To grow African water ferns in an aquarium, you don't plant them in the substrate like most plants. Instead, in order to grow the fern in water, it must first be attached to a medium. This means securing the fern to something like driftwood, rock, or decor.
Preparing the Fern for Attachment
Before attaching the fern, you need to prepare it:
- Release the plant from its nursery pot. Gently remove the fern from any container or packaging it came in.
- Clean off the rhizomes. The rhizome is the thick, horizontal stem from which the leaves and roots grow. Carefully remove any soil, substrate, or packing material clinging to the rhizome and roots.
Attaching the Fern to a Medium
Once the fern is prepared, you can attach it to your chosen medium:
- Select a suitable medium such as aquarium-safe driftwood or rock.
- Place the fern's rhizomes onto the surface of the medium.
- Hold the rhizomes in place on the chosen medium and wrap them onto it with fishing line. You can also use cotton thread or plant-safe glue, but fishing line is a common method mentioned here. Wrap securely enough to hold the fern in position, but avoid damaging the rhizome.
- Submerge the attached fern and medium in the aquarium.
Over time, the African water fern will naturally attach itself to the medium using its roots. Over time the plant will self attach and you can remove the line. This might take several weeks to months. Once it's firmly attached, you can carefully cut and remove the fishing line or thread.
This method ensures the rhizome is exposed to the water column, which is crucial for the health and growth of African water ferns (and similar epiphytic plants like Java fern). Planting the rhizome directly into the substrate can cause it to rot.
