How to Choose Aquarium Plants

Aquarium plants are a popular, natural form of aquarium décor and fish tank accessories. Aside from being decorative, they also provide cover for the shy fish, providing spawning spots where they can lay their eggs and creating low light conditions. Read on to learn more about aquarium plants and how to choose the right ones for your fishies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Stem aquarium plants, also called bunched plants, are the most common and popular of all aquarium plant species. They are a fast-growing variety, and easy to propagate. The leaves of stem plants grow in pairs or singly but alternating along the plant’s stem. They include: primrose, fountain plants and Japanese rush. Stem aquarium plants grow vigorously in shallow substrate.

2. Rhizome aquarium plants include the Java Fern and Anubia. They can grow either in the fish tank substrate to or on driftwood if attached to the driftwood. Rhizome plants spread very quickly.

3. Bulb aquarium plants are pretty, flowering type of aquatic plants. They do best in large aquariums, were they grow very quickly. Bulb plants include lilies and aponogetons.

4. Rosette aquarium plants include Vallisneria's, Amazon swords and Aponogeton's. They are especially well suited for solitary planting as you plan your aquascape.

5. Floating Plants, just as their name suggest, grow floating in the fish tank water, and do not need any substrate. They are especially well-suited for creating low-light conditions for species that need that environment. They also help to hinder the growth of algae.
   Floating plants include riccia, duckweed and Amazon frogbite.