Planting Stem plants

[Fresh Princess]

Tried numerous times to plant and grow Scarlet Temple, but one of two things happen every time..... they melt and/or won't stay planted. So I give up but I have been brain storming ideas to secure stem plants in the gravel. So here goes.... 

#1 Create a small faux/clay rock type formation that is cut in half with  tiny magnets inside to attach the two sides. It could be removed easily once the plant roots anchor. (If anybody makes one.... let me know!)

#2 I purchased plastic bobby pins and it can hold anything from 1 to 4 stems, but more importantly is can be shoved down in the gravel and hold the roots. Later I could just slide them out.  I actually tried this today to plant my Pogo Octopus and it worked really well too. 

Any thoughts?

Edited March 20, 2023 by Fresh Princess

[Theplatymaster]

@Fresh Princess

the bobby pins will probably work for keeping the plants rooted, you can also purchase plant weights for this purpose.

Also scarlet temple is a difficult plant to grow due to its VERY high lighting requirements, so that would explain the melting.

[Fresh Princess]

We'll see if the Pogo is still there tommorrow! Fingers crossed.... they felt pretty secure in the gravel. I tried weight for my Amazons but the weights didn't work for me with stems.

If it does work maybe I will try Scarlet again, now that I have a new lighting.

 

Edited March 20, 2023 by Fresh Princess

[Fresh Princess]

2+ inches of gravel

[knee]

Adding another inch or two of substrate will definitely help the plants stay. 

Regarding the scarlet temple, it's a very finnicky plant and I suggest to get a different plant to save you the headache of trying to get that plant to thrive. They prefer tanks with high light, good nutrient levels and pressurized co2.

They are doable with medium lighting and without co2 but you'd really have to find that perfect balance which can invite algae in the process. 

There are other stem plants that aren't sensitive and can still give you a nice shade of red. Ludwigia palustris super red and rotala h'ra turns red/orange without co2 and high light.

[Fresh Princess]

Got it! It has even started a new plant.