8 Best Aquarium Plants that Grow On Driftwood and Rock

Color and beauty are added to ponds, aquariums, water gardens, and jarrariums by beautiful aquatic flowers. The sight of flowering plants floating on the surface of the water is breathtaking.

Aquatic flowering plants not only add beauty to aquariums and fish ponds, but they also help to oxygenate the water. The leaves of aquatic flowers can also provide food and shelter for fish.

Among the best aquatic flowers are exotic lotus flowers, lovely water lilies, and delicate water poppies. These plants have underwater roots, which allow their leaves and flowers to float on the surface of the water. Water gardens and ponds can also be used to grow beautiful calla lilies.

In this article, I will discuss the best aquarium plants that can develop on driftwood and rocks.

I’ll also show you how to attach them to rock and wood.

Best Aquarium Plants for Driftwood and Rocks:

1.Anubias

1.Anubias 1

Anubias is one of the famous plants in the aquarium hobby. Because this plant is extremely hardy, it is an excellent choice for beginners.

It lacks genuine roots. It instead has rhizomes that can be easily attached to any rock or driftwood.

How much light does Anubias require?

When it comes to light, Anubias is not selective. It can develop in almost any lighting condition, whether it is dim or bright.

Its development will be slower in low-light conditions.

It will grow much faster under high lighting conditions, but it may also cause algae growth on this plant.

So, preferably, you should provide it with light ranging from two to four watts per gallon.

What’s the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

Anubias is a small aquarium plant that can grow to be about 11 inches tall.

As a result, you should maintain it in the aquarium’s foreground or midground. If you have a small tank, you can also keep it in the aquarium’s middle ground.

Ideal water parameters:

The optimum temperature for Anubias growth is between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has a pH tolerance range of 6.5 to 7.8 and a hardness tolerance range of 3-8 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

You can maintain Anubias in your aquarium in a variety of ways.

You can either plant it in the substrate like gravel or attach it to rock and driftwood before placing it in your aquarium.

How to attach it to rock and driftwood?

Anubias can be attached to rock and driftwood with superglue, fishing line, or cotton string.

Fertilization requirements:

Fertilizer should be applied to Anubias on a regular basis for the best results.

It is also recommended that you supplement it with additional carbon dioxide gas, but this is not strictly necessary.

2.Java Moss

Java Moss 1

One of the most famous aquarium plants is java moss. It is one of the most suitable plants for Guppies. Aquascaping makes extensive use of this plant.

This plant can withstand a wide range of water parameters and is very easy to care for, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

Because it is such a popular plant, it can be found in most stores and online.

It is also a common plant among breeders because it provides a lot of good hiding places for the fry and protection for the eggs.

How much light does it require?

Java moss is a low-maintenance plant that can thrive in almost any lighting condition.

There will be some difference based on whether you keep it in low or high lighting conditions.

It will develop more compact and dense under high lighting conditions than under low lighting conditions.

However, maintaining it in high-lighting conditions can cause algae growth on this plant.

What’s the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

Because Java Moss does not grow tall, it is commonly used as a carpet plant in aquariums.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

Based on the aesthetics you want to achieve in your aquarium, you can maintain Java Moss in a variety of ways.

The most basic method is to keep it as a floating plant in your aquarium.

You can simply toss it into the aquarium and it will find its way to any ornament or wall of your aquarium over time.

The most common method is to keep it as a carpet plant or to attach it to any ornament in your tank, such as wood or rock.

How to attach it to rock and wood?

To attach Java moss to a rock or piece of wood, use fishing line or super glue.

Ideal water parameters:

Java Moss can withstand temperatures ranging from 59 degrees Fahrenheit to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a result, it can easily be kept in a cold water aquarium.

Furthermore, its pH tolerance range is 5-8, and it performs well in soft water.

Fertilization requirements:

Java moss is a hardy plant that can thrive without fertilizer.

However, you can supplement it with fertilizers to accelerate up the growth and make it more compact.

This plant should be fertilized with liquid fertilizers.

3.Java Fern

Java Fern 2

The Java fern is another famous aquarium plant in the hobby. It is also an excellent plant for Tetras.

This plant can withstand a wide range of water conditions. It is also a relatively inexpensive plant, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

The Java fern has rhizomes rather than true roots. As a result, no substrate is required for planting in the aquarium.

It is simple to attach to any rock or wood and then place it inside your aquarium.

How much light does Java fern require?

Java fern does not require a lot of light. It should be kept in low to medium lighting conditions.

If you keep it in bright light, its leaves will begin to turn brown.

As a result, you should preferably provide 1.5 to 2 watts of light per gallon.

What’s the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

Because Java fern can grow quite tall and wide, it is best to keep it in the middle or background of your aquarium.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

The Java fern does not have true roots, but has rhizomes. As a result, no substrate is required.

You can, however, bury its rhizomes in the substrate, such as sand or gravel, and maintain it that way in your aquarium.

Alternatively, you can connect it to driftwood and rock and then place it in your aquarium.

How to attach Java fern to rock and driftwood?

Tie it to a rock or driftwood with cotton string or fish line.

You can also use superglue to attach it to a piece of rock or driftwood. Either way can work perfectly well.

However, if you attach it with cotton string, the string will disintegrate over time, potentially loosening the plant.

As a result, using superglue or fishing line is a feasible option.

Ideal water parameters:

The Java fern can withstand a wide range of water conditions.

The optimum temperature for Java fern growth is between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has a pH tolerance range of 6 to 7.5 and a hardness tolerance range of 3-8 KH.

Fertilization requirements:

The Java fern is a hardy plant that can thrive without any additional fertilization.

However, if you want faster growth, you can supplement it with fertilizers.

Because this plant obtains the majority of its nutrients through its leaves, liquid fertilizers should be used.

4.Dwarf Baby Tears

Dwarf Baby Tears

Dwarf baby tears is a small aquarium plant that grows slowly. This plant is famous among fish breeders because it provides numerous hiding places for the eggs.

You can plant it directly on the substrate or attach it to any rock or driftwood in your aquarium.

How much light does it require?

Dwarf baby tears require bright lighting of at least 3-4 watts per gallon to grow properly.

What’s the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

Dwarf baby tears is the hobby’s smallest aquarium plant, making it an excellent foreground plant. It can also be used as a carpet plant.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

Based on the look you want, you can keep Dwarf baby tears in your aquarium in a variety of ways.

The most basic method is to simply toss it into the aquarium and let it float.

It will eventually find its place in the aquarium and become attached to anything in it.

Planting it in the substrate is another option.

Planting it in a nutrient-rich substrate causes it to grow faster and denser, creating a carpet effect.

The most common way to keep it in an aquarium is to attach it to an ornament, such as driftwood or rock, and then place it inside the aquarium.

How to attach it to rock and driftwood?

Cotton string can be used to attach it to a rock or driftwood.

After a while, the cotton string will disintegrate and its rhizomes will remain attached to the rock or driftwood.

Ideal water parameters:

Dwarf baby tears can withstand a wide range of water conditions. The optimum temperature for this plant’s growth is between 62 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has a pH tolerance range of 5 to 7.5 and a hardness tolerance range of up to 10 KH.

Fertilization requirements:

Carbon dioxide fertilizers should be used on a regular basis to promote faster and denser growth.

If you plant it in the substrate, you should also add some substrate fertilizers, such as root tabs.

5.Riccia Fluitans

Riccia Fluitans

Riccia fluitans is another famous plant that you can maintain in your aquarium by attaching it to rock and wood.

Slender riccia is another name for it. This plant can tolerate a wide range of water parameters and can be kept in a cold water aquarium with ease.

This plant is also very simple to care for, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

How much light does it require?

Riccia fluitans is not a particularly light-demanding species. However, for better development, you should provide it with at least moderate lighting conditions.

You can provide it with light at a rate of two to three watts per gallon.

What is the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

Riccia fluitans is a short plant that is widely used as a carpet plant, so place it in the aquarium’s foreground.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

Depending on the look you want for your aquarium, you can keep Riccia fluitans in a variety of ways.

The most basic method is to keep it as a floating plant in your aquarium, though this is not a common practice.

Because it develops as dense and compact as Java Moss, you can use it as a carpet plant in the foreground of your aquarium.

The most common method of keeping it in the aquarium is to attach it to any ornament in your aquarium, such as a rock or driftwood, and then place it inside your aquarium.

How to attach it to rock and driftwood?

Attach it to a rock or driftwood with fishing line, super glue, or cotton string.

Ideal water parameters:

Riccia fluitans can withstand a wide range of water conditions. The optimum temperature for this plant’s growth is between 56 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has a pH tolerance range of 6 to 8 and a hardness tolerance range of 120-400 PPM. As a result, you can easily maintain it in any type of hard water aquarium.

Fertilization requirements:

Riccia fluitans is a hardy plant that can thrive without fertilizer.

You can, however, supplement it with fertilizers for quicker and denser growth.

It absorbs the majority of its nutrients through its leaves, so liquid fertilizers should be used to supplement it.

6.African Water Fern

African Water

The African water fern is a famous decorative plant in the hobby. It is an excellent oxygenator.

This is a slow-growing plant that can reach a height of 11 inches.

It is less demanding and easier to care for, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

How much light does African water fern require?

When it comes to light, this plant is not selective.

In fact, you should maintain it under low lighting conditions rather than high lighting conditions because high lighting conditions can lead to algae growth on this plant.

However, you must provide it with light for 12 hours per day.

What’s the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

The African water fern is a small plant that can develop up to 11 inches tall.

So, ideally, place it in the center or foreground of your aquarium.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

There are two ways to keep African water fern in your aquarium. You can either plant it in your aquarium’s substrate or add it to it.

Alternatively, you can attach it to any ornament in your aquarium, such as rock or wood, and then place it inside your aquarium.

How to attach it to rock and driftwood?

Attaching an African water form to a rock or driftwood can be done with a fishing line, a rubber band, or cotton thread.

It is best to attach it with cotton thread because the thread will disintegrate after a while.

And by the time it disintegrates, the roots of this plant will be attached to rock or wood.

Ideal water parameters:

The optimum temperature for African water fern growth is between 62 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has a pH tolerance range of 5 to 7, and a hardness tolerance range of 4 to 12 dGH.

Fertilization requirements:

African water fern does not require a lot of fertilizer to grow properly.

However, for proper growth, African water fern should be supplemented on a regular basis with fertilizers rich in carbon dioxide and other minerals in small doses.

These fertilizers should be added in liquid form.

7.Hygrophila Pinnatifida

Hygrophila Pinnatifida

Hygrophila pinnatifida is a member of the Acanthaceae family. Because of its distinctive leaf shape and coloration, it is gaining popularity in aquascaping.

Colors on this plant range from green to brown to red.

A substrate is not required to maintain this plant in the aquarium, and it can easily attach to any ornamental in your aquarium, such as a rock or driftwood.

This plant can also bloom in your aquarium, producing a lovely purple flower.

How much light does it require?

For Hygrophila pinnatifida to grow properly, you should provide at least moderate lighting conditions.

If you want it to be red, you should give it plenty of light.

What is the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

Though Hygrophila pinnatifida grows tall in the aquarium, it is not particularly tall.

As a result, it should ideally be kept in the foreground or midground of your aquarium.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

You can maintain Hygrophila pinnatifida in your aquarium in a few different ways.

The first method is to plant it in your aquarium’s substrate.

Another method is to attach it to any ornamental, such as driftwood or rock, and then place it inside the aquarium.

How to attach it to rock or driftwood?

Using a fishing line, you can simply connect it to a rock or driftwood.

Ideal water parameters:

Hygrophila pinnatifida can tolerate temperature as low as 59 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a result, it can easily be kept in a cold water aquarium.

Furthermore, its pH tolerance range is 6-7.5, and its hardness tolerance range is 2 to 12 dKH.

Fertilization requirements:

Hygrophila pinnatifida should be supplemented with liquid fertilizers on a regular basis for optimum growth.

You can also provide CO2 injections for the best results.

8.Christmas Moss

Christmas Moss

Christmas moss is a type of moss plant that is similar to Java moss in appearance.

It is one of the most beneficial plants for shrimp. This plant is also very easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, making it suitable for beginners.

It’s also popular in the aquascaping hobby.

It’s also common among fish breeders because it has a lot of hiding places for fish fry and eggs.

Furthermore, you can easily attach it to any ornament, such as a rock or wood, and place it in your aquarium.

How much light does it require?

Christmas moss does not require a lot of light. It performs admirably in almost any lighting condition.

However, for the best results and denser growth, provide it with moderate lighting conditions of at least 2-3 watts per gallon.

More light can help it grow faster, but it can also cause algae growth on this plant.

What is the best place to keep it in an aquarium?

Because it is a short plant that grows very densely and compactly, it is commonly used as a carpet plant in the aquarium’s foreground.

Another popular method is to attach it to a piece of rock or wood.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

You can maintain Christmas Moss in your aquarium in a variety of ways.

The simplest method is to keep it as a floating plant, which will provide plenty of hiding spots for the fry.

It can also be planted in the substrate as a foreground carpet plant.

The most common way to keep it is to attach it to a piece of rock or driftwood and then place it inside an aquarium.

How to attach it to rock or driftwood?

Attach it to a rock or driftwood with fishing line, superglue, or cotton string.

Ideal water parameters:

The optimum temperature for Christmas moss growth is between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has a pH tolerance range of 5 to 7.5.

Fertilization requirements:

Christmas moss can grow in the absence of additional fertilization.

However, additional CO2 injection can be used to achieve compact, denser, and faster growth.

CO2 injection will also aid in the enhancement of its coloration.

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