Planting aquatic plants in the fish tank is of great significance for raising tropical fish. If you only raise fish in the fish tank without planting aquatic plants, its ornamental value will be reduced, which will make people feel that there is less in the tank and it will feel desolate. If some aquatic plants are properly planted, the fish will move back and forth among the branches and leaves of the aquatic plants, and the fish and plants will shine, which will greatly improve their ornamental value. In addition, planting aquatic plants is also crucial to the growth and reproduction of tropical fish. Aquatic plants perform photosynthesis during the day, release the oxygen needed by tropical fish, and absorb the carbon dioxide exhaled by tropical fish. During the growth process, aquatic plants can also absorb and digest fish feces and other substances harmful to fish. Some tropical fish also lay their eggs on the leaves of aquatic plants for hatching. The surrounding aquatic plants are an ideal place for tropical fish to rest. The aquatic plants block the strong light and create a comfortable living environment for the tropical fish. The aquatic plants can also purify water and precipitate dirt.
Most of the aquatic plants currently planted in our country are introduced from abroad, and they can be divided into four major categories:
1. Submersed plants: take root at the bottom of the water and grow in the water. Long stems and leaves.
2. Emergent plants: take root at the bottom of the water, grow stems in the water, and have leaves exposed or floating on the water.
3. Floating plants: leaves float on the water and roots and stems hang down in the water.
4. Intermediate plants: do not take root under water, but reproduce and grow in water.
(1) Crown grass
Crown grass is native to Brazil in South America. Also known as Amazon sword grass and crown grass. Crown grass is a large aquatic plant with thick petioles, wide leaves and beautiful leaf shapes. The largest crown grass can grow nearly a hundred leaves, with the maximum leaf length up to 50 cm and leaf width up to 8 cm. Crown grass is luxurious, gorgeous and majestic, and is called the king of water plants.
Crown grass likes to be exposed to strong light. It has strong adaptability and is easy to grow. It should receive about four hours of light every day. The leaves of crown grass are relatively brittle, so do not move them frequently to avoid damaging the leaves. Crown grass ginseng (can) propagates by stems and divisions, but the main stem propagation. The ginseng stems of crown grass grow toward the water surface and diagonally upwards. Each stem can grow more than a dozen small grasses, and sometimes two to three can grow at the same time. Three stems show its strong reproductive capacity. When the roots of the small crown grass are long enough for planting, they should be cut off and planted separately. If the roots of the crown grass grow new plants, when they grow to about 20 cm, they can be split and planted separately.
(2) Watermelon grass
Watermelon grass is also called melon net grass, melon sword grass, and defending melon grass. The plant shape of watermelon grass is like crown grass, with shorter leaf stems and wider leaves. On its grass-green leaves, you can see clear veins, just like the veins of watermelon rind, so it is called watermelon grass.
Watermelon grass has strong adaptability and likes strong light, but it grows slowly. The propagation method of watermelon grass is the same as that of crown grass.
(3) Banana grass
Banana grass is a medium-sized aquatic plant. Its leaves are large and round, with uneven and slightly wavy leaves. The stems are not long and the leaves are full. In the water, it is of great ornamental value. Banana grass also has climbing stems, which adds to its beauty. Banana grass is highly adaptable, grows rapidly, and likes strong light.
Banana grass propagation is also carried out through stems.
(4) Water lily
Water lily is a large grass, which is comparable to crown grass. Its leaf stems are thick and long, and can grow all the way to the water surface. The leaves are wide and can It grows to 20 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide, and floats on the water's surface. The leaves are very similar to the water lily, so it is called water lily.
Water lilies like strong light and should receive about 4 hours of light every day.
The propagation method of water lilies is ginseng stem propagation, which is the same as crown grass.
(5) Capsicum grass
Pepper grass can be divided into green pepper grass and purple pepper grass. The main difference is that the leaf stems and leaves of green pepper grass are green. The underside of the leaf stems and leaves of purple pepper grass are lavender, and the front side is green.
Capsicum grass is called capsicum grass because its leaves resemble pepper leaves at the beginning. Capsicum grass has strong adaptability and is easy to grow. It should receive about four hours of light every day. Chili grass leaf stems are brittle; do not move them frequently to avoid breaking.
Pepper grass propagates by division. New plants often grow from their roots, and they can be planted again after their root systems have grown.
(6) Loquat grass
Loquat grass is native to subtropical areas and is a leafy aquatic plant.
Loquat grass leaves are symmetrical, the stems are thick, and they grow rapidly. To make the plant shape of the loquat grass beautiful, it is necessary to tip it when it grows to a certain height so that it can grow more branches. In this way, the loquat grass can grow into a crown shape, which is very beautiful.
Loquat grass likes strong light and should receive about four hours of light every day.
Loquat grass is propagated by cuttings. Cut off a section of its branch and plant it separately, and it will survive.
(7) Net grass
Net grass is native to the Madagascar Island in Africa. It is also called Madagascar lace grass. It is the most precious aquatic grass and its price is also quite high. In its place of origin, it is eaten as a vegetable.
The plant shape of net grass is like crown grass, and its leaves are net-shaped. You can see the objects on the opposite side through the leaves, which is very strange.
Net grass does not like strong light. If the light is too strong, it will be covered with green moss; if the light is too weak, it will die. It is one of the most difficult aquatic plants to grow. The water temperature for raising net grass should be kept at about 25 degrees. Neither high nor low is conducive to its growth.
Netweed has white flowers and is propagated with red seeds in its place of origin. Artificial propagation is difficult.
(8) Water chrysanthemum
Water chrysanthemum is also called chrysanthemum grass. Its leaves are very similar to chrysanthemums. The leaves are asymmetrical, the leaves are yellow-green, and the stems are thin and easy to break. Water chrysanthemum likes strong light and has strong adaptability. Lighting should be more than 4 hours a day.
(9) Willow grass
Willow grass is native to India in Asia. The plant shape of willow grass is tall and straight, with symmetrical leaflets shaped like wide willow leaves on the thick branches and stems. At the same time, thin white roots in the water will grow from its branches.
Willow grass likes strong light, has strong adaptability and grows rapidly.
The cutting method for propagating willow grass is to cut a section of a branch with water roots and insert it into the sand to survive.
(10) Snapdragon
Snapdragon, also known as water pine, is a kind of aquatic plant with strong adaptability. Its leaves are symmetrical and composed of small thin strips. It grows very fast and can grow 2 centimeters per day if the lighting is suitable. Each dwarf can grow to about two meters.
Snapdragons have a strong reproductive capacity. Not only can they be propagated from root segments, but any section of the stem can be cut off and planted in a tank. It will grow and re-root.
Snapdragons like strong light and should receive more than four hours of light every day.
(11) Asparagus
Asparagus, also known as belt grass, is a plant that grows in temperate waters. The leaves of Asparagus are slender and have no leaf stems. They grow directly from the roots, and their length can reach 60 cm. Asparagus has strong adaptability, grows rapidly, and likes strong light.
Asparagus is a low-temperature aquatic plant, adaptable to water temperatures below 24 degrees Celsius, and is not suitable for planting in high-temperature water.
Grassroot propagates by ginseng stems. The ginseng stems that grow from the roots grow horizontally and then grow new plants.
(12) Curly-leaf Asparagus
Curly-leaf Asparagus and Asparagus are plants of the same family. The difference is that the leaves of Curly-leaf Asparagus grow upright. The leaves of Curly-leaf Asparagus are twisted, rotating and growing upward.
The properties and reproduction of Curly-Leaf Agaricus are the same as those of Agaricus.
(13) Large-leaf Asparagus
Large-leaf Asparagus and Asparagus are also plants in the same family. Its leaves are wide and long, with a width of up to 2 cm and a length of more than 1 meter. The part above the water surface will float on the water.
The properties and propagation methods of large-leaf Asparagus are the same as those of Asparagus.
(14) Water Orchid
Water Orchid is a kind of water plant similar to Asparagus. Its plant shape is exactly the same as that of Asparagus, but the top of the leaves is not pointed. Slightly rounded. The leaves are about 1 cm wide and up to 30 cm long.
The growth conditions and propagation methods are the same as those of Asparagus.
(15) Big-leaf water orchid
Large-leaf water orchid is a plant in the same family as water orchid. Its leaf shape and plant shape are the same as water orchid. Its leaves can be up to 40 cm long. 3cm wide.
The growth conditions and propagation methods are the same as those of Asparagus.
(16) Bamboo-leaf orchid
Bamboo-leaf orchid is native to Sri Lanka in Asia and is also known as wrinkled-leaf orchid and kelp. The leaves of the orchid resemble kelp and become wrinkled and wavy. Its leaves are 3 cm wide and up to 60 cm long. Its petiole is 20 cm long and its leaves are 40 cm long.
Its plant shape is like a crown grass, which is a beautiful and spectacular large aquatic plant.
Bamboo leaf orchids have strong adaptability, grow rapidly, and like strong light. They should receive about 4 hours of light every day.
Bamboo orchids have sweet potato-like tubers, also called ratoons. New plants will grow from the tubers. When the plants have fibrous roots, they can be fried and replanted.
(17) Broad-leafed calla taro
Broad-leafed calla taro is native to Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and other countries in Asia. The broad-leaved calla plant is shaped like a crown grass, with leaves up to 40 cm long, of which the stem is 20 cm long, the leaves are 20 cm long, and the leaves are up to 15 cm wide. It is shaped like a peach.
The broad-leaved calla lily prefers strong light, but its long march is slow. Its leaves are green when young and turn brown when mature, making them very beautiful.
The broad-leaved calla taro has taro-shaped underground stems, also called bulbs, and its reproduction is mainly carried out by growing new plants from the underground stems.
(18) Short-leaf calla taro
Short-leaf calla taro is also called short-leaf wrinkled taro. Its plant shape is like broad-leaf calla taro, and its leaves are shorter and narrower. Wavy wrinkles, dark green in color.
Short-leaved calla lily prefers strong light and grows slowly.
The growth conditions and propagation methods of short-leaved calla taro are the same as those of broad-leaved calla taro.
They do not have high water temperature requirements. If planted in a fish tank for ornamental purposes, the water temperature changes that the fish can accept will also be accepted by the aquatic plants. But if you plant them alone, you should pay attention to changes in water temperature. It is best not to exceed 10 degrees Celsius throughout the day and night. Keeping the water temperature constant is most conducive to the growth of aquatic plants.
The intensity of light and the length of illumination time have a direct impact on the growth of aquatic plants. If the light is too strong and the illumination time is too long, green moss will grow on the surface of aquatic plants, which will affect the photosynthesis of aquatic plants. Light If it is too weak and the light time is too short, the leaves of aquatic plants will turn yellow and die. Therefore, the lighting time and intensity should be well controlled. For aquatic plants that like strong light and long illumination time, they can be planted in small flower pots made of carbon mud and hung on the upper part of the water with a net, but do not let the aquatic plants come out of the water. As the aquatic plants grow, gradually lower the net, so that , which can not only allow aquatic plants to fully receive light, but also save electricity.
Aquatic plants live in water with suitable temperature and light. They will have lush branches and leaves, but their metabolism must always be carried out. Daily management must be done, remove dead branches and dead leaves, and clean the bottom sand at appropriate times. wait.
The planting of aquatic plants is also an issue that cannot be ignored. The diameter of the sand used to grow aquatic plants in the fish tank should be about one centimeter, so that it can breathe easily. Sand grains should be washed with alkaline water before use, and then rinsed repeatedly with clean water until all soil and alkali are washed away before use.
Before planting aquatic plants, you should first remove the dead branches and leaves, brush off the green moss with a fine brush, and soak it in 1% salt water or 1/100,000 potassium permanganate solution for half an hour. , disinfect and sterilize, then wash with clean water before planting. The quantity and density of planting should be determined according to the type and size of aquatic plants. In order to increase the ornamental value, it is best to plant aquatic plants in small flower pots made of carbon mud.