5 Aquarium Plants You Should Try in Your Next Terrarium or Paludarium

Did you know that many of the aquarium plants we know and love to grow in our fish tanks can also be grown

emersed

Are you able to see the water’s surface? Aquarium Co-Op has many plants that were grown from water on the farms where they came. We start the process of changing them to their original form.

submersed

You can enjoy the underwater form in your fish tanks. But many hobbyists are looking for emersed-grown aquarium plants to use in their enclosed glass container ecosystems, planted terrariums for their pet frogs or other amphibians, and paludariums that consist of both water and land environments. This list contains aquatic plants that can grow from water if you want to add greenery to your humid paludarium or terrarium.

Bacopa Species

Moneywort (Bacopa monnieri) and Bacopa caroliniana are excellent candidates for a paludarium-type setup. These plants don’t mind growing underwater, but if you leave them to their own devices, eventually the stems will reach well above the water’s surface anyway. Bacopa species will grow happily in a dry environment, provided they have water and are kept moist. They are exceptionally easy to grow since high humidity and intense lighting are not required. This is a great way to observe the delicate, little flowers that bacopa produces.

Java Moss and Other Mosses

Java moss can grow outside of the aquarium, much like the moss covered trees and rocks in nature. Java moss requires high humidity and constant moisture to thrive. However, it can make a wonderful addition to any moist, terrestrial environment. It spreads and covers any surface it is attached to creating a soft, luxurious carpet. It loves to grow half in and half out of water as well, which can create a nice effect.

Brazilian Pennywort

Brazilian pennywort, or Hydrocotyle Leucocephala, is a fun and easy plant to grow. This plant can be planted underwater and produces umbrella-shaped leaves that create small areas of shade in an aquarium. However, when the plant is grown out of water, this effect becomes even more dramatic. The leaves tend to be more dense and the stems more rigid. This creates a small bush of umbrella greenery for tiny creatures to shelter in. When emersed, Brazilian pennywort can produce tiny white flowers. If left to its own devices though, this plant will grow quite large and spread across a wide area fairly quickly. So, if you have it in a small container, be prepared to do some regular trimming.

Anubias

In its natural habitat, anubias can often be found in semi-aquatic environments with many individuals growing in terrestrial soil near the bank of a river or stream. While it doesn’t like to be overly dry, species in the genus Anubias will very happily grow outside of our fish tanks in a terrestrial setting. They prefer humidity and plenty water, but otherwise they are very easy growers. Their growth rate in an aquatic environment is slow and steady, similar to the one they experience. Growing anubias and mosses together not only looks exceptionally beautiful, but the moss can actually help keep the roots of the anubias moist as they grow together. What a charming pair!

Scarlet Temple

For another great choice with a pop of color, why not try scarlet temple or Alternanthera reineckii planted outside of an aquarium? Although it is not outside in the literal sense of the word, this plant would be happy in a terrarium or similar humid environment. Provided it has plenty of accessible water and high humidity, terrestrial scarlet temple will thrive out of water. It produces stunning, pinkish-red leaves just as it does under water, making it a lovely centerpiece or accent plant to brighten up an all-green backdrop. Scarlet temple plants are often grown in water at farm facilities before being shipped to their end users.

You might consider growing these plants in your aquarium, whether you are looking to create a new project or simply for fun. You might be amazed at the results you can achieve and how different plants look in different environments. These options don’t end there. Many aquatic plants that we love and know can thrive in a variety of environments. You can find more information about aquarium plants in our collection of planted tank articles.