Anchoring plants in the substrate

[abcdefghi]

Does anyone have any tips for anchoring plants in the substrate when corys are about? I have 8 peppered cory cats in my 55G, and anytime I put in new plants they manage to uproot them at least half a dozen times.

This morning I trimmed some of my hygro (first time I have had to trim anything, so I am pretty pleased!!) and planted 5 new stems, I must have had to replant them 3 or 4 times in the half an hour that I was down there.

I know once the plants are more established they anchor themselves, but is there anyway to hold them in a little better when they are new? Its a sand substrate, and I planted them behind some driftwood where my cats like to hang out. I think they usually only knock into the plants when they are startled, so again, I know its not a normal thing, but any tips?

Thanks.

 

[Bk718]

Choose one of either
1- can let them float and they will develop roots eventually
2- get plant weights
3- get tweezers and place the stems deep in the substrate

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Homemade Plant Anchors.....Choose the correct size plastic soda/water bottle cap.
Remove the seal inside if it has one. With a razor blade or very sharp knife cut a cross in the top of the cap. Insert the stem(s) through the bottom/opening side of the cap.
Bury the cap.

Option 2: Leave a couple leaves near the bottom of the stem. When planting, curve the stem slightly under the substrate and cover the bottom leaves. This works for me in shallow substrate.

 

[abcdefghi]

Thanks

The more these plants grow the happier I am with switching from fake to real plants. I am pretty sure that I have 4 or 5 baby java ferns growing off my java fern, and with the hygro growing the way it is, the crypts are showing good growth, and some other plants I have look like they are growing nicely, I hope to get some trimmings and move them into my 29G to convert that to a planted tank, and then eventually into my 10G betta tank

 

[fishorama]

I use a small rock or 2 at the plant base to keep little diggers away until the roots take hold.

 

[Captain Kitty]

Homemade Plant Anchors.....Choose the correct size plastic soda/water bottle cap.
Remove the seal inside if it has one. With a razor blade or very sharp knife cut a cross in the top of the cap. Insert the stem(s) through the bottom/opening side of the cap.
Bury the cap.

Option 2: Leave a couple leaves near the bottom of the stem. When planting, curve the stem slightly under the substrate and cover the bottom leaves. This works for me in shallow substrate.

I LOVE this idea. NICE! :thm:

 

[bushwhacker]

nice to see people moving to planted tanks its so much more natural for the fish, i have a 75 thats hevily planted and a 55 thats almost as heavy

 

[DAVIDFBT]

I have an Anubias plant that used to float up every morning. I fixed the problem by putting a rubber band around it and a piece of slate, then I put it in the sand and it has not floated up for days now. I root my stem plants by taking out all leaves 1-2 inches from the bottom, then I stick them in the sand.

 

[Robert H]

I have an Anubias plant that used to float up every morning. I fixed the problem by putting a rubber band around it and a piece of slate, then I put it in the sand and it has not floated up for days now. I root my stem plants by taking out all leaves 1-2 inches from the bottom, then I stick them in the sand.

Just be carefull not to bury the rhizome of the Anubias. The rhizome is the thick horizontal stem structure that all the leaves and roots grow from. If its buried for too long it will begin to rot.

One product you can use is called plant anchors. They are small pliable soft plastic disks with slits in the center. You push the base of the plant or the stems thru the slits. It is soft enough so it will not cut into the plant, (that is the danger of using anything metal) but snug enough to hold on.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Just be carefull not to bury the rhizome of the Anubias. The rhizome is the thick horizontal stem structure that all the leaves and roots grow from. If its buried for too long it will begin to rot.

I already knew that, that is why I put the anubias rhizome on the piece of slate, then I buried the piece of slate with the roots hanging off to the sides until the bottom half of the rhizome was under the sand.