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Helpful Hints
By Robert Paul H.
- Tall plants such as echinodorus amazon with 30 or more arching leafs, will have the most
dramatic look as a solitary plant with no other plants within the reach of its leafs. An
area that supports one Sword plant can hold several groups of smaller plants. Which look
would you prefer?
- When planting stem plants remember that you will be doing constant pruning and
replanting, so they should be planted in an area that is easy to get to. Many stem plants
such as Cabomba, Mayaca, and Ambulia, should have the top halves replanted and the bottom
half thrown out at each pruning. You can vary the look of a dense group of stem plants by
keeping a varied height level creating an upward stairway look.
- Grouping several plants of the same specie together has a much more powerful look than
a mix match of different plants. Enough space should be given to those plants that send
out underground runners with new plantlets. The group can be enlarged by replanting the
runner plants closer to home. This is how a nice group of cryptocorynes is kept and
maintained for several years.
- Stem plants usually do not root very deep, so they can grow in a shallow substrate,
while other plants such as Dwarf Lillie, Crinum Water Onion, and Vallisneria, grow massive
deep root systems and in some cases runners, needing a deep substrate.
- Grouping plants by color and contrast can create a look of depth to the viewing
perspective, but should also flow together creating a natural look rather than contrived.