Bringing Home New Aquarium Plants: What to Do After Receiving Them

Receiving new plants for your aquarium is exciting, but handling them correctly in the first hour matters just as much as anything you do afterward. Here are the key steps to take after your order arrives.

Rinse the Plants

Rinse new plants thoroughly before planting to remove packaging debris or residue, so you're not introducing anything unwanted into your tank along with the plant itself.

Quarantine If You Can

Quarantining new plants for a few days in a separate container is a good habit, especially if you're adding them to an established tank with sensitive fish or shrimp — it gives you a chance to spot pests or issues before they reach your main aquarium.

Match Water Conditions

Check that your tank's pH, temperature, and lighting fall within the range your new plants need, adjusting where necessary before or shortly after planting.

Plant with Care

Choose a spot with the right light and space for the plant to grow, and make sure it has solid contact with the substrate (or is properly attached to hardscape, for epiphytes like Anubias or Bucephalandra that should never be buried).

Monitor Closely for the First Few Weeks

Watch new plants for signs of stress like yellowing or wilting, and adjust water conditions or lighting if you see them. Some melting or leaf loss in the first couple of weeks is normal as the plant adjusts from its shipping conditions to your tank.

Keep Up with Nutrients

Start a regular fertilizing routine, whether that's liquid fertilizer, root tabs, or CO2, matched to what the specific plant needs to keep growing well past its first few weeks.

A Good Starting Point

If you're unpacking a fresh order, our Vitro Culture® Collection ships pest- and algae-free, which takes one layer of worry out of the process above.

Keep Reading

• How to Prepare Tissue Culture Plants for Your Planted Aquarium
• Why Aquarium Plants Melt After Planting