulti, or in the UK there is TNC Complete.

Problem with terrestrial plant ferts is the nitrate and phosphorus, esp the latter. You may well see problem algae, depending upon the light. Without overhead light, presumably this jar would sit in a window, so light can fluctuate.

When I had my QT for new fish running, it would sit a year, sometimes longer, without any fish. I did water changes, and used the Flourish Comp liquid. Plants were not as thick as when fish went in the tank for a few weeks (noticeable), but they managed.

 

[Stan510]

NEVER use houseplant fertilizer for aquarium plants- its food for cyano. On the other hand,if she is growing them in a terrarium..a small dose of land fertilizer could help.
When it comes to aquariums? All you really need is iron chelated. It does wonders in fact for low tech plants in gravel or for the epiphytes.

 

[CarissaT]

Java ferns and anubias are very slow growing plants with few needs. In a fishless tank I would think that weekly fertilizing of a small amount should be plenty. Tell her not to overdo it on the light since those plants don’t need high light and it will just create algae problems. Also a source of circulation like an air bubbler would help.

 

[itiwhetu]

I would put them in something with a peat base and some gavel. Then just leave them alone. I've grown Crypts with nothing more than some sphagnum moss.

 

[Stan510]

How funny-I have the same Crypt parva in the same size bottle!..my fish were eating it,so now its in a bottle. Slow grower,but dark green and slowly growing.

 

[itiwhetu]

How funny-I have the same Crypt parva in the same size bottle!..my fish were eating it,so now its in a bottle. Slow grower,but dark green and slowly growing.

This is the plant that I got to flower last summer

 

[Stan510]

Sounds good! congrats!

 

[itiwhetu]

Sounds good! congrats!

Cryptocoryne Parva or Nevillii about to flower

These plants I have had for around twenty years in and out of tanks. It looks like I am now going to be able to identify it for sure it looks like it is about to flower for me. It was 42 years ago since I last had a Crypt flower, that time it was C. Affinis. I will post again if it does its thing.

www.fishforums.net

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I would put them in something with a peat base and some gavel. Then just leave them alone. I've grown Crypts with nothing more than some sphagnum moss.
View attachment 165599

What other worldly abomination is it living with though??