Are you one of those people who are unsure whether to buy aquarium plants online? Then we recommend this article to you. Many shy away from it – but mostly wrongly. Buying from a good online retailer is often better than buying from a local retailer. You can find out here why this is the case and where the advantages of aquarium plants from online shops lie.
The display tank in the pet shop: a difficult environment for plants
Aquarium plants are bought in large numbers in the pet or aquarium trade and are then often left in the display tank for days or even weeks. There they are good for buyers to see, but they do not find good conditions. That drains their strength. Instead of continuing to grow and thrive, the aquatic plants here are simply surviving. Even expensive plants from well-known nurseries such as plants from Dennerle or aquatic plants from Tropica no longer have the desired quality after a longer period of time.
If the plants finally get to their new owner in the aquarium after staying in the display tank, they often lack the necessary energy to survive the adjustment unscathed. This is why some aquarium plants grow poorly or even die after they have been planted. That doesn’t happen with strong, healthy aquatic plants that didn’t have to survive a long “stopover”.
When you buy plants from the pet store, look out for signs of weakened or diseased plants, including the following. If you find these, you should rather use other specimens:
- discoloration of the leaves
- Dark or light spots
- holes in the leaves
- Blackish or brownish leaf margins
From the shopping cart to your home: strong and healthy plants for the aquarium
If the aquatic plants are allowed to continue growing in the nursery or at the retailer in large tanks or greenhouses under optimal conditions, you will notice the difference immediately. The sooner they land in their “new home”, i.e. in your aquarium at home, the better it is for them. Online retailers often have better options for this than, for example, the aquarium department of a pet shop.
If you put them in the shopping cart, dealers will pack the plants for you with love and expertise. You can then get home as quickly as possible. If you put the new plants in your aquarium, you can look forward to strong plants. They often cut a better figure in their new environment than their pet store counterparts. Customers often even save money compared to the pet shop – not only because they do not have to buy twice, but also because aquarium plants from online shops can often be offered cheaper.
Professional aquarium plant shipping is the be-all and end-all
Many customers are unsettled because plants are shipped without water. Doesn’t that hurt them? The answer is very clear: no. Many aquarium plants are emersed, i.e. cultivated above water. And the same applies in other respects: Properly packaged aquarium plants usually survive the shipping route without any problems. The only important thing is that they are kept moist. Good packaging must also be used to avoid pressure points or kinks.
When retailers ship aquarium plants in winter, they use insulating styrofoam boxes and heat packs to prevent damage. If you would like to buy aquarium plants online, you should find out in advance how the online retailer packs the plants.
From the online retailer to the tank – the journey of the aquarium plant
Before aquarium plants are sold online, they are cultivated and cared for in a nursery.
The online retailer buys the aquarium plants and keeps them in their own tanks. The better these are equipped, the better the quality of the plants.
When customers buy plants for the aquarium online, the retailer takes them out of the tank and prepares them to be sent in the mail.
The plants are now well protected in the package on their way to the end customer.
As the last stop on their journey, the aquatic plants reach their new home: the customer’s pool, where they are eagerly awaited.
Large selection in the online shop for aquarium plants
A final advantage that you as a buyer enjoy when you buy aquarium plants online is the wide choice. Be sure to buy from a shop that either specializes in aquarium plants or has a wide range in this area. If the plants are only a side business, you can unfortunately often see this in the quality. The necessary resources are simply not available.
Lovers of rarities should also have a look online to see if they can buy the specimen they are looking for cheaply in an online shop for aquarium plants. You will certainly be surprised what can be found!
We wish you every success in selecting and purchasing aquarium plants from online retailers! Do you have any questions or suggestions on the subject? We welcome comments!
