These are some plants that I use in aquariums and terrariums. I'm sure there are others that work well, these are just the ones that are easy enough for me to grow!
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Cutting donor: pothos or devil's ivy (Epipremnum aureum). When I need cuttings for tanks, I cut off the ends from this pot. Pothos is about the most useful plant, as it grows well both in soil and in water, and even under the water. |
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Cutting donor: Spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis 'Variegata'). This plant will suffer if it gets too much light (as this one does). Like Pothos, this will grow with or without soil. |
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Cutting donor: ivy (Hedera helix). This plant does need soil, but it tolerates low light and grows well from cuttings. It grows relatively slowly compared to the two above. |
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Java moss (Vesicularia dubyana). Grows in tangled masses. Can be trained to cover cork bark and other places above water that stay wet. Tolerates a wide range of temperature (from tropical to near-freezing). Also tolerates low light and virtually any water conditions. |
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Anacharis, together with a mass of Java moss. The newt is Cynops ensicauda ensicauda. Here is a good link to help clear up the confusion about Anacharis vs. Elodea vs. Egeria: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PlantedTksSubWebIndex/elodea.htm |
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Cuttings of pothos can be stuck almost anywhere. It will grow happily right into the water. Also visible here are duckweed, hornwort, and Java moss. |
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These cuttings of pothos and spiderwort are growing in wet gravel. |
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Spiderwort will quickly spread to cover a terrarium. It will also grow into the water. |
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Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei): another really hardy houseplant useful in aquariums and terrariums. This is my cutting donor, which I use to take pieces to grow in aquariums and terrariums. Some pet shops sell this plant as an aquarium plant, but it does poorly if grown entirely under water. |
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Aluminum plant growing in a saucer of water and rocks. It grows well as long as the leaves are above water. It readily grows roots into the water. It gets spindly after a while and needs to be trimmed back, or replaced with fresh cuttings. |
©2004 Jennifer Macke