Where do I buy plants and plant ideas

[duanes]

For me Crypts and Valisneria do well planted in sand, with moderate light, and no ferts.

I have also been able to grow Anubius and Java fern in low light and a few hand fulls of fluorite mixed into the sand

I had a few reef keeper friend that would switch bulbs out every 6 months or so and I'd take the old ones, that had plenty of juice left for fresh water plants.

Anubius above, java fern below

used bulb type below, in hardware store shop light fixtures above the tanks

 

[duanes]

By the way, I got most of my plants from local aquarium club auctions, or other members. Here in Panama many have come from Lake Gatun, depending on where you live, plant collecting may be viable, although making sure wild plants are de-liced is always recommended.
Aquatic plant, + collecting in Lake Gatun