How to Cultivate Aquatic Plants

What are aquatic plants?

Aquatic plants are those that can photosynthesize in water. They have, particularly developed, interstitial cells, and often develop special ventilatory tissues. This is to ensure that there is enough oxygen in the underwater part of the plant. Due to long-term adaptation to the water environment, the mechanical tissue inside the stems of plants living in water almost completely disappears.

Types of aquatic plants

Aquatic plants are generally divided into the following four categories.

Emerged plants

The Emerged plants are tall with colorful flowers, most of which have stems and leaves. They are erect and submerged in water at the lower or base. The roots or stems grow in the soil, while the plants in the upper part stand on the surface of the water. This is because they still need sunlight to thrive. There are many species of aquatic plants, including some common aquatic plants such as lotus, iris and cattail.

Floating-leaved plants

Floating-leaf aquatic plants have well-developed rhizomes and leave that floating on the water's surface. The leaves are usually hard and flat, and common species are Water lilies, Water Pennywort and Duckweed. Besides their beauty, some floating-leaf aquatic plants provide shade for pond life and limit the growth of algae.

Submerged plants

Submerged aquatic plants have rhizomes that grow in the mud, and the entire plant sinks into the water. The leaves are mostly narrow or filiform and can absorb some of the nutrients in the water. They can grow normally under low light conditions underwater. There are certain requirements for water quality because turbid water will affect its photosynthesis. It includes goldfish algae, Najas and Anacharis.

Floating plants

There are fewer types of floating aquatic plants. The roots of these plants are not in the mud, and the plants float above the water surface. They can absorb minerals from the water. At the same time, they can shade the sunlight into the water, so they can also inhibit the growth of algae in the water. But, some species grow and multiply particularly rapidly. For example, for hyacinths, you need to regularly prune or even fish out.

How to grow aquatic plants

Prepare the environment for growth

If you are going to grow aquatic plants in a pond, then you need to make sure that it is in a place with plenty of sunlight. Different plants have different requirements for sunlight, water quality and planting depth. Therefore, choose the type of aquatic plant you want to grow. For example, floating plants can be placed on the surface of the water, while floating leaf plants may need a suitable container to hold the roots.

If you want to reach the "underwater garden", then you need to prepare your aquarium. If there are fish in the aquarium, then you need to choose the right plant for compatibility. Some plants are more demanding, require high light, inject carbon dioxide, and prune regularly.

Planted in ponds

The cultivation of aquatic plants in ponds should be carried out according to the habits of different species or varieties. For aquatic plants whose rhizomes need to be in the soil, the easiest way is to use containers. Because it is convenient to take out when it is necessary to change the soil, fertilize or divide the soil in the spring. In addition, this method can keep the pond water clear.

For beginners, water lilies, wormwood, and irises are easier to grow.

Planting time. Aquatic plants are planted in spring or early summer, when the water temperature rises and the plants begin to flourish.

The depth of the water. Floating plants are the easiest, and only enough water depth is needed to float them. Newborn plants must be kept at a depth of 1.5 to 3 feet as stems and leaves rise to the surface.

Manure. Suitable substrates and fertilizers should be used to grow aquatic plants. It is best to use professional aquatic compost, which does not contaminate the water body and does not easily drift away.

Container. Choose a dedicated aquatic pond plant basket with smaller mesh to prevent soil spillage.

The process of growing aquatic plants in a pond is:

Fill two-thirds of the container with chemical-free garden soil.

Place the aquatic plants in a basket so that the soil surrounds the roots. Make the growth point slightly above the soil level.

Water the plants so that the soil becomes moist.

Finally, cover the soil with a layer of gravel, which is to prevent soil loss.

Water again, after which slowly place the container in the appropriate depth of water. If you need to adjust the height, you can use bricks.

Grown in aquariums

If you raise fish in an aquarium, you want to give them a natural refuge with some aquatic plants. Or if you want to adjust the environment inside the aquarium, you can choose something that is easy to grow, such as Anubias, Java fern, Java moss, or hornwort.

Matrix. You can use a soil substrate that can provide nutrients to the plants, usually maintaining a thickness of more than two inches. It prevents the plant from floating. A base fertilizer is usually added in the middle of the substrate. You can lay half of the substrate first, then add the base fertilizer and pour in the rest of the substrate. Then add a layer of 1-inch gravel on top to prevent the soil from mixing with the water.

Illuminating. Install lighting above the aquarium. Although it can grow underwater, it also needs light so it can get energy and nutrients. The lighting time is preferably 6 to 8 hours per day.

Water temperature. The plants in the aquarium have strict temperature requirements, preferably between 75 and 80 °F. Do not go below 60 °F.

The process of growing aquatic plants in an aquarium is:

Before planting, water is injected into the fish tank, about 1 inch above the substrate. This will ensure that the aquatic weed remains in place during the final water injection. And shallow water is less buoyant and easier to grow.

It is better to prune the plant first, removing rotting leaves and rotten branches. In this way, the environment in the aquarium is not polluted.

For aquatic plants with stems, you need to plant them one by one. They will branch quickly and cannot be planted too densely, which is not conducive to growth.

Aquatic plants such as moss need to be fixed to rocks or sunken wood with fishing lines. Because they have no roots, they must be fixed by external force. Even if the fishing line is exposed, the moss will grow quickly and cover the fishing line without affecting the viewing effect.

Slowly fill the water until full, at this time there may be plants floating up, just replanting. Rotten leaves and silt floating on the surface of the water will be removed in time.

Turn on the filter and oxygen cylinder. Because the water will appear very turbid at this time, it will take several hours to filter the water clean. Finally, turn on the lighting to promote plant growth.

How to care for aquatic plants

For the conservation of aquatic plants in ponds or other water features.

First of all, if the floating plants in the pond are too large and the leaves cover each other, they must be separated.

Second, if the aquatic plant appears spots of pests. The best way is to flush directly to the bottom with a water pipe. This eliminates the need to use pesticides and thus contaminate the water.

Finally, remove dead leaves and stems from plants in and around the pond so that rotten vegetation does not accumulate in the pond.

For plants in the aquarium, the most important thing is to change the water.

You can change about one-fifth to one-quarter of the water every week. If the water is cloudy, you can change one-fifth of the water every day. If the situation does not improve, you can add nitrifying bacteria.

Light duration should be between 8 and 12 hours per day.

After that, prune the plant regularly, removing dead leaves by hand. This will prevent decaying vegetation from polluting the water and promote healthy growth.