Got some new plants today

[Alin10123]

Hey guys,
Got some new plants today. However, i just had a quick question.
My substrate is only your basic gravel.
However, all of the plants that i have bought, are in the plastic pots with the spongelike things in them.
The variety of plants include grass, and even the more broadleaf plants.
Should i plant them directly into the substrate? Or is it recommended that i leave them in the pots?

thanks

[margo]

I prefer floating plants. Then you don't have to worry about it.

[TheOldSalt]

Out of the pots, but you can leave the medium from the pots, that is, plant the whole rootball with media still attached. That way the roots can escape into the gravel at their leisure and your plants still have some food while getting adjusted to your tank.

oh, waitaminute..you said the sponglike media, not the dirt stuff. In that case, it doesn't matter if it stays or goes, so long as you are careful with the roots.

[DavidDoyle]

The rock wool is usually infused with fertilizers to push growth in the nursery, often it is not desirable in a tank. I also have found that bottom feeders can dislodge bits of the stuff when rooting around. I have always removed as much of the wool as possible while trying to minimize damage to the roots when I get potted plants.

[Alin10123]

Originally Posted by DavidDoyle

The rock wool is usually infused with fertilizers to push growth in the nursery, often it is not desirable in a tank. I also have found that bottom feeders can dislodge bits of the stuff when rooting around. I have always removed as much of the wool as possible while trying to minimize damage to the roots when I get potted plants.

Glad you pointed out it's not desireable in an aquarium. The guy at the LFS was like "yea, just plant the whole things in there to the substrate with the plastic thing they come in.

That store also had chiclids in the tanks that they kept the plants in. Not sure if that's a good thing or not.