Q I have just planted my plants and some some of the leaves are turning yellow and falling off. What do I do?
A Don't worry. Many of the plants especially potted plants are grown out of the water. This creates a hardier plant that is easier to ship and store. Once it is planted underwater its leaves begin transforming into their natural underwater growth. This is an exciting process to watch as leaf colors will intensify and can dramatically change at times. One of the most interesting examples of leaves changing shape is Hygrophila difformis (Wisteria).
Q I have just planted my Cryptocoryne and it seems to have melted away or rotted. What can I do?
A Cryptocorynes can be temperamental at times when transplanting and often times will suffer through Cryptocoryne melt. Be patient though as the plant will regrow. Please follow the link below for more information on this topic.
Q How much light do I need for my aquarium?
A This is a tricky question as it all depends on the type of plants. The easiest solution is to pick your lighting first. Then try an assortment of plants to find what works best in your lighting range. Some good low light plants are Anubias, Java Fern (Microsorium spp) and Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides). Typically, the more red color a plant displays the higher the light needs are for it. Also higher lights are better at keeping the low foreground plants happy in many cases.
Q I just purchased a potted plant. How do I plant it in the tank?
A After purchasing a plant take it home and rinse it lightly in the tap water. The next step its to pull off or cut away the plastic portion of the pot depending on how entwined the roots are. Lastly you can try and remover the rock wool substrate if desired. This is purely an aesthetic decision though. Remember it is best to try and disturb the root system as little as possible.
Q The lower leaves of my stem plants are disappearing. What can I do?
A Normally the lower leaves of stem plants will start disappearing as the light levels become too low. This can happen because the patch is becoming very thick in number of stems or that the stems are becoming very tall and blocking the light. Depending on the situation thinning the stems could be necessary or trimming them back and allowing the plants to regrow could be a good option. Remember you can normally plant the tops of the stem plants and they will regrow so if you area has been there for some time it might be a good idea to pull out some old ones and replant some new ones.
Water Garden
Q How do I start a water garden
A Follow the link below for more information
A Waterlilies should be planted in a clay soil mix or heavy topsoil. The size of the pot should be determined by how large of a waterlily you would like. The larger the pot the larger the lily. A good starter size pot would be around 12" in diameter. Finish the potting process with a layer of gravel on top of the soil. this will help to keep the water from clouding up. Once the plant is potted it should be placed in the pond with a minimum of 4" of water over the crown of the plant. It can be planted up to a depth of 3 feet. In my opinion waterlilies look there best with between 6" - 12" of water above the top of the pot. Fertilize the plant on a monthly basis to see the highest number of flowers and best growth.
Q How do I take care of my marginal plants?
A Marginal plants should be planted in a heavy topsoil or clay mix also. the size of the pot also depends on how large you want your plants to grow as most marginals are clumping plants. Ideal size would be between 6-12". Finish the pot with a layer of gravel to keep the water from clouding with the soil and place 1-4" below the surface level of the water. Fertilize monthly for best growth and the most flowers.
Q Can I overwinter a tropical waterlily in the Northern states?
A The short answer is yes it is possible but does take some effort.