Nutrition for rooted plants that can also float.

[Martin]

Hey gang!

I know there are a lot of stem plants out there that can also serve as a floating plant.  When I hear this, I interpret from it that the plant can feed directly from the water column.  If this is the case, can I get away with planting such plants in a relatively nutrition-less substrate such as sand or gravel and get by just dosing with EZ Green?  I want to add some more plants to my RCS tank but I really would like to avoid adding more maintenance that would disturb the substrate if I can.  Thanks in advance!

[Mmiller2001]

You can plant all plants and fertilize the water column only.

[lefty o]

if its in an aquarium full of water, they can and will get nutrients from the water column. its not like its dry in the substrate of an aquarium. if its in the water, its in the substrate.

[Odd Duck]

I have Amazon sword plants that are growing in bare bottom tanks.  I’m sure they would grow even faster if I actually dosed the tank more frequently.  😝 🤷🏻‍♀️ They are growing despite zero substrate.  I also have some crypts floating in another tank that continue to grow despite being in a bare bottom tank that is also less frequently dosed than it should be for optimum plant health.

Might they better with a nutrient rich substrate?  Probably.  But if I actually put more ferts in the water reliably they’d probably do just as well as a nutrient rich substrate.

[Martin]

Thanks everyone!  I guess I had an incorrect impression from heavy root feeders such as Amazon swords that some plants NEEDED to planted in order to thrive.