21 Best Aquarium Plants For Gravel Substrate (With Pictures)

If you are looking for the best aquarium plants for gravel substrate then you are at the right place.

In this blog post, I am going to show you the aquarium plants that can be kept in an aquarium that has a gravel substrate.

So let’s get started.

Best Aquarium Plants For Gravel Substrate (Quick Table)

Plant Name	Care level	Placement	Buy from Amazon
Anubias	Easy	Mid to Background	Click here
Amazon Sword	Easy	Background	Click here
Jungle Vallisneria	Moderate	Background	Click here
Ludwigia Repens	Easy	Background	Click here
Asian Ambulia	Moderate	Mid-Background	Click here
Java moss	Easy	Foreground/carpet	Click here
Cryptocoryne wendtii	Easy	Midground/Background	Click here
Italian Vallisneria	Easy	Background	Click here
Corkscrew Vallisneria	Easy	Background	Click here
Giant hygro/temple plant	Easy	Background	Click here
Water sprite	Easy	Mid to Background	Click here
Anacharis	Easy	Background	Click here
Hornwort	Easy	Background	Click here
Java fern	Easy	Background	Click here
Bucephalandra	Easy	Foreground	Click here
Dwarf Sagittaria	Easy	Mid-foreground	Click here

Best Aquarium Plants For Gravel Substrate

1. Anubias

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Anubias
COMMON NAMES
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Anubias
FAMILY	Araceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low-Moderate
GROWTH RATE	Slow
TEMPERATURE	72-82°F
pH	6.5 – 7.8
HARDNESS	60- 160 ppm
PLACEMENT	Mid-background
MAXIMUM SIZE	11+ Inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 Gallons
PROPAGATION	Rhizome Division

Anubias is one of the most popular aquarium plants in the hobby.

This plant is very hardy and easy to care for.

So even if you are a beginner, you can easily keep it in your aquarium.

It can tolerate temperatures as low as 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

So depending on the fish species in your aquarium, you may keep it in a cold water aquarium.

Provided with an ideal temperature, this plant can produce flowers in your aquarium.

Light requirements

Anubias can tolerate almost any lighting condition.

It can grow in low lighting as well as high-lighting conditions.

Under low-lighting conditions, it will grow slowly, and under high-lighting conditions, it will grow fast.

Ideally, you should keep it in moderate lighting conditions of at least 3 watts per gallon.

Checkout our lighting recommendation

Substrate requirements

You can use any substrate for planting Anubias in your aquarium.

So obviously, you can plant it in a gravel substrate.

Fertilization requirements

For better treatment, you should regularly supplement Anubias with fertilizer.

You can also supplement it with additional CO2 and it will definitely benefit from it,

though it is not necessary.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature for the proper growth of Anubias ranges from 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6.5 to 7.8, and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

You can plant Anubias in your gravel substrate.

It is a short plant, so you should keep it in the foreground of your aquarium.

You can also attach it to any rock, driftwood, or other decoration in your aquarium and then put it inside your aquarium.

Where to buy online

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here

Check out 12 Benefits of Live Plants in an Aquarium (Pros and Cons)

2. Amazon Sword

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Amazon sword
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Echinodorus grisebachii
FAMILY	Alismataceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	60.8-82.4°F
pH	6.5-7.5 pH
HARDNESS	8-15°dH
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	16 Inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 Gallons

Amazon sword is another popular plant in the aquarium hobby.

It is a tall fast growing plant that can grow as tall as 16 inches.

This plant is very easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, which makes it ideal for beginners.

This plant can grow in temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is a very good plant for a cold water aquarium.

Besides, it is also a very good oxygenating plant.

Light requirements

Amazon sword is not very light-demanding.

It can do well in low to moderate lighting conditions.

Ideally, you should provide it with at least 2 watts of light per gallon.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you should provide it light for at least 11 to 12 hours every day.

Substrate requirements

You can use any substrate, and certainly gravel as a substrate for Amazon sword.

Just make sure that the substrate is at least 2.5 inches thick so that it can form a strong root base inside the substrate.

Fertilization requirements

Amazon sword is a very hardy plant and can do well without any fertilizers.

But as with all the aquarium plants, if you supplement it with additional fertilizers it will definitely benefit from it.

Ideal water parameters

As mentioned earlier, Amazon sword can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

That being said, the ideal temperature for the proper growth of Amazon sword is between 60-82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6.5 to 7.5 and its water hardness tolerance range is between 8 to 15° DH.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

You can plant Amazon sword in gravel substrate.

Amazon sword is a tall-growing plant that can grow up to 16 inches.

So it is a very good plant to keep in mid or background of your tank.

Where to buy online

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here

Check out 6 Tips to Take Care of Live Plants in Aquarium (For Beginners)

3. Jungle Vallisneria

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Jungle Vallisneria
COMMON NAMES	Jungle Val, water celery, tape grass or eelgrass
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Vallisneria Americana
FAMILY	Hydrocharitaceae
CARE LEVEL	Intermediate
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Medium
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	65° – 85° F
pH	6.8 – 8.0
HARDNESS	Moderately Hard to Very Hard
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	6 feet (2 meters)
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

Jungle Vallisneria is one of the best oxygenating plants and it is commonly used in aquariums.

It is a fast growing plant that can grow up to 6 feet.

This plant is very hardy and can do well in diverse water conditions.

It can survive in temperatures as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is a good choice for a cold water aquarium.

This plant is a bit tricky to maintain, so it is not a very good choice for beginners.

Light requirements

Jungle Vallisneria can tolerate almost any lighting condition.

It can survive in low lighting conditions and it will grow fast under high lighting conditions.

Ideally, you should keep it under moderate lighting conditions of at least 3-4 watts per gallon.

Substrate requirements

You can use gravel or sand as a substrate for planting Jungle Vallisneria in your aquarium.

Fertilization requirements

Jungle Vallisneria does require a decent amount of iron for its proper growth.

So you should regularly supplement it with iron-rich fertilizers.

You should add these fertilizers after the weekly water change.

Ideal water parameters

Jungle Vallisneria can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.

It can tolerate temperature as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6.8-8 and you should keep it in moderately hard to very hard water.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

Jungle Vallisneria is a tall-growing plant that can grow up to 6 feet.

So you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.

Where to buy online

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here

4. Ludwigia Repens

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Ludwigia Repens
COMMON NAMES	Ludwigia repens, Ludwigia repens Rubin, Red repens, Ludwigia sp. Weinrot, Red-Leaf Ludwigia, Creeping Primrose-Willow
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Ludwigia repens
FAMILY	Onagraceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low to very high
GROWTH RATE	Moderate to Fast
TEMPERATURE	60- 86oF
pH	5 – 8
HARDNESS	Very soft to hard level
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	7-19 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

Ludwigia repens is a very popular coloring plant in aquascaping.

The leaves of this plant range from deep green to deep red.

Under ideal conditions, it can grow pretty fast and provide a lot of hiding places to small fish like Tetras.

It is very easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters so it is a good choice for beginners.

Light requirements

Ludwigia repens does require a good lighting condition, especially to get it its red coloration.

You should keep it under moderate to high lighting conditions of at least three to four watts per gallon.

Substrate requirements

You can use any substrate and certainly gravel as a substitute for planting Ludwigia repens in your aquarium.

Fertilization requirements

Ludwigia repens can do well without any fertilizers.

But to get its red coloration, you should supplement it with additional CO2.

Ideal water parameters

Ludwigia repens can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

It can tolerate temperature as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

So it is a very good plant to keep in a cold water aquarium.

The pH tolerance range of this plant is between 5 to 8 and you can keep it in very soft to very hard water.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

You can plant Ludwigia repens in your gravel substrate.

It can grow tall up to 19 inches which makes it a very good background plant.

Some people just let it float in their aquarium, so you can also keep it floating in your aquarium.

Where to buy online

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here

5. Asian Ambulia

Photo by Andreus Felipen under CC BY-SA 3.0

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Asian ambulia
COMMON NAMES	Dwarf ambulia, Ambulis, Asian marshweed
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Limnophila sessiliflora
FAMILY	Plantaginaceae
CARE LEVEL	Moderate
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	59-82° F
pH	5 – 8
HARDNESS	2 – 21°dKH
PLACEMENT	Mid-Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	15 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

Asian ambulia is also known as dwarf ambulia, ambulis, and Asian marshweed.

It is a very good fast growing flowering plant that can grow as tall as 15 inches.

This plant is a very good alternative to Cabomba which is a very demanding plant.

This plant is very easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters so it is a very good choice for beginners.

Light requirements

Asian ambulia is not very light-demanding.

This plant does well in low to moderate lighting conditions.

You should provide it at least 2 to 3 watts per gallon light.

Substrate requirements

You can use any substrate and certainly gravel as a substrate for planting Asian ambulia in your aquarium.

Fertilization requirements

Asian ambulia is a very hardy plant and can do well without any additional fertilizers.

But as with all the plants, if you supplement it with some additional fertilizers it will benefit from them.

Ideal water parameters

As mentioned earlier, Asian ambulia can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

This plant can tolerate temperature as low as 59 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 82 degrees Fahrenheit which makes it a very good choice for a cold water aquarium.

Its pH tolerance range is between 5 to 8 and water hardness tolerance range is between 2-21° KH

How to keep it in an aquarium?

Asian ambulia is a tall-growing stem plant that can grow as tall as 15 inches.

So depending on the size of your aquarium, you can keep it in the mid-ground or background of your aquarium.

For example, if you have a small to medium size aquarium then you should keep it in the background.

If you have a larger tank then you can keep it in the mid-ground or background of your aquarium.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

6. Java Moss

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Java moss
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Vesicularia dubyana
FAMILY	Hypnaceae
CARE LEVEL	Very easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low to Bright
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	59-86°F
pH	5.0 to 8.0
HARDNESS	60- 240 ppm
PLACEMENT	Foreground
MAXIMUM SIZE	4 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 gallon

Java Moss is another popular aquarium plant in the hobby.

This is the easiest plant to keep in an aquarium, so it is a very good choice for beginners.

Also, it can also tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

It is a fast growing plant and it provides a lot of hiding places and protection to small fish like Guppies.

It is also one of the best plants for a Shrimp tank.

Light requirements

Java Moss can grow in almost any lighting conditions as far as it is not in shade.

This plant can grow in very low light as well as in high lighting conditions.

Though the lighting will affect the growth rate of this plant.

For example, when you keep it under low lighting, it will grow slowly and its growth will be lankier.

On the other hand, when you keep it under high lighting conditions, this plant will grow very fast and dense.

Substrate requirements

Java Moss doesn’t really require any substrate to keep in an aquarium.

This plant doesn’t have any true roots.

Instead, it has rhizomes that help it to get attached to anything in your aquarium, whether that is rock, driftwood or even the gravel substrate of your aquarium.

Fertilization requirements

Java Moss is a very undemanding and hardy plant and can do well without any additional supplementation of fertilizers.

That being said, as with all plants, it will benefit and grow faster if you supplement it with some additional fertilizers.

How to keep it in an aquarium?

Java Moss is a very versatile plant and there are several ways you can keep it in your aquarium depending on the aesthetics you are looking for

The simplest way to keep it in an aquarium is to just let it float in your aquarium.

You can literally just toss it inside your aquarium and it will find its place to get attached.

Another way is to tie it to any ornament like driftwood or rock and then put it inside your aquarium.

You can also just keep it on the surface of the gravel in your aquarium and it will get attached to it.

Where to buy online

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.com here

Check the latest price of this plant at Amazon.co.uk here

7. Cryptocoryne wendtii

Check more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Cryptocoryne Wendtii
COMMON NAMES	Wendt’s Cryptocoryne, water trumpet
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Cryptocoryne Wendtii
FAMILY	Araceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low
GROWTH RATE	Medium
TEMPERATURE	72-82° F
pH	6.0-8.0
HARDNESS	KH 3-8
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	6 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 gallon

This is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby.

The reason for this is that this plant comes in many different varieties with varying sizes and colors.

Depending on the species of the plant, the leaf size of the plant can range from anywhere between 5 to 18 inches.

Besides, this plant comes in a lot of different colors, ranging from red, green to brown, etc.

Also, this plant is very easy to care for, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.

Light requirements

This plant can tolerate any lighting condition.

So you can keep it in low to high lighting conditions.

Just make sure that it is getting some light in your aquarium.

Substrate requirements

You can plant this plant in a gravel substate.

Just make sure to directly plant it into the substrate.

Eventually, it’ll develop a complex and deep root structure in the substrate, which makes it difficult to uproot the plant.

So if you have some fish, such as cichlids, that like to dig into the substrate and uproot the plants, this is a great option for you. 

Fertilization requirements

For proper growth and development of this plant, you should regularly supplement it with fertilizer.

This plant can absorb nutrients through its leaves as well as through its roots. So you can use liquid fertilizers as well as root tabs to provide it with all the essential nutrients.

Idea water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this aquarium plant is between 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and the ideal pH range is between 6 to 8. And the ideal water hardness tolerance range is between 3 to 8 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

As this plant comes in different size variations, depending on the size of the plant and your aquarium size, you can keep it in the foreground, middle ground, or background of your aquarium.

The green variety of this plant is suitable for small tanks because it grows up to 15 cm.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

8. Italian Vallisneria

Check more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Italian Vallisneria
COMMON NAMES	Italian Vallisneria
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Vallisneria spiralis
FAMILY	Hydrocharitaceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate
GROWTH RATE	Moderate to Fast
TEMPERATURE	72-80℉
pH	6.0-7.5
HARDNESS	4 – 18°N
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	11.81 – 21.65 inch
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

This is one of the best aquarium plants for beginners because it is very hardy and requires minimal care.

Besides, it is very cheap as well.

Light requirements

This plant does well in moderate to high lighting conditions.

Under high lighting conditions, it will grow much faster.

Substrate requirements

You can plant this plant in a gravel substrate.

While planting it in the gravel substrate, make sure to keep its crown above the substrate.

Fertilization requirements

This plan can do well without any fertilizers.

However, for better growth and development, you should supplement it with fertilizers in the form of liquid fertilizer or root tabs.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The ideal pH range is between 6 to 7.5 and the ideal water hardness tolerance range for this plant is between 4 to 18 degrees N.

How to keep it in an aquarium

Because this plant can grow quite tall, up to 21 inches, it is best kept in the background of your tank.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

9. Corkscrew Vallisneria

Check more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Corkscrew Vallisneria
COMMON NAMES	Corkscrew Val
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Vallisneria torta
FAMILY	Tapegrass
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate to High
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	68-82.5 °F
pH	5-8
HARDNESS	Hard water
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	20 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 gallon

This plant doesn’t have any strict nutrient requirements, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.

Besides, it is a great background plant for small to medium aquariums because it doesn’t grow too tall.

Light requirements

Corkscrew Vallisneria requires at least moderate lighting conditions for its proper growth and development.

Under high lighting conditions, it will grow much faster.

Substrate requirements

You can plant Corkscrew Vallisneria in a gravel substrate.

While planting it, just make sure not to bury its crown and keep it above the substrate.

Fertilization requirements

Just to make sure that the plant is getting all the essential nutrients, you should regularly supplement it with root tabs.

This will also help the plant grow much faster.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The ideal water pH range for this plant is between 5 to 8, and this plant prefers hard water, which is particularly rich in calcium.

How to keep it in an aquarium

This plant can grow up to 20 inches tall, so in most aquariums, you should keep it in the background of the tank.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

10. Giant hygro/temple plant

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Giant Hygro
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Hygrophila corymbosa
FAMILY	Acanthaceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Medium
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	72-84° F
pH	6.0-7.5
HARDNESS	71.43 – 321.43 PPM
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	24 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 Gallons

Giant hygro is also known as temple plant.

This plant can survive in almost any condition, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.

Besides, this plant can also produce flowers if it grows above your aquarium.

Light requirements

This plant does well under moderate lighting conditions of anywhere between 2 to 3 Watts per gallon of your aquarium.

Substrate requirements

You can plant this plant in your gravel substrate.

However, the recommended substrate for this plant is fine gravel substrate.

Fertilization requirements

For better growth and development of Giant hygro, you should regularly supplement it with fertilizers.

And you can use root tabs to provide it with all the essential nutrients.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 72 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal pH tolerance range is between 6 to 7.5 and the ideal water hardness range is between 3-8 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

This plant can grow pretty tall, up to 24 inches.

So ideally, you should keep it in the background of your aquarium.

And, when planting, you do not have to plant it directly into the substrate; simply place the plant’s stem on the substrate, and the roots will grow deep into the substrate on their own.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

11. Water sprite

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Water Sprite
COMMON NAMES	Water Fern, Indian Fern
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Ceratopteris thalictroides
FAMILY	Pteridaceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Medium to high
GROWTH RATE	Low to Moderate
TEMPERATURE	68-82°F
pH	6.0-7.5
HARDNESS	KH 3-8
PLACEMENT	Mid to Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	13.5 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 Gallons

Water sprite is popular among fish keepers because it provides plenty of shade and hiding places for small fish in the tank.

Besides, it is also very easy to care for, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.

Light requirements

Because this plant grows in a high-lighting environment in nature, you should replicate it in your aquarium by providing it with highlighting conditions.

Substrate requirements

You can plant Water Sprite in a gravel substrate.

For planting it into the substrate, just make sure that the substrate is at least 2 to 3 inches thick.

Fertilization requirements

Water sprite can do well without any additional fertilizers. However, for faster and better growth, you should regularly supplement it with liquid fertilizers.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ideal pH tolerance range is between 6 to 7.5, and the ideal water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

Water sprite can grow up to 13 inches tall. So depending on the size of your aquarium, you can keep it in the middle ground or background of your tank by planting it into the substrate.

Besides, you can also keep it floating in your aquarium.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

12. Anacharis 

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Anacharis
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Elodea
FAMILY	Hydrocharitaceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	60-82° F
pH	6.5-7.5
HARDNESS	KH 3-8
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	6 to 8 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

Anacharis is one of the best plants for beginners because it is very easy to maintain and it is very undemanding.

Furthermore, this plant can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, particularly a wide range of water temperatures, making it an excellent choice for both cold water and tropical aquariums. 

Light requirements

Anacharis does well under moderate lighting conditions of about 2 to 3 Watts per gallon of your aquarium.

Under low light, this plant will die, and on the other hand, if it gets too much light, it can cause algae growth on it.

Substrate requirements

You can plant Anacharis in gravel substrate.

You can directly plant it by burying its stem into the substrate.

Fertilization requirements

If you plant Anacharis in a cold water tank, you usually do not need to provide it with any fertilizer.

However, if you are planting it in a tropical aquarium, you will need to supplement it with fertilizer. And you can use both liquid fertilizers as well as root tabs to provide it with all the essential nutrients.

Ideal water parameters

Anacharis can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, especially temperature. It can withstand temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

And the ideal pH tolerance range of this plant is between 6.5 to 7.5, and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

You can directly plant Anacharis into your gravel substrate.

Besides, you can also keep it floating in your aquarium.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

13. Hornwort

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Hornwort
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Anthocerotophyta
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Medium
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	59-86°F
pH	6.0-7.5
HARDNESS	5-15 dGH
PLACEMENT	Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	10 foot
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	15 gallons

Hornwort is a very popular plant in the aquarium hobby.

The reason for this is that it can withstand a wide range of water parameters and is very easy to maintain.

So you can keep it in a cold water aquarium as well as a tropical aquarium

Light requirements

Hornwort does well under moderate to high lighting conditions.

Under high lighting conditions, it will grow much faster.

Substrate requirements

Hornwort doesn’t have true roots, so technically, you cannot plant it in the substrate.

However, you can anchor it into the substrate by burying its stem into the substrate.

Fertilization requirements

Hornwort is very undemanding, and it can do just fine without any additional fertilizers.

This is due to Hornwort’s allelopathic abilities, which allow it to release chemicals that prevent other plants from absorbing and using nutrients in their surroundings, allowing it to take all of them for itself.

If you are planting other plants in your aquarium alongside this one, you should ideally add some fertilizer to your tank to ensure that all of the plants in your tank are getting enough nutrients.

Ideal water parameters

This plant can tolerate a wide range of water parameters.

It can tolerate temperatures as low as 59 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. So you can easily keep it in a cold water aquarium as well as in a tropical aquarium.

Besides, the pH tolerance range for this plant is between 6 to 7.5 and the water hardness tolerance range is between 5 to 15 degrees GH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

As mentioned earlier, this plant doesn’t have real roots, so you don’t necessarily have to plant it in your aquarium. However, you can plant it in your aquarium by anchoring it into the substrate.

Besides, you can also keep it floating in your tank.

If you are going to plant it in your aquarium, then you should plant it in the background of your tank because it can grow pretty tall, up to 10 feet.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

14. Java fern

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Java Fern
COMMON NAMES	Java Fern
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Microsorum pteropus
FAMILY	Polypodiaceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low to Moderate
GROWTH RATE	Low to Moderate
TEMPERATURE	68-82oF
pH	6.0-7.5
HARDNESS	60-160 ppm
PLACEMENT	Mid to Background
MAXIMUM SIZE	13.5 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 Gallons

Java fern is another popular plant in the aquarium hobby.

And the reason behind that is that it is very easy to care for, and it is very cheap as well.

Light requirements

Java fern does well under low-light conditions.

If the plant gets too much light, it will turn brown and transparent.

So after planting the plant, if you notice that it is turning brown or transparent, you can simply reduce the amount of light it is getting to fix the problem.

Substrate requirements

You can plant this plant in a gravel substrate.

Actually, this plant doesn’t really have real roots; instead, it has rhizomes.

So you cannot plant it directly into the substrate.

Ideally, you should attach it to any ornament, such as driftwood or rock, with super glue, and then place it on your gravel substrate.

Fertilization requirements

This plant can do just fine without any fertilization.

However, if you want to encourage faster growth, you can supplement it with fertilizers, and you should use liquid fertilizers for this plant because it draws nutrients from the water column.

Ideal water parameters

This plant can tolerate a fairly wide range of water parameters.

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ideal pH range is between 6 to 7.5, and the water hardness tolerance range is between 3-8 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

In your aquarium, you can attach this plant to any ornament, like driftwood or rock, and then put it on the substrate.

As this plant can grow pretty tall, up to 13 inches, depending on the size of your aquarium, you should keep it in the middle or background of your tank.

Besides, you can also keep this plant floating in your aquarium. However, eventually, it will get attached to something in your tank.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

15. Bucephalandra 

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Bucephalandra
COMMON NAMES	Buce
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Bucephalandra
FAMILY	Araceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low
GROWTH RATE	Slow
TEMPERATURE	71-82.5 °F
pH	6-7.5
PLACEMENT	Foreground
MAXIMUM SIZE	4 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

Bucephalandra is an easy-to-care short aquarium plant.

The best part about this plant is that it is available in different leaf sizes as well as colors.

An interesting part about this plant is that it can actually flower in your aquarium if provided with ideal conditions.

Light requirements

This plant is not very demanding when it comes to light, and it can do well in any lighting condition.

Under low light, it will survive and grow slowly in your aquarium.

On the other hand, if you provide it with moderate to high lighting conditions, it will show better coloration and faster growth.

Substrate requirements

You can plant Bucephalandra in a gravel substate.

This plant develops a complex root structure in the substrate of the aquarium, so it is very difficult to uproot it easily.

This is what makes it an ideal choice if you have some aggressive fish like cichlids that are known to uproot aquarium plants.

Fertilization requirements

Bucephalandra can do just fine without any additional fertilizers.

However, if you want to encourage more lush and faster growth, then you should ideally supplement it with fertilizers.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 71 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

And the ideal pH tolerance range of this plant is between 6 to 7.5.

How to keep it in an aquarium

You should directly plant Bucephalandra in gravel substrate.

And as this plant does not grow very large; it grows a maximum of 4 inches tall, you should keep it in the foreground of your aquarium.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

16. Dwarf Sagittaria

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Dwarf Sagittaria
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Sagittaria subulata
FAMILY	Alismataceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate
GROWTH RATE	Fast
TEMPERATURE	68-82°F
pH	6-8
HARDNESS	3-12
PLACEMENT	Mid-foreground
MAXIMUM SIZE	12 Inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

If you are looking for a beginner-friendly carpeting plant, then Dwarf Sagittaria is for you.

This plant is very hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, making it an ideal choice for beginners.

Besides, this is a short plant that propagates and grows very fast, providing a very good carpeting effect on the substrate of your aquarium.

Light requirements

Dwarf Sagittaria does well under moderate to highlighting conditions.

If you provide it with too much light for a longer period of time, you will start to see a tinge of red on its leaves.

Ideally, you should provide it with around 3 watts of light per gallon of your aquarium.

Substrate requirements

Ideally, you should plant Dwarf Sagittaria in a nutrient-rich substrate that is specifically rich in iron and CO2.

However, you can also plant it in the substrate, but in that case, you will need to provide it with all the essential nutrients, specifically iron, and CO2, through root tabs.

Fertilization requirements

This is a very hardy aquarium plant, and it can do well without any additional fertilizers. However, for proper growth and development, you should supplement it with fertilizers.

And as you are planting it into the gravel subtract which doesn’t provide any nutrients, and as it absorbs nutrients through its roots, you should insert root tabs into the gravel to provide it with all the essential nutrients.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

17. Christmas moss

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Christmas moss
COMMON NAMES	Christmas moss
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Vesicularia montagnei
FAMILY	Hypnaceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate to high
GROWTH RATE	Moderate to high
TEMPERATURE	68-82°F
pH	5-7.5
HARDNESS	5-20 dH
PLACEMENT	Floating, foreground
MAXIMUM SIZE	4 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 gallon

Christmas moss is one of the most popular carpeting aquarium plants.

Besides, it is also very popular among fish breeders because it provides great coverage for fry.

It is also a very hard aquarium plant that can tolerate a wide range of water parameters which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.

Light requirements

Christmas moss does well under moderate to highlighting conditions.

Under high lighting conditions, it will grow much faster.

Substrate requirements

You can spread Christmas moss across your gravel substrate and use it as a carpet plant in your aquarium.

Fertilization requirements

Christmas moss can do well without any additional fertilizers.

However, for best results, you should provide it regularly with liquid fertilizers, and it will also benefit from CO2 injection.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for Christmas moss is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its ideal pH range is between 5 to 7.5.

How to keep it in an aquarium

There are a few different ways you can keep Christmas moss in your aquarium.

And since this is a short plant, you can use it as a carpet plant and spread it across your gravel substrate.

Besides, you can also attach it to any ornaments, like driftwood or rocks, in your aquarium using a string or super glue.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

18. Lace Plant

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Lace Plant
COMMON NAMES	Madagascar laceleaf, lattice leaf, lace plant
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Aponogeton madagascariensis
FAMILY	Aponogetonaceae
CARE LEVEL	Moderate
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate-High
GROWTH RATE	Low-Moderate
TEMPERATURE	72-82° F
pH	6.0-7.0
HARDNESS	KH 3-6
PLACEMENT	Mid-ground
MAXIMUM SIZE	20+ inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

Lace plant is a very unique aquarium plant because it has a net-like leaf structure.

If provided with an ideal environment, this plant will bloom in your aquarium several times.

This is not a very easy and undemanding plant, which is why it is not a very good choice for beginners.

Light requirements

Lace plant does well under moderate to highlighting conditions.

So you should provide it with light between 3-5 Watts per gallon of your aquarium.

Substrate requirements

You can plant Lace plant in a gravel substrate.

Besides, you can also plant it in a sand substrate.

Fertilization requirements

For proper growth and development, Lace plant does require additional supplementation.

So you should regularly supplement it with fertilizers that are specifically rich in CO2, iron, and other trace elements.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for Lace plant is between 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 6 to 7 and water hardness tolerance range is between 3-6 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

As Lace plant can grow pretty tall, more than 20 inches, depending on the size of your aquarium, you should keep it in the midground or background of your tank.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

19. Red tiger lotus

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Red Tiger Lotus
COMMON NAMES	Red Tiger Lotus
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Nymphaea zenkeri
FAMILY	Nymphaeaceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Moderate to high
GROWTH RATE	Moderate
TEMPERATURE	71.5-82.5 °F
pH	5-8
HARDNESS	5-11 °d
PLACEMENT	Mid-ground, background
MAXIMUM SIZE	31 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	10 gallon

Red tiger lotus is another flowering aquarium plant.

When provided with an ideal environment, this plant can produce beautiful white flowers that are around one and a half inches in diameter.

Besides, it is also one of the best red aquarium plants.

And the best part is that it is very hardy, so it is a good choice for beginners.

Light requirements

Red tiger lotus is not very demanding when it comes to light.

However, if you start to notice that it is losing its compact growth and is growing very slowly, then you should increase the intensity of lighting for this plant.

Substrate requirements

You can plant Red tiger lotus in a gravel substrate.

But to fulfill its nutrient needs, you should regularly supplement it with root tabs.

Fertilization requirements

For proper growth and development, you should supplement Red tiger lotus regularly with additional fertilizers.

And as it absorbs nutrients through its roots, you should insert root tabs into the gravel substrate near its roots to provide it with all the essential nutrients.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for Red tiger lotus is between 71 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, or 22 to 28 degrees Celsius.

And it’s pH tolerance range is between 5 to 8.

How to keep it in an aquarium

As Red tiger lotus can grow pretty tall, up to 31 inches, depending on the size of your aquarium, you should plant it in the middle ground or background of your tank.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

20. Marimo moss ball

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Marimo Moss Ball
COMMON NAMES	Cladophora ball, lake ball, moss ball
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Aegagropila linnaei Kützing
FAMILY	Pithophoraceae
CARE LEVEL	Easy
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	Low-moderate
GROWTH RATE	Slow
TEMPERATURE	60° to 80° F
pH	6 – 8
HARDNESS	4 – 17 dH
PLACEMENT	foreground, Mid-ground, Carpet
MAXIMUM SIZE	12 in
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 gallons
PROPAGATION	Splitting, cutting off daughter plants

Marimo moss ball is one of the easiest plants to keep in your aquarium.

This is a very undemanding plant, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.

Furthermore, this plant can tolerate a wide range of water parameters, particularly temperature, making it an excellent choice for both cold water and tropical aquariums.

Light requirements

Marimo moss ball is not very demanding when it comes to light.

It will do well in low to moderate indirect light in your aquarium.

Substrate requirements

You don’t actually need to plant Marimo moss ball in substrate.

You can just throw Marimo moss ball into the into your aquarium and it will do just fine.

Fertilization requirements

You don’t need to provide any additional fertilization to Marimo moss ball.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 60-80 degrees fahrenheit.

It’s pH tolerance range is between 6 to 8.

And it’s water hardness tolerance range is between 4 to 17 dh.

How to keep it in an aquarium

There are a lot of different creative ways you can keep Marimo moss ball in your aquarium.

The easiest way is to just throw it into your aquarium, and it will do just fine.

Besides, you can also flatten or cover it around any ornament or across your substrate.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

21. Hemianthus (Dwarf Baby Tears)

See more images at Amazon here

PARAMETERS	VALUES
PLANT	Dwarf baby tears
COMMON NAMES	Dwarf baby tears
SCIENTIFIC NAME	Hemianthus Callitrichoides
FAMILY	Scrophulariaceae
CARE LEVEL	Moderate
LIGHT REQUIREMENT	High
GROWTH RATE	Slow
TEMPERATURE	68-82° F
pH	5.0-7.5
HARDNESS	KH 0-10
PLACEMENT	Foreground
MAXIMUM SIZE	6 inches
MINIMUM TANK SIZE	5 gallon
PROPAGATION	Cuttings, Runners

Dwarf Baby Tears is one of the best carpeting aquarium plants.

It has a very elegant leaf structure.

This plant is also popular among fish breeders because it provides a great place for the fish to spawn and hide their eggs.

Besides, there are a lot of different creative ways of keeping it in an aquarium, which we will talk about later.

Light requirements

For Dwarf Baby Tears to do well, you will need to provide it with high lighting conditions of more than 5 Watts per gallon of your aquarium.

Substrate requirements

Ideally, you should plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate because that way it is very easy for the plant to get all the essential nutrients.

However, you can plant it in a gravel substate, but then you will need to heavily insert root tabs into the gravel so that the plant can get all the essential nutrients.

Fertilization requirements

For proper growth and development, you will need to supplement Dwarf Baby Tears regularly with fertilizers. To provide all the essential nutrients, you should insert root tabs into the substrate.

Besides, it will also appreciate CO2 injection.

Ideal water parameters

The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its pH tolerance range is between 5 to 7.5.

And it can tolerate water hardness up to 10 KH.

How to keep it in an aquarium

There are different creative ways you can keep Dwarf Baby Tears in your aquarium.

First of all, you can plant it in the foreground or use it as a carpet plant, and plant it across your substrate.

Besides, you can also attach it to any ornament, such as driftwood lava rock, etc.

Where to buy online

Buy this plant from Amazon here

How to grow live aquarium plants in a gravel substrate

In this section, I am going to tell you some important things that you should keep in mind if you want to grow live aquarium plants in a gravel substrate in your aquarium.

Choose the right gravel size

If you want to plant aquarium plants in an aquarium that has a gravel substrate, you will need to be mindful when choosing the size of the gravel for the aquarium.

If you choose a gravel substrate that is very large, then the plants will easily get uprooted.

That’s why you should choose a fine-grain gravel substrate of anywhere between 3 to 8 mm for your aquarium.

Sufficient substrate depth

You should have at least 2.5 inches of gravel substrate in your aquarium.

This substrate depth is sufficient to anchor the plants in the gravel substrate.

Besides, it will give sufficient room for the roots of the plants to grow in the substrate and form complex root structures that will hold the plant in place in the aquarium.

Provide the nutrients to the plants

The biggest problem with growing live aquarium plants in a gravel substrate is that plants need nutrients for their growth, and gravel cannot provide those nutrients.

That’s why you will need to provide nutrients to the plants by inserting root tabs into the gravel.

Root tabs are basically small capsules that contain all the essential nutrients that plants need for their proper growth and development.

Besides that, another way to provide nutrients to the live aquarium plants is to first add nutrient-rich substrate in your tank and then cover that substrate with gravel.

When you do this, the plants will get the nutrients from the nutrient-rich substrate.

Aside from that, most aquarium plants obtain the nutrients they require from the water column via their leaves.

So you should also add liquid fertilizers in your fish tank, especially after doing the water change, so that the plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves from the water column.

Another not-so-popular way of keeping live aquarium plants if you have gravel substrate in your aquarium is to plant the plant in a pot. And the pot should contain a nutrient-rich substrate.

After that, put the pot in your aquarium.

This is the easiest way of keeping live aquarium plants in your tank if you have gravel substrate.

Plant maintenance

You will need to keep up with the maintenance of your aquarium plants to keep them healthy and to make sure that your fish tank doesn’t get toxic for the fish in it.

The maintenance of live aquarium plants includes trimming overgrown and dead and melting leaves from the plant.

Only have plant-friendly fish

There are some species of fish, such as goldfish, African cichlids, and Oscar fish which are known to destroy and eat live aquarium plants.

So you should avoid keeping such fish species in your planted aquarium.

Provide proper lighting conditions

Plants require specific lighting conditions in order to thrive in aquariums. 

So, research the plants you want to keep in your aquarium, understand the type of lighting the plants require for proper growth and development, and provide such lighting conditions.

Provide the ideal water parameters that the plants need

Plants are not very demanding when it comes to water parameters like temperature, pH, etc.

Still, each plant has an ideal range of temperature and pH it can tolerate.

So you should make sure that the water parameters of your aquarium are within the ideal range that the plants need for their proper growth and development.

Benefits of growing plants in gravel substrate

There are several benefits of growing live aquarium plants in an aquarium that has a gravel substrate.

Oxygenation

Live aquarium plants help keep your fish tank water well-oxygenated, which is essential for the fish in your aquarium.

Added filtration

Live aquarium plants absorb nitrates, which your aquarium’s fish produce and are harmful to them.

Natural look

In most of the natural habitats of aquarium fish, there are some live aquarium plants.

And planting some live plants in your fish tank allows you to emulate the same and give a natural look to your fish tank.

Besides these, there are several other benefits to having live aquarium plants in an aquarium.

How to choose the best gravel substrate for your planted aquarium?

There are a few things that you should keep in mind while choosing a gravel substrate for your aquarium if you want to keep some live aquarium plants in it.

The grain size of the gravel

While choosing gravel for your planted aquarium, you should choose gravel that has a grain size of anywhere between 3 to 8 mm.

If the grain size of the gravel is very large, the plants will not get properly anchored, and they can be easily uprooted.

Color of the gravel 

Before choosing the gravel for your planted tank, you should have a good idea about the kind of look or aesthetic you are going after in your tank and you should choose the gravel for the tank accordingly.

Composition of the gravel

Gravel comes in different shapes and forms, and you should choose the substrate according to the aesthetic you are going for.

Besides, you should also consider the aquarium fish in your aquarium and choose the substrate accordingly.

For example, if you have aquarium fish that like to forage for food near the substrate, then ideally, you should choose a gravel substrate that doesn’t have sharp edges.

How to anchor plants in gravel?

There are different types of plants you can anchor in a gravel substrate, and depending on the type, anchoring them in the gravel is a little different.

Stem plants

If you want to anchor stem plants in your aquarium, then you should just bury the roots of the stem plant into the gravel to anchor them in the aquarium.

Now there are also some stem plants like Java fern, which doesn’t actually grow any roots. So in that case, you just need to bury its stem, about 1.5 inches, deep into the substrate.

Rhizome plants

The most important thing you should keep in mind while anchoring rhizome plants into the gravel substrate is that you should just bury the roots of the plant into the gravel substrate and keep the rhizome above the substrate.

FAQ

Can aquarium plants grow in gravel?

Yes, there are certain species of aquarium plants that can easily grow in a gravel substrate.

These plants are usually water column feeders or at least they can get nutrients through their leaves.

All the plants I have mentioned above are such plants.

What aquarium plants can grow in sand?

There are certain varieties of aquarium plants that can grow in a sand substrate.

They are as follows:

1. Cryptocoryne wendtii
2. Java fern
3. Amazon sword
4. Jungle Vallisneria
5. Italian Vallisneria

I have written about them in detail in this blog post.

Can you have a planted tank with just gravel?

Yes, there are a lot of water column feeder species of plants that get nutrients through their leaves.

You can easily keep such plants in a gravel substrate.

Is sand or gravel better for a planted aquarium?

Usually, gravel is better for most of the freshwater aquariums than sand.

Firstly, gravel comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors that basically offer you a chance to customize your aquarium and give it a unique look.

Gravel allows the water to flow through it that basically helps the growth of the plant.

On the other hand, sand doesn’t allow water to flow through it as freely as gravel does.

Also, sand substrate can cause suffocation of the roots of the plants.

But there are certain species of plants that can easily grow in a sand substrate.

Is gravel a good substrate for plants?

Yes, for most of the water column feeder plants, gravel is a good substrate.

It allows the water to flow through it freely and it also helps the roots of the plant to form a strong web of roots inside the substrate.

Besides, as they will come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, it allows you to customize your aquarium and give it a unique look.

Check out 20 Tips to Maintain a Healthy Aquarium

Is growing live aquarium plants in gravel worth it?

There are several benefits to having live aquarium plants.

For example, live aquarium plants help to oxygenate your aquarium water, absorb nitrates, which are harmful to your fish, and give your fish tank a natural look.

If you don’t have any experience with keeping live aquarium plants, then you can start out with beginner plants, so it will be very easy for you to take care of them.

I have covered a lot of beginner-friendly live aquarium plants that you can keep in your gravel substrate in the above list.

Can aquarium plants grow in rock?

As mentioned in the list above, there are several live aquarium plants that you can easily grow in rocks.

Just make sure that the size of the rock is smaller, anywhere between 3-8 mm.

Besides, you can also attach live aquarium plants such as Java moss and Anubias to rocks and keep them in an aquarium that way.

Can Java fern survive in gravel?

Java fern doesn’t have real roots, so it will do just fine in a gravel substrate.

You just need to bury its stem about one and a half inches into the gravel to plant it in gravel.

Can any aquarium plants grow in gravel?

There are several different species of plants that can grow in gravel substrate. For example, Water Sprite, Hornwort, Amazon sword, etc.

However, you cannot grow very demanding heavy root feeder plants in gravel substrate because they need a lot of nutrients to grow and gravel cannot provide them with the nutrients.

Can you grow aquarium plants without soil?

Yes, you can grow aquarium plants without soil.

There are several aquarium plants that you can keep floating in your aquarium.

Besides, there are several aquarium plants that can grow in gravel or sand substrates.

How deep should gravel be for a planted aquarium?

The gravel should be at least 2.5 inches thick or deep in a planted aquarium.

This will allow you to properly anchor the plants into the substrate.

And it will also allow the plants to grow and develop their roots in the substrate.

Can aquarium plants grow in gravel without soil?

Aquarium plants can grow in gravel without soil. You just need to provide the plants with nutrients by burying root tabs in the gravel.

Can Amazon sword plants grow in gravel?

Amazon sword is a hardy plant that can grow in gravel substrate.

As Amazon sword absorbs nutrients through its roots, ideally you should add some root tabs into the gravel for the plant to do well.

Can Anubias grow in gravel?

Anubias doesn’t have real roots, so it doesn’t absorb nutrients through its roots. That’s why it will grow just fine in gravel, which doesn’t have any nutrients.

However, for Anubias to do well, you should ideally supplement the plant with nutrients through liquid fertilizers.

Can you put root tabs in gravel?

Yes, you can put root tabs in gravel. In fact, you should put root tabs regularly in your gravel substrate if you have live aquarium plants that absorb a lot of nutrients through their roots.

What will grow over gravel?

There are several aquarium plants that can grow on gravel substrate.

Some examples include Anubias, Amazon sword, Water Sprite, Jungle valisnaria, etc.

I have covered several live aquarium plants that you can easily keep in your gravel substrate above with detailed information so you can get started with them right away.

Can you mix aquarium soil with gravel?

Yes, you can mix aquarium soil with gravel.

Ideally, you should first add the aquarium soil, and then on top of that, you should put a layer of gravel on it.

Will Micro sword grow in gravel?

Micro sword will not do well and cannot grow in gravel substates as they need a lot of nutrients, which gravel cannot provide.

How to plant Anubias in a gravel substrate?

The most important thing you should keep in mind if you want to plant Anubias in a gravel subtract is that you should just bury the roots of the plant into the substrate and you should keep the rhizome above the substrate.

Here is a video demonstrating the same.

How long do root tabs last?

Root tabs can last anywhere between 3 to 6 months in an aquarium.

So you should be adding new root tabs every 3 to 6 months so that your plants are getting all the nutrients they need for their proper growth and development.

How many inches of gravel do I need for plants?

Your gravel substrate should be at least 2.5 inches thick so that you can easily anchor the plants into it and the plants have enough space to grow their root structure.

Can plants grow in gravel without soil?

Plants can grow in gravel substrates without soil.

But you will need to provide the nutrients for the plants to grow by inserting root tabs into the gravel substrate.

Conclusion

So these are the best aquarium plants for gravel substrate.

I hope you from this list helpful.

If you do, please share it.

Also, let me know which plant you are going to keep in your aquarium in the comments section below.

Happy fishkeeping!