Hi-I had a conversation with a guy who owns a pet shop and amongst other things grows his own plants for sale. He was telling me that one of the reasons people initially have good results with their plants only to have them die off within a few weeks is that some suppliers grow them hydroponically. The plants will have a high level of nutrients stored to allow them to survive for a time but the nutrients available in most peoples tanks will be nowhere near the level they have been raised in. I have struck this problem a couple of times (from one particular shop)and found that by giving a high dose of fertiliser initially then gradually tapering off, the vast majority of the plants thrived. My advice would be to ask whether the plants have been grown hydroponically before buying, you would then have some idea as to how to keep them alive.

Many plants in fish stores are also grown emersed(Spelling?) which means they're either the form of an aquatic plant that grows out of the water or they're not even an aquatic plant.

Hi Ira- yes this was something the plant breeder also discussed but it's not always obvious to the uninitiated as to which are bog plants and those which grow fully immersed unless you know beforehand or ask the question. The plants I bought at various times were Val, Crypt and Blue Hygrophila-all from the same shop and the result was always the same -good growth for a couple of weeks then a slow death. I have some Hygrophila planted in a small tank intended for White Clouds which were grown by this plant breeder and it will be interesting to see how they perform (temp around 18c). I have a 4ft tank which at various times has been lit by the recommended lamps for good plant growth but in my experience a cool white tube does just as good a job. I won 1st in the Wellington Aquarium Club competition a few years ago using this form of lighting and plant growth, without fertilising was excellent, and of course the tubes are that much cheaper!

Regards Gordon.