Most likely a dumb question.........

[myersrj40]

I am pretty new at plants, the plants that you buy at the store that are in the little pots do you have to remove the plant from the pot or can you just leave it in the pot? I just left mine in the pot. Will that work??? Thanks..........

[CHINABOY1021]

remove the pots and stick them in the gravel.

the pots are there for safer transportation. and the stuff in the pots, contain nutrients while transporting.

[RTR]

Very close Chinaboy. They are grown in the pots (generally with rock wool) to maintain spacing and simplify handling (as you said) and to reduce shock and physical damage in transit. And you are entirely correct on the nutrient load on /in the potting medium. You do not want that in your tank.

[kveeti]

I've always bought "loose" plants before. Last weekend I got one in those pots with the wool. That stuff was a big pain to pick off without damaging some roots. How are you supposed to do it? Too late for me now, but for future reference - with tweezers perhaps?

[Andy16]

I have never kept plants or whatever, but maybe if you put it in a different container of water nad shook it around a bit. Then you good gently take off the rest while its still in the water.

[TomFromStLouis]

I have pulled the big pieces of rock wool off by hand. Shaking in water helps loosen the remainder but I ended up picking at it with the end of a sharp knife. I swept downward with the tip of the knife in the wool. It came out with minimal root damage.

[NJ Devils Fan]

That last couple of times I had potted plants, the stuff just fell off in one big piece with a little force. The first time though, I didn't know if you were supposed to keep it on or not. I was thinking about it when I was rinsing the plant off in the sink and I said to myself that I would keep it on. Just at that second, it fell of and went into a cup of coffee. Good thing for that unfinished cup.;)