Aquatic Plant Care Guide: From Our Farm to Your Tank

When You First Receive Them (First 24 Hours)

We encourage our customers to inspect their plants carefully upon receiving them. We allow our customers 24 hours (for shipped products) to inspect the plants. For local pickup customers, we encourage them to inspect on-site and request substitutions as needed. If you have any problems, please send us an email at claims@driftaqua.com. Subject line: (Order number) and attach clear images of the problem within 24 hours of receiving the mail.

Carefully remove plants from their respective packaging. Temporary place in a covered tub and spray with dechlorinated water as needed to prevent drying.

OPTIONAL: Tagged plants (with a tape or sticker) were grown in soil and may carry some debris. If you feel there needs to be a pre-rinse to remove debris or hitchhikers, treat them with DriftTech™ Assure for a maximum of 4 hours. This is optional and often not necessary.

 

Before Placing In Your Tank (1 hour before)

Dissolve the contents of the complimentary DriftTech™ Transition capsule into 1 gallon of water (~4 L). Soak the plants for 30-60 minutes. This step enhances their capacity to transition to your tank better, preventing melts and die-offs. 

 

Planting Notes

Please read further below regarding each type of plant. During setup, please be mindful of the hydration of the plants. Keep them soaking in dechlorinated water or in DriftTech Transition while assembling your tank. Spraying them with dechlorinated water from time to time is also recommended. 

 

The Transition Period (First 30 Days)

When plants shift from one environment to another, they experience significant stress and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). This critical transition window requires careful management:

• Reduce lighting intensity for the first month - aim for moderate levels even if plants will eventually receive high light
• Pre-soak plants in DriftTech Transition for 30-60 minutes before adding to the aquarium to support cellular adaptation
• Expect some melting or leaf loss - this is normal as plants convert to underwater leaf forms.
• If there are any dying leaves, trim them off to help the plant allocate its resources towards acclimation, instead of reviving a dying leaf.
• Maintain stable water parameters and avoid major changes during this period
  

Once established (30+ days), gradually increase lighting to desired levels.

 

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PLANT TYPES AND THEIR CARE:

Epiphytes (Anubias, Bucephalandra, Ferns)

Attachment & Placement:

• Do not bury rhizomes in substrate - this causes rot
• Attach to hardscape (wood, rock) using thread, gel glue, or wedging into crevices
• Can be left floating initially; will attach naturally over time
• Position based on light preference: most prefer low to moderate lighting

Care:

• Minimal nutrient requirements - absorb primarily through leaves
• Benefit from liquid fertilizers in the water column
• Slow growing - perfect for low-maintenance setups
• Wipe leaves gently during water changes to prevent algae buildup
• Prone to algae due to slow growth - maintain good flow around leaves

Common Issues:

• Yellow leaves: Nutrient deficiency, add liquid fertilizer
• Black/brown rhizome: Rot from burial or poor flow
• Algae on leaves: Reduce lighting, improve flow, spot-treat if needed

Stem Plants

Planting:

• Plant stems 2-3 cm deep in substrate
• Space 1-2 cm apart for carpeting effect, or individually for distinct stems
• Remove lower leaves before planting to prevent rot
• Plant in groups of 3-5 stems for visual impact

Care:

• Fast growing - require regular trimming (weekly to bi-weekly)
• Heavy feeders: need both water column nutrients and root fertilization
  
• Trim and replant tops to maintain compact growth
• Remove bottom portions as they become leggy or lose lower leaves

Light & CO2:

• Most stem plants prefer moderate to high lighting
• Many benefit significantly from CO2 supplementation
• Insufficient light causes stretching (long internodes)
• High light without adequate nutrients causes poor coloration

Rosette Plants & Root Feeders (Crypts, Swords, Vallisneria)

Planting:

• Bury roots completely, but keep crown (where leaves emerge) above substrate
• Use root tabs near heavy feeders like swords
• Allow adequate spacing - these plants can grow quite large
• Deep substrate (5+ cm) benefits root development

Care:

• Primary nutrient uptake through roots - root tabs essential for large species
• Supplement with liquid fertilizers for micronutrients
• Generally slower growing than stem plants
• Remove old/dying outer leaves as new growth emerges
• Many species (especially Crypts) will "melt" during transition but they'll regrow new leaves once established.

Species Notes:

• Crypts: Extremely sensitive to parameter changes, may melt completely but will recover
• Swords: Heavy root feeders, require regular root tab replenishment
• Vallisneria: Propagate via runners, can quickly fill background areas

Mosses

Attachment:

• Tie to hardscape with thread or fishing line initially
• Use gel glue for immediate attachment
• Will naturally attach via rhizoids over 2-4 weeks
• Can be left as floating mats, though less aesthetically pleasing but will provide a great hiding place and refuge for fish fry and shrimps

Care:

• Low light to moderate light preferred
• Do not bury - attach to surfaces only
• Benefit from good water flow to prevent debris accumulation
• Trim with scissors to maintain shape and encourage dense growth
• Very prone to algae due to dense structure - maintain excellent flow

Maintenance:

• Regularly remove trapped debris with tweezers
• Trim overgrown sections to prevent lower layers from dying
• Dense moss can harbor detritus - occasional gentle swishing helps
• DriftTech Feed+Activate supports healthy growth without encouraging algae

Algae Management:

• Prevent with good flow, moderate lighting, and stable parameters
• Treat early before algae penetrates dense growth
• Spot-treat with care as moss can be sensitive to chemical treatments

General Tips

Water Parameters:

• Maintain stable conditions - fluctuations cause stress
• Most plants thrive in slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5-7.5)
• Soft to moderately hard water is preferred by most species
• Regular water changes (20-30% weekly) ensure there is no buildup of certain nutrients like nitrogen (nitrates, nitrites, ammonia) in the system. Most liquid fertilizers were formulated assuming a weekly water change.

Fertilization:

• Supplement with root tabs for heavy root feeders
• Adjust dosing based on plant mass and growth rates
• Underdosing is safer than overdosing: start low, increase if needed

Lighting:

• Start low, increase gradually
• 6-8 hours daily for most setups
• Higher light = higher nutrient demand and CO2 benefit
• Timer consistency helps prevent algae

CO2:

• Not required for many species, but accelerates growth
• Essential for high-light, high-demand setups
• Start with moderate injection, increase based on plant response
• Monitor pH swing to ensure fish safety

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Remember: Patience during the transition period pays off. Plants that successfully adapt to your aquarium conditions will thrive long-term with consistent care.