Emory

Currently I have my plants "planted" in my gravel. I am thinking about buying some eco-complete and "potting" my plants in unused terracotta pots. Then placing those around the tank half way buried. It would make the plants happier, I think, and make it easier to vacuum because I wouldn't worry about disturbing roots. I don't know if my hubby would go for it.

What do you guys think?

fishrule101

Sounds like a good idea. It might look bad tho, but a clean tank is a happy tank. Well most of the time.

Butterfly

Plant roots really like to spread out in the substrate and have access to the nutrients in the substrate.
There are some members around the site who have/are using their plants this way hopefully they will drop in and let us know their results
If you do this please keep us posted on how they do.
Carol

Emory

Oh, if I go for it I will definitely will keep you posted.

Emory

Has anybody else actually done this?

Steve113

My plants are all in small terracotta pots and for the most part fully sumbmerged in the sand substrate. You will find that the roots will find their way out of the pots through the holes in the bottom.

It makes it easier when you need to move them around and tidy up but the roots will grow out of the pots eventually.

If yuor pot has no holes then the roots may not be able to fully develop and your plant may not do so well.

Emory

Thanks Steve! I think the pots I've seen in the store all have drainage holes in the bottom. I'm tempted to see how the pots stand up to my drill, too. If I could place more holes around the bottom of the pot I would think the plants would be able to spread out from the sides of the pot and not just the bottom.

Steve113

no problem. I wouldnt worry too much about making extra holes, the roots will make the best of whatever situation they are in.

If there is a hole to spread out from, then they will find it. and pretty soon they will be well rooted into the substrate. (mine are, and only took a month or two)

If you are not set on ceramic / terracotta pots, you can also get small plastic pots with lots of holes & gaps in the sides for exactly this purpose.

Let us know how it goes, and get some pics!

Reese

I actually tried using eco-complete in small plastic pots. Stupidly, I did not put holes in the pots (duh). My plants looked awful in a matter of days. I quickly decided to clear several areas in the gravel where I could dump in the eco-complete, plant the plant and then cover gently with gravel to hold in place. My plants are doing well now. A consultant at my LFS also reminded me later that eco-complete is not a complete nutritional source for the plants, but rather the porousness of this substrate is better at harboring fish waste and processing it into plant food.
I have also heard of using chemical free potting soil, but I have never tried this method. I understand there are two challenges to using potting soil: (1) finding soil that does not contain chemicals that will harm fish/put your tank chemistry totally out of whack or (2) placing the pot in the tank without adequately soaking the soil...essentially what happens is an air bubble bursts as you place the pot in the tank sending an explosion of potting soil throughout the tank!
Hope that helps...good luck

Emory

Found an affordable pond potting soil made from rice hulls and reconstituted foam. What is reconstituted foam? I am leery of buying that as it is for ponds and has odd ingredients. It did say it was fish safe but what on earth would it do to my water quality? Eco-complete was $29 USD and Flourite was $22 USD.

So now I have terra cotta pots, plants for the pots, and no idea what to use as a potting media.

Any cheap suggestions?

Steve113

My plants are all wrapped in a spongelike strip to hold it in the pot. This is how some come from the shop. I don't pot mine in soil. I find it is cleaner that war and easier to move things and change around later.

The roots wriggle through the sponge and eventually the sponge is very firmly secured and entangled with roots.

As for an alternative potting media ie soil? I have no idea...

Emory

I have no idea, either. I will continue to keep my eyes open for options. Thanks all!

scorpio

i potted my plants using house hold potting soil mixed with black earth soil, seems to be working great ,no need for extra nutrients for the plants as they get everything they need from the soil. make sure to top up the pot with 1 third substrate and soak fully submerged in water before putting in tank . my water is crystal clear and plants doing well

Emory

Thanks scorpio!

Steve113

that's great scorpio -

It never occurred to me to use soil in the tank. Just assumed that it would make a big mess!

Emory

Me too. I have some seed starter out in the garage. I will have to go check out the list of ingredients and let you folks know if the particular brand/item is good to use.