Aquarium plants are what make planted aquariums … well … planted. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, each with its own unique care requirements. From low-maintenance options to more demanding species, it can be overwhelming to choose and grow your aquarium plants. 

In today’s article, I’ll walk you through a simple approach I use for choosing and growing my plants and how I deal with any plant-related issues.

At the end of the article, I’ll also give you a list of my 10 favorite beginner-friendly plants that I first used and had no trouble growing. These will work for you.

Plants have needs too

Before I even talk about care, trimming, and plants, you need to first understand the 4 factors that drive healthy growth in your aquatic plants:

• Nutrients 
• Light 
• Carbon dioxide 
• Water flow

Macro and micronutrients

Nutrients are the nourishment plants need to build new growth, just like how you and I need protein to build muscle or calcium for our bones. Plants get their nutrients either through the substrate (by using their roots) or the water column (through their leaves).

Nutrients can be broken up into 2 categories: micro and macro nutrients. 

Micronutrients are trace elements that plants only need in small amounts. This includes things like iron, copper, cobalt, and manganese. You don’t have to worry too much about these.

Macronutrients are those that plants need in larger amounts and these are the largest limiting factors in their growth. There are 3 of them:

• Potassium 
• Nitrogen 
• Phosphorus 

Don’t try to meet each individual need of your plants. Instead, use a comprehensive liquid plant fertilizer like Easy Green by Aquarium Co-op. 

Liquid fertilizer is most effective for plants that get their nutrients through the water column like java ferns and mosses. For plants that are heavy root feeders like cryptocoryne and vallisneria, use a quality root tab like Seachem Flourish Tabs or Neo Plant Tabs.

Plants need light to photosynthesize

Light is essential for plants to photosynthesize and convert light into oxygen. During this process, light energy is captured and used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds.

Low light plants require the least intensity of light. The most popular plants in this category are java fern and anubias. 

For a guide on lighting in planted aquariums, read my article here.

You can tell how much light a plant needs by reading the product description on most sites. Look at this one for Java Fern:

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is actually the 4th macronutrient but it isn’t normally added in liquid or tab form. 

Carbon dioxide is used alongside light during photosynthesis. CO₂ is naturally present in your aquarium in its gas form, and it gets there through surface exchange between your water and the air or from any livestock you have in your aquarium.

In high-energy setups with demanding plants, we inject CO₂ into our aquariums using cylinders and regulators and measure it with a drop checker. 

Water circulation

Water flow helps with gas exchange between the water surface and the air and it brings the nutrients your plants need to them. If you have a quality filter and water movement, you won’t have to worry about anything.

You need to provide your plants with the nutrients, light, carbon dioxide, and water flow they need if you want to successfully grow them.

Now that you know about general plant needs, I’m going to walk you through the process I take when picking out plants for my aquariums. 

How to choose your aquarium plants 

There are 3 steps I take before buying my plants: 

Step 1: Find plants that fit your aquarium 

For example, if you have a 10-gallon aquarium you want to buy plants for, you’d look for plants that would fit that size. Vallisneria gigantea or amazon swords wouldn’t be great options, since they’re just too big for an aquarium that small. 

But vallisneria nana or some cryptocoryne species would. You want to pick plants proportionate to the size tank you have. That’s my first step.

Step 2: Find plants that have similar lighting requirements 

Do you want a low or high-light setup? Low-light plants typically grow slowly and aren’t very demanding. High-light plants require more nutrients and lighting, and usually benefit from CO₂ injection. All of that can also increase the risk of algae taking over if not balanced properly. 

It depends on the output of your lighting system. If your light can’t support high-light plants, then don’t buy those plants. 

Step 3: Meet the needs of your neediest plant 

Let’s say I’m trying to grow java moss and hydrocotyle tripartita. They have the same lighting requirements and are both classified as “easy” plants to grow. But the hydrocotyle grows faster and needs CO₂ so it’s slightly more demanding. 

If I can meet the higher needs of hydrocotyle, then the java moss will be more than cared for. 

Those are the three easy steps I take to choose and grow plants. Do your research to identify what they need to grow and then create an environment that meets them. 

As a newer hobbyist, your options for plants you can successfully and easily grow are pretty limited. Below is a list of my 10 favorite beginner-friendly plants. I’ve successfully grown all of these and if you understand what I’ve talked about today, you’ll be able to grow them too. 

10 favorite beginner-friendly plants that you can easily grow

Java Fern 

Family Name: Polypodiaceae
Height: 6-13 inches
pH: 6.0-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Low to medium
CO2: Not necessary
Propagation: Rhizome division
Growth Rate: Slow

Anubias Nana Petite 

Family Name: Araceae
Height: 2-4 inches
pH: 6.0-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Low to medium
CO2: Not necessary
Propagation: Rhizome division
Growth Rate: Slow

Java Moss

Family Name: Hypnaceae
Height: Can grow in mats up to 3-10 inches thick
pH: 5.0-8.0
Care: Very easy
Light: Low
CO2: Not necessary
Propagation: Fragmentation (cut or tear a piece and it will grow)
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast

Cryptocoryne Parva

Family Name: Araceae
Height: 1-4 inches
pH: 6.0-7.5
Care: Moderate
Light: Medium
CO2: Not necessary, but helps
Propagation: Produces runners
Growth Rate: Slow

Bacopa Monnieri

Family Name: Plantaginaceae
Height: 10-12 inches
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Medium to high
CO2: Not necessary, but helps with faster growth
Propagation: Stem cuttings
Growth Rate: Moderate

Juncus Repens

Family Name: Juncaceae
Height: 4-12 inches
pH: 5.5-7.5
Care: Easy to moderate
Light: Medium
CO2: Not necessary, but helps with healthier growth
Propagation: Produces side shoots and runners
Growth Rate: Moderate

Umbrella Hairgrass

Family Name: Cyperaceae
Height: 8-12 inches
pH: 5.5-7.5
Care: Moderate
Light: Medium to high
CO2: Recommended for best growth
Propagation: Produces runners
Growth Rate: Moderate

Echinodorus Bleheri (Amazon Sword)

Family Name: Alismataceae
Height: 12-20 inches
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Medium
CO2: Not necessary, but helps with growth
Propagation: Produces adventitious plantlets and runners
Growth Rate: Fast

Sagittaria Subulata

Family Name: Alismataceae
Height: 4-12 inches
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Low to medium
CO2: Not necessary
Propagation: Produces runners
Growth Rate: Moderate

Pistia Stratiotes (Water Lettuce)

Family Name: Araceae
Height: Floating plant 
pH: 6.5-7.5
Care: Easy
Light: Medium to high
CO2: Not necessary
Propagation: Produces runners with new plantlets
Growth Rate: Fast

That’s all I have for you today. I hope this quick guide on growing aquarium plants helped you. For more information about aquariums or if you have any questions, subscribe to my email newsletter. I send out emails once a week.

Happy scaping!

Dom