A few questions about planting.

[NC AL]

I am anticipating setting up and planting a new tank in two weeks. This will be my second planted tank, but the first is only around a 6gallon display. I am still learning with most coming from internet searches and videos.

1) Referring to stem plants, when I watch videos of tank plantings the plants are always small. Just a few inches. The plants that have been shipped to me, or I see in stores, are always larger close to full grown. I know some are using tissue cultures but event those who are not the plants seem very small. The plants that are shipped to me, should I cut them down first before planting? My plan includes possibly Rotala Florida, Rotala wallichii, Rotala OJ, Rotala Macandra green/pink. I will most likely be ordering from Buceplant.

2) I have some Hygrophila Corymbosa compact that I really like. I want to plant them in the new tank. To do this, should these be trimmed down, trim some of the longer roots, or just plant as is? I am finding different advice online. Opinions welcomed.

 

[JayP]

@Naturescapes_Rocco had a good response for planting stems in another post. His method may be a little more meticulous and precise than mine, but pretty similar. I don't cut the stems quite as short and I leave a few more leaves but otherwise, the same process.

Trimming AR Mini and other plants in general

 

[CincyScaper]

1) Stem plants - Most of the stem plants that are not in-vitro that are bought commercially (eg: from Buce plant) will be emersed growth. When one plants this underwater, the new growth from the stems would be the underwater form. But, the prior emersed growth will decay off and might attract algae as well. The best strategy for such emersed growths is to cut them into smaller portions, remove all but few leaves and plant them. This is a win-win situation since one will get more plants out of each stem and one would have less decaying leaves. Josh sim has a 2 part video on this - . Note: this might not applicable to some plants. If for some reason you get the underwater form (some plants such as Blyxa do not have an emersed form - they will still go through a transition phase to adapt to your water conditions).

the 2hr website also has good resources as usual - How to grow stem plants

2) Hygrophila Corymbosa compact - i do not have experience with this plant, but i am sure others will chime in. In general if your water parameters are identical, and you like the form that the plant is in, i would just replant the whole plant as it is. One might still need to trim off some of the roots to aid planting. But if your new tanks parameters are different, such as lighting, Co2, nutrition etc., then it would be best to remove all but few leaves before planting.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

@Naturescapes_Rocco had a good response for planting stems in another post. His method may be a little more meticulous and precise than mine, but pretty similar. I don't cut the stems quite as short and I leave a few more leaves but otherwise, the same process.

Trimming AR Mini and other plants in general

@NC AL This is how it works best with many/most aquarium plants! Particularly stem plants.