Planting requires the right tools. Not the most expensive.. but the right ones. In a small tank like the 29gallon, manoeuvering plants around the tank can be difficult. I have basically two pieces of equipment that I use. 1. a pair of tweezers, 2. a pair of scissors. That is all that I feel i need for planting. The tweezers have two flat heads that allow me to grip stems without breaking them, and the scissors make pruning a breeze. The tweezers were taken from an old primary school microscopy set, and the scissors are just plain metal scissors

    When first planting, a plan is needed. Stem plants generally look good as back ground plants, or high lights in the mid ground. While lower plants like swords and Glossotigma look good as foreground/midground plants.To plant stem plants, cutting off the base is usually a good idea, and then planting it in groups of 3 cuttings or so. To plant fore ground plants like Hair grass or Glossotigma, it is a good idea to separate these into small 3 plant bundles to plant. Although it will take a long time, Glossotigma should be carefully planted one plantlet at a time in a checkered pattern. This will allow maximum growth to form a carpet.

    Pruning should be limited to making the tank look in check. Overgrown tanks tend to look unnatural (believe it or not). Stem plants should have the tops cut off and replanted. The points at which they are cut off will form 2 or 3 branches and create a "bushy" look. Glossotigma should be cleaned from the front glass to prevent it piling up, as it has a tendency to grow along the sides of the tank.

    With Echinodorus sp. It is advisable to remove plantlets should they become overgrown, E. tenellus tends to show vigorous growth and excess should be removed to prevent choking.

 

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