putting in potted plants

[StevieM]

i just got some amazons swords for my tank, which came potted. My question is , do you have to remove the plastic pots from the roots of the plants when you get them?? and put them into the substrate? right now I just have them chillin' sort of on top until i get an answer. Thanks for your input...

steve

 

[djlen]

I've gotten two answers to this question...."definitely yes", and "definitely no". But many more "take them out of the pots" than the other. I take them out carefully so as not to damage the roots and plant them into the substrate. IME, it's better to root prune cleanly with a sharp pair to sissors than to plant them with damaged roots from pulling them out of pots.
Len

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Definitely take swords out of the pots as they should outgrow them rapidly. I remove the rock wool as carefully as possible and may leave some pieces of it rather than damage roots.

Sword plants are heavy root feeders and will need to have fertilizer in the gravel under/near the roots. In addition, they appreciate laterite or fluorite as part of the lower substrate.

 

[wetmanNY]

Your swords have been grown hydroponically. The leaves are waxy, tough, long-petioled aerial leaves. They will die. You will feel terrible. Then the replacements will come: shorter petioles, more delicate texture. You will feel much better...

The rock wool is full of hyroponic nutrients. Maybe too much for the aquarium. I'd agree about clipping its bars and freeing it... pick away as much rock wool as you can.

 

[StevieM]

upon examination of the pots and the stems coming from the pots it looks as if there was stems that grew on the outside already and have since died off and been cut making room for ones that have come up from the center....could this be what you speak of?? I will look into taking them out of the pots and re-planting them tonight...


sm