What do you think about Dwarf Schefflera arboricola?Hello all!
I've searched a bit but could not find a post with a list of common house plants that are able to be kept in tanks. (I may have missed it though)
With this I'd like to make a list of common houseplants that can be safely grown in tank with no harm to the fish.
All the species I am listing as SAFE are species I've grown in the past, or am currently growing in tanks. (Incase I am wrong, do tell!)
Variegated plants of those I listed can also be grown, but I've had less good results with variegated species usually.
They grow best in covered tanks, since they thrive in humid enviroments you can also grow them in open top tanks, but beware that the room temperature can't drop too low when growing them in open top tanks.
Personally I've had a monstera Deliciosa growing out of an open top tanks for over 3 years and never had a problem, the plant grew a lot better compared to the ones I keep in pots.
But because of the European energy crisis last year I've heated a lot less during winter and had room temps between 50-60F at night (and during most of the day, I only heated for 3-4 hours to 65F at most) and I've noticed the plants suffered a lot from those temperatures, not only the ones in my open top tank but also potted plants. Those in covered tanks had no issues since I kept the tanks heated properly.
To the list!
COMPLETELY SAFE SPECIES
Epipremnum/Scindapsus/Pothos can be grown partially submerged, or fully underwater:
Epipremnum Cebu Blue
Epipremnum Aureum
Epipremnum Aureum "Marble Queen"
Most likely the other Epipremnum/Scindapsus species can also be grown, I just personally haven't tried those yet.
Scindapsus Pictus I have attempted before, but that species does not seem to adapt well to growing partially submerged. I kept getting root rot after a while.
Scindapsus is basically the same as Epipremnum, but the difference between those plants is almost invisible for most people. The only difference between Scindapsus and Epipremnum are their flower, which you usually never get to see anyway.
Monstera:
Monstera Deliciosa
Monstera Adansonii
Monstera Pinnatipartita
Chlorophytum, can not be grown fully submerged but can be grown with the roots in water. Good for "Pond" set-ups.
Colocasia, I've had quite a few species of Colocasia in my "pond tank" before, same as Chlorophytum it can not be grown submerged, but grows very well on pond edges or if you can grow it with only the roots submerged in the tank.
Papyrus can be grown partially, or fully submerged, but will grow above your water surface eventually. I've grown it at a 1foot depth before and it towered out of the tank after a month or 2.
Species of Juncus are also safe to grow partially submerged and some can grow fully submerged as well.
UNSURE WETHER THEY ARE SAFE OR NOT, BUT ABLE TO GROW WITH SUBMERGED ROOTS
Syngonium..
Personally I've grown Syngoniums in my Channa Bleheri tank, with no side effects, but I've read conflicting information online about their toxicity towards animals. Only grow them with the roots submerged, the plant itself will rot underwater.
Ferns..
A lot of ferns can also be grown with submerged roots, but I am unsure which are toxic and non toxic. I have yet to gain experience with them. I have grown ferns in closed tanks with soil and high humidity, but never in a fish tank. (if anyone has more experience with ferns, please shout!)
Calathea..
Same as the ferns I've grown Calathea in soil in closed tanks with very high humidity levels and they thrived in those conditions, but I'm unsure wether this plant could fully adapt to rooting on water for long periods of time / isn't toxic.
Propagating Calathea I've always done on water, but never left them in there for long periods.
WARNING RISK INVOLVED WITH THE SPECIES BELOW!!!
Philodendron vine species such as:
Philodendron Pedatum
Philodendron Brasil
Philodendron Micans
Philodendron Hastatum
Philodendron Mayoi
Philodendron "Dragon Tail"
Philodendron Squamiferum
Philodendron "Red Wings"'
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma (Also referred to as Monstera Minima, but is actually of the Philodendron family)
HOWEVER take note that philodendron contains toxins in their leaves. You must either remove yellowing leaves immediately, or have it set-up so only the roots touch the water but the leaves cannot possibly go inside the tank. The toxins they carry are harmful for your water and fish.
All the Philodendron species I've listed I've succesfully grown on water for long periods of time, but have never taken the risk of growing them in an aquarium.
However I am listing them for those that are willing to take the risk, or can set it up in such a way that they can not enter the aquarium water aside from their roots.
Anthurium can also be grown with submerged roots but take note these also contain toxins so you must set it up in a similar way as Philodendrons so there is no risk of yellowing leaves decaying in the water.
Asparagus Fern can also be grown with the roots submerged but take note the fruit is toxic. However I have yet to see an Asparagus Fern grow fruits in a house-hold setting.
___________________________
If anyone has experience with different species I have not listed, please add to the list! I've always been passionate about plants as well as fish, so I've been trying to combine both hobbies together as much as possible!
Also if I happen to be wrong about anything, please tell! The safe species I've listed I've grown in tanks before without any negative effects so maybe I was lucky with some to never have had an issue with them.
My true passion in plants lays with succulents and cacti, however those will never be able to be grown in aquariums.
Common Houseplants in aqarium, the list!
- Thread starter Joseppe
- Start date
Schefflera is prone to overwatering and root rot in my experience, but then again, I never expected Dieffenbachia to grow on water and that was proven differently already in this thread. You never know. I just dont think it would adapt well, if at all.
Hey, I found a site that's selling some cuttings. Funny, it says they don't like to be wet. Aquarists:*Puts them straight into water*
They are very easily propagated on water and thrive in very humid conditions, epipremnum in the wild grows amazingly large "air roots" as we call them as they draw a big portion of their water from the humidity. If anything they love to be wet.
I placed a cutting of Schefflera in a vase that’s been growing in water for about a year and it’s been fine so far. Was tempted to place the roots in the aquarium but was worried the plant might be toxic. Any thoughts on that?
Also surprised by diffenbachia…that stuff is super toxic but guess not with fish?
Honestly glad I started this, already learned more than I could think. I'm guessing as long as it is just the roots it can't do much harm since it is mosty in the leaves and stem where toxins are present.
Also goes to show how adaptable plants really are. Mostly experienced with the common houseplants in soil and a lot of them are very prone to root rot in those conditions. Plants make different roots adapt to water if grown on it, if you would move it to soil the water roots actually rot after a while and are replaced with different roots adapt to soil.
Trial and error will tell if it is safe or not, I would not place anything that you're unsure of in a tank with important fish in it.
This is motivating me a lot to sort out my fish room faster and set up that 30G to try all sorts of plants in and see what will grow well.
Was so curious if anyone is still around on here and has any updates to any trial and error plant tests for aquariums? I know it has been a long time since the last post, but I came across this and immediately signed up because this has been the most informative thing I have read so far. I am building a small business around houseplants up in Maine, USA and have become obsessed with using safe houseplants in reptile enclosure (very new love and will be building a set up for a chameleon over the winter 
🥹) as well as in my aquariums! I have been into freshwater aquariums for the past year and just recently upgraded my chiclid tank to a 40 gallon with a fluval 307 canister filter. Just introduced the babies yesterday after cycling the tank and everyone is very happy! I have some Syngonium growing out of the tank with some long roots laid through the tank bed. They have been enjoying all the hiding spots for sure 
🩵
I’m going to add in some of the monstera types you listed as safe as I grow many of the same plants listed I have several to play with! (Greenhouse hopefully going up by end of the year
)
Thank you so much for the information! Hopefully this finds some of you and you’ll have even more awesome info to share! I’m very interested in all natural (as possible) life for all my animals (2 dogs, 2 cats, 4 ((now down to 3 just one much bigger lol)) tanks
🥹) as well as in my aquariums! I have been into freshwater aquariums for the past year and just recently upgraded my chiclid tank to a 40 gallon with a fluval 307 canister filter. Just introduced the babies yesterday after cycling the tank and everyone is very happy! I have some Syngonium growing out of the tank with some long roots laid through the tank bed. They have been enjoying all the hiding spots for sure 🩵 I’m going to add in some of the monstera types you listed as safe as I grow many of the same plants listed I have several to play with! (Greenhouse hopefully going up by end of the year
)Thank you so much for the information! Hopefully this finds some of you and you’ll have even more awesome info to share! I’m very interested in all natural (as possible) life for all my animals (2 dogs, 2 cats, 4 ((now down to 3 just one much bigger lol)) tanks
This is right what what I wanted to see! Plant Life, Write On, Monsters! My biggest gripe, I can't use the very available and reliable, Sun, in my basement, that is to be solved... with Smoke & Mirrors, I should turn my chimney into a skylight shaft, just an idea.
The Dieffenbachia is getting a little woody these days.
Even with roots jus dangling in the tank.
Absolutely beautiful! I’m loving these ideas and I’m already having way too much fun today adding some beauties to the tanks!! It’s slow going but a quick shot!
