Freshwater

Rooted plants
Rooted plants anchor themselves in the substrate and draw part of their
nourishment through their leaves, and part through their roots. Rooted
plants reproduce by creating runners (slender plant shoots) that branch off
of the main stem. These runners eventually reroot and form new plants or
sprout young shoots out of existing leaf surfaces. Many species of rooted
plants can grow very large, so use caution when choosing the correct species
for your particular tank.
Potted plants come with a small receptacle around the roots and are often
raised in humid nurseries. With this type of plant, you have the option of submerging
the entire basket in the substrate or removing the basket and planting
the roots directly. If you leave the basket intact, the plant’s roots will grow
through the basket’s holes and then anchor themselves in the substrate.
We remove the baskets so that they don’t show above the substrate level
when rooting fishes begin digging around them. Unless you have ten feet of
gravel in your tank, these horrid baskets always seem to find a way to show
off and emerge into the limelight.
Removing the basket often reveals several small plants combined into one
tight group. Carefully separate each individual plant from the others around
it. Plant each of these little cuttings in the substrate separately. Remember
that these plants are not full grown, so you need to allow ample space for
them to spread out.
Cuttings
Many varieties of plants are sold in aquarium stores as cuttings. Cuttings
often grow very rapidly as they gather nourishment through their leaves. A
group of small cuttings (plants too small to stand alone) can be bunched up
together with aquarium weights (which you can purchase from your local
fish dealer) and planted until they begin to root on their own. After they
begin to grow a bit, you can separate them from each other.
Easy plant species
Chapter 16: Live Plants for Freshwater Aquariums
Some plants are a little easier to grow and keep than others. (You will find
even more detailed information on plants, including some illustrations, in
Chapter 17.)
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