Hoe many of you grow house plants on top of your tank with the roots in the water? What plants are best for it? Is it just a case of having the roots in the water or should there be some kind of media used too? It isn't often done here in Scotland so it's difficult to find out alot about it.
Growing house plants
- Thread starter Jhncf
- Start date
I grow a pothos out of my 150 tank, fairly overstocked tank so plenty of nutrition for the plant. started with two tiny stalks maybe 7 inches long with about 2 leaves apiece. It has since taken over the entire window, and grown over and rooted itself in my other HOB filter. I love the way it makes the window look so I leave it alone lol. I'm talking easily over 6-7 foot vines lol.
That's exactly what I'm looking to do, did you just buy a couple of stalks and leave the roots hanging in the water with no substrate? My tank isn't near a window so I'll have to provide lighting, do they need much light?
Pothos don't require that much light but suggest you buy plant bulb for light fixture. I have my plant stems stuck in 2 corners of my 180 gallon but I have a window the plant receives indirect sunlight.
I've got some in my ac110. You should have seen how many roots were growing in the old filter sponge in there when I cleaned it last week haha. They have been in there for maybe 2 months and I think they have acclimated fully. The pothos was 3 bucks for a small pot and I got a clipping from my bf's mom. I'm also trying an experiment with mint and green onions and it seems to work. My mint was in the crappy soil from the back and it has started dying so I put a stem in, it came back good. Gotta get some potting soil so I can grow a whole new plant. I also had bacopa in there too but it fell back in the tank I think. Maybe I didn't acclimate it right.
![20161212_120252_HDR[1].jpg](https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/data/attachments/992/992079-b77185c04036a7cd21098f00c68e68d1.jpg?hash=t3GFwEA2p8 "20161212_120252_HDR[1].jpg")
![20161212_120304_HDR[1].jpg](https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/data/attachments/992/992080-1726a3895ce125f71138f5eedb52f2ea.jpg?hash=FyajiVzhJf "20161212_120304_HDR[1].jpg")
![20161212_120342[1].jpg](https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/data/attachments/992/992081-96610d01f2d90d148c43ed3455178a87.jpg?hash=lmENAfLZDR "20161212_120342[1].jpg")
I just leave the clamp light on for most of the day until I go to bed. Some diatoms form but I don't care too much. It was 7 bucks at home depot and 15 for the fancy led bulb I got for it. Works great. The pothos has grown twice as many leaves since I bought the light last month. My apartment is very dark most of the time since we face north and it has no problems if I forget to turn the light on too. I have been debating on putting a mirror or something reflective on the wall behind the tank to shoot some light into the hallway and kitchen haha.
I just leave the clamp light on for most of the day until I go to bed. Some diatoms form but I don't care too much. It was 7 bucks at home depot and 15 for the fancy led bulb I got for it. Works great. The pothos has grown twice as many leaves since I bought the light last month. My apartment is very dark most of the time since we face north and it has no problems if I forget to turn the light on too. I have been debating on putting a mirror or something reflective on the wall behind the tank to shoot some light into the hallway and kitchen haha.
The beauty with the pathos is that you can cut the stems and just put them in water to start new ones. super easy to propagate into a huge mass. because I suspend my light over my tank its enough to light my pathos too. grows really well.
IIRC petco/petsmart labels a lot of bog plants as fully aquatic. Maybe if you have a pet store chain there they do the same thing? See if you can find some and stick them in the back with the leaves above the water. Most get big though.
Can this be done with plants other than pothos? I ask because I've wanted to do something like this for ages but I have a cat that eats everything and pothos will make him very sick (likely kill him) if he eats it...
What other plants can be used for this?
What other plants can be used for this?
Can this be done with plants other than pothos? I ask because I've wanted to do something like this for ages but I have a cat that eats everything and pothos will make him very sick (likely kill him) if he eats it...
What other plants can be used for this?
I have mint growing in mine, many types are available, not sure what can grow in water though, I think mine is spearmint. I am also thinking about getting some lucky bamboo and sticking it in there. I think spider plants are also safe for cats. Basically if you can grow them hydroponically you can stuff em in the back. Just be careful.
Also maybe if kitty falls in he will think twice about jumping up on the tank... bahhahaha.
Thanks.I have mint growing in mine, many types are available, not sure what can grow in water though, I think mine is spearmint. I am also thinking about getting some lucky bamboo and sticking it in there. I think spider plants are also safe for cats. Basically if you can grow them hydroponically you can stuff em in the back. Just be careful.
Also maybe if kitty falls in he will think twice about jumping up on the tank... bahhahaha.
I'll go and do some research into the jasmine plant I have and my catnip (although catnip seems like a stupid thing to have growing from my fish tanks ) as well as other random plants that won't kill my Rumples that I might be able to grow. Falling into the tank worked for his sister, she never got on the tank again (she also had a cichlid nibble her toes while I was scooping her out) but Rumpy has spinal issues and if he falls into the tank and hurts himself... Well... I don't want to think about what would happen to his handsomeness.
Also, sorry for the slightly off topic thread jacking, I'll stop my cat talk now.