Local fish store gave the wrong plant.

[anotherred]

I picked up a bunch of plants to day including a cryp, amazon sword, anacharis, a brizilian sword and some kind of grass. The problem is I NOW know that the brizilian sword is actually a peace lilly. So do I try to take it back or leave it in the tank (it really does look nice).

[schiejr]

Sounds like you are not satisfied with a non-aquatic plant in an aquatic environment. I am with you. This has always been one of my pet peeves. Bring it back and tell them you want full credit towards a true aquatic-that is a perfectly reasonable request. On the other hand some folks seem to expect their plants to last only a few months, which your peace lilly, aka Brizilian sword(I wonder which marketer of land plants thought that one up) will probably do. In my water, liquid rock, the hardiest sword plant has been E. cordifolius the Radicans sword.

[anotherred]

Its not so much that its a nonaquatic plant, I just don't like the idea how they mislead people like this. I would defently keep it if I knew it wouldn't die. It is a nice looking plant, and I think its even growing a fower.

[Godslayer]

I grow Peace Lillies (Spathiphyllum) and they are great plants that will flower all year round. As mentioned though, they are terrestrials and not aquatic. I would bring it back and ask for a credit. They probably won't have a problem with it, and if they do, take your business elsewhere.

[schiejr]

It is misleading and irritating and it does matter that it is a non-aquatic plant unless you do not mind buying new ones every few months to replace the ones that have rotted away. It is kind of like selling neons for an oscar tank-they will last a while and look nice but how long?

So many times I see folks come into the store-they want to have a nice planted tank, which is hard enough in my area with very hard water, and these retailers are selling these plants that are not suited for a tank but they are displayed in a tank so one naturally assumes that they will work. These folks are guaranteed dissappointment and chalk it up to their not having a green thumb.

The interesting thing is that many are sold by the same companies that sell that aquatic ones, although, on the price lists I have seen when ordering direct, they are listed as bog plants or non-aquatic and it is up to the store to make sure this info. is passed on to the consumer-this would make a good terrarium plant with your newts but won't last fully submerged-some folks did not mind because they like the looks and they kill the true aquatics also. On the other hand some wholesalers I have seen in the past have not always made this clear on their order forms.

Some examples I have seen and can recall-red marginata, red crinkle, some of the plants labeled as hedges I believe, Brizilian Swords, Mondo Grass, something that has arrowhead shaped leaves that I cannot remember right now, but it is not the true arrowhead that grows in ponds-got that junk from a wholesaler once.

[OrionGirl]

If you like the plant, and can accomodate it, it will grow in your tank, as long as you can submerse just the roots. I've kept many plants this way--just make a space along the back, so the roots can hang in the water and the leaves stick out the top. Works great, and can hide some of the various 'things' in the tank--some plants growing up from the bottom and the roots hanging down from above. Also provides great hiding places for surface dwellers, and is more attractive than some of the other floating plants, and won't take over like duck weed.

[schiejr]

Good tip. Most will do good like this, I do this with philodendrens-looks nice growing down the sides- and with cuttings of Giant Hygro.