[Anne]

Since we have been talking about plants heres a did you know

Most plants sold in the aquarium trade are not truly aquatic most are bog plants any only fully submerged for short periods of time

to tell truly aquatic plants hold them by the root end if the stand upright on their own they are not truly aquatic. Truly aquatic plants depend on water to remain upright .



if you have factoids feel free to add -Anne

[pufferdude]

yep i knew that.....

[Anne]

ok as long as you did -Anne

[cich]

Shouldn't this be in the planted section?

--cich

[Anne]

So write something about it in the planted section jeeze -Anne

[XT87]

wow... didn't know that. Thanks

[David]

ok so flip the plant upside down hold on to the roots and see if the rest of the plant turns up gowing toward the top???

Dave

[Tobias]

ok so flip the plant upside down hold on to the roots and see if the rest of the plant turns up gowing toward the top???

Dave

Nope, take the plant and hold it by its roots in an upright position (roots down, leaves up). If the plant slouches down on your hand it is likely a true aquatic plant.
Most plants are grown emersed at the suppliers so when you first get them you can try this. Amazon swords, anubias and so on will stand on their own. Beware though that after being kept underwater for a while, a plant initially grown emersed will lose much of its stability so it may break off and get damaged.