Planting into gravel

[woodyblueeyes]

Hello all...

I have a question. I have a mini bow 5 gallon tank and have two bulbs that have sprouted out very well. I also have a java fern and red wendth that are in pots, thus my question.

Could I take those plants out of their pots, move some gravel, put the plant and dirt(sand) on the bottom of the tank, then put the gravel over it to hold it down? Would that work and help the plants grow more? I'm afraid if I keep them in the pots they'll get rootbound and stop growing?

Little help please.

Woody

[125gJoe]

On the Java Fern, don't plant it in the gravel. It needs to be tied to driftwood, a rock, or clay pot, or something to keep the roots in the water column -- not buried. Liquid fertilizer is helpful in keeping this one. Don't over fertilize.. :)

[MrGoodbytes]

Rosette plants like Cryptocoryne wendtii will stay down better in gravel alone, as opposed to potted plants. If you just have gravel, you shouldn't have a problem planting it, but Crypts need to feed from the substrate to do really well. Gravel alone is probably not enough. You can try solid plant fertilizer sticks without too much phosphate. Jobe's is a name I see thrown around a lot, but I have never used them.
I always take my plants out of their pots, because you never end up seeing the pots sticking out of the gravel and the plants can spread better.

Graeme

[gregg604]

Mine stays down in the gravel and has quite a good root system.