Pothos plants are a South Asian climbing plant whose scientific name is Epipremnum aureum; it is part of the arum family.
These plants are widely grown for several uses. Because of its multiple medicinal benefits, people put these Pothos plants inside their home, office, aquarium, etc.
The heart-shaped leaves on these plants have a smooth leather type texture and are generally spotted with yellow, golden or white colour.
People use many nicknames for these plants, such as devils ivy, ivy arum, Ceylon creeper, silver vine, money plant, taro vine, hunters robe, devils vine, money plant, and Solomon ivy island.
An everyday use of these plants is inside an aquarium.
Let’s understand why?
Why should you put Pothos emergent plants in your aquarium?
Pothos plants are easy to grow even in harsh conditions; these plants work as an air purifier, helping remove chemicals from the aquarium water because of which people choose to add these plants to their fish tank.
They have some profound benefits if added to the fish tank, and these benefits are.
It’s tough
Pothos plants don’t die; yes, these indeed are some of the most robust plants when it comes to growing in harsh conditions.
It doesn’t matter if you forget to water the plant; it will grow itself with the help of light in the room.
It removes nitrates and ammonia from the fish tank
These plants can grow their roots long enough to reach the tank’s bottom, and the leaves stay above the water.
This when compared to regular aquatic plants, requires CO2 to grow quickly, which is why some people use CO2 tanks or CO2 injection in their aquarium water to boost their growth.
But the exchange of CO2 with these methods is a slow process; thus, the plants absorb the nutrients and from the water at a much slower pace.
On the flip side, the leaves of Pothos plants are already exposed to the air from which they get their CO2; the process of absorbing nutrients such as nitrates and ammonia from the water is much faster than regular plants.
It beautifies your fish tank
Pothos plants in aquariums by far looking the best, even better than those artificial plants.
As these plants keep growing their leaves, it gives a natural and aesthetic look to your aquarium.
You can even extend the plant on the wall or let it hang from the tank.
Provides natural shelter to the fish
Pothos plants in aquariums first grow their roots and then the leaves.
The roost these plants grow is widespread and robust; it acts as a shelter for the female fish to lay their eggs.
Removes algae
No one likes algae in their fish tank; algae’s growth in your aquarium indicates the deficiency of nutrients and the unbalanced levels of nitrates in your tank water.
The excessive growth of algae affects the growth of plants and the overall atmosphere of the aquarium.
There are ways of controlling this growth, such as limiting feeding the fishes, CO2 system, using RO water or the best option is to add Pothos plants in your tank.
Pothos are super-efficient in absorbing nutrients while reducing algae growth.
After a certain period of time, it’ll altogether remove algae from the tank.
Safe from omnivore fish
Several omnivorous fishes like African cichlids don’t bother what comes in front of them; they will try to eat it.
They sometimes eat up the aquatic plants too.
These types of fishes also produce a significant amount of waste leading to the rise in nitrates level.
Your best solution would be to Pothos plants to tackle this problem because the roots on these plants are so strong that these fishes won’t eat them.
Therefore it will allow the plant to grow without getting eaten up by the fish and remove the nutrients.
What are the side effects of putting Pothos plants in your aquarium?
After knowing how great Pothos plants in aquariums can be, it’s also necessary to see the side effects these plants can cause.
Pothos plant consists of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which is a harmful chemical.
If by accident someone eats it, the plant will affect your upper airway and digestive tract.
So it’s advisable to keep the plant away from kids and pet animals.
The second con of adding Pothos plants in fish tanks is that, as we learned above, how fast these plants grow; this rapid growth can sometimes affect other aquatic plants in your aquarium.
If you see the regular plants in the fish tank not growing correctly, the chances are that the Pothos plant may have stunted their growth.
In such a scenario, it’s best to prune your Pothos plant as per your aquarium’s size so that both the aquatic and the Pothos plant grow equally.
How to add Pothos plants to your aquarium?
The first thing to do is to rinse the plant from top to bottom properly. This is to be done to remove any unwanted soil particles or pesticides.
After cleaning the plant, you now have to use a fish tank safe suction cup to hold and place the plant’s stem in the tank.
The cup holding the stem must be under the waterline and the leaves above the water level.
How to clean Pothos plants?
If your Pothos plant is growing in a pot, you need to remove the entire plant from the pot’s soil.
Then separate the rest soil from the plant’s root; the soil may get dry, for which you can use some water to loosen up the soil from the roots.
Initially, you’ll only need to need the plant once for the aquarium, but from afterwards, as it’ll grow a new vine quickly, then you can cut it again as per your need.
How to reproduce Pothos plants in your aquarium?
For propagating a Pothos plant in your aquarium, you first have to find the node on the stem; it is brown.
Once you have located the stem, then you can cut it at a 45-degree angle and put this cut part in the fish tank.
After some time, you’ll see a new root developing in the tank.
And in this way, you propagate a pothos plant.
5 Best Pothos Plants for your fish tank.
After learning about the Pothos plant’s magical properties, you must be wanting to add one for your aquarium.
If you plan to buy Pothos plants, we have mentioned some of the Pothos plants you can check out and buy one for yourself.
Shop Succulents Store Vining Collection 4-inch Devil’s Ivy Pothos House Plant
Everyone knows that Pothos plants are known for their long and trailing stems that grow fast. Due to its aerial roots, this plant can climb a trellis, and it is perfect for your aquarium. The leaves are glossy and are heart-shaped in yellow or white color. The light tolerance is low, and therefore, it can lose the variegation.
Observe its leaves in bright to moderate light. When it comes to its growth, you need fluorescent lights to make them flourish. Make sure that you place the plant in a proper draining potting mixture. Consider its exciting features and know about this plant in detail.
Features
- This Pothos plant needs soil that dries out whenever you water it. If you keep it in the damp soil, then its roots will get rot.
- When it comes to fertilizers, there is no need to feed them heavily. But if the potting soil does not have any nutrients, you have to feed it with a good fertilizer monthly.
- It requires outdoor to partial shade or indirect light for better growth. There is a possibility of losing the leaf pattern if there is not enough light.
- The company offers high-quality plants, and if you receive an unhealthy or damaged plant, you can ask for a full refund or replacement.
JM Bamboo 6-inch Hanging Pot Golden Devil Ivy Pothos Plant
It can filter out the air and add oxygen to the atmosphere. You can also give this plant as a gift to your dear ones. Let us go through some of its fantastic features.
Features
- It is easy to care about this plant and keep it in your house.
- You can track the condition of the plant after it gets shipped.
- You can give it as a gift to your dear ones.
- For additional care, it is well-packed with soft tissue.
- It acts as an air purifier that helps in filtering the toxins and adding oxygen.
- It will look great in your home decor.
Hirt Garden Store 4-inch Pearls & Jade Pothos Plant
It is a rare Pothos plant that you cannot find commonly in any store. It is easy to grow and care for the indoor vine, i.e., Double Dip Devil’s Ivy. You need bright and indirect light at low levels for better growth.
Ensure that you water the soil when it is dry, but it should be done before wilting. It needs fertilizer in a month during spring. It will last for many years if you care about it well. Consider some of its detailed features.
Features
- It is easy to grow in your house with indirect bright light.
- The plant will look great when you hang it.
- It requires water whenever the soil gets dry.
- You can get this plant with an option of immediate shipping.
Costa Farms Store 6-inch Golden Devil Ivy Pothos
You can prefer this heart-shaped foliage Pothos plant in gold. Its large leaves look great in your home décor as well as in frost-free outdoor areas. The light tolerance is low, and it requires moist soil to grow well. It is ideal for the office and home. You can get fresh and beautiful Pothos plants from Costa Farms. Check out some of its detailed features.
Features
- These golden Pothos are the best and easy-to-grow houseplants, which require low maintenance.
- It is drought-tolerant and ideal for offices and homes.
- The plant helps in purifying the air and gives you a clean atmosphere to breathe.
- It is necessary to water the plants well by soaking the soil without keeping the excess water.
- This plant can grow to the height of 10 to 12 inches. It looks beautiful in your home with sufficient shade and light.
- Grow these Pothos in hanging baskets, and the leaves trailing down will look beautiful.
Eunivus Golden 4-inch Devil Ivy 6 Leaves Pothos Plant
It is another best Pothos plant for both indoors and outdoors. You can place them in an aquarium as well because they can grow in any condition. When you buy this item online, you will get a 4-inch potted plant with six healthy leaves.
The plant will stay in better condition, and you do not have to worry about it. The company offers a warranty if you get a damaged item. You will get to the plant within 24 hours. Let us consider some of the features in detail.
Features
- Customer satisfaction is quite vital for the company, and therefore, it will deliver the right items to your home.
- If you get a damaged or unhealthy plant, you can contact the company for a return or refund.
- The overall height of the plant is 4 inches with six large leaves.
- You can decorate your home décor by placing these Pothos at some places.
- It is easy to grow and maintain these plants without any external help.
Conclusion
It was all about Pothos plants; knowing why these plants are fantastic for your aquarium, you can now buy your plants and add them into the aquarium. The process of adding the plant is pretty simple and does not take long. You must be aware of your plant growth and keep monitoring it from time to time because if not done so, it may cause complications in your aquarium.
So, make sure you take care of your plants and aquarium. If you properly grow these plants in your aquarium, it will improve your overall environment of this fish tank and keep your fish healthy.
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