Aquarium Plants That Can Handle the Heat If you’ve ever kept discus fish, you’ll know they like it hot. With optimal temperatures between 28–31°C (82–88°F), discus aquariums can be tough for many plants that struggle in warmer water. But there’s good news, plenty of aquarium plants can handle hotter water and still bring lush greenery to your setup. Whether you’re aiming for a natural South American look or a modern planted display, here are the top plants that thrive in high-temperature aquariums. 1. Amazon Sword (Echinodorus bleheri) A true discus tank staple. Amazon Swords are native to the warm, soft waters of...

ADA Wabi-Kusa Plant Mats - What are They & How to Use Them If you're looking to introduce lush, vibrant plant life into your aquarium, terrarium, or emersed setup—without the hassle of individual planting—ADA Wabi-Kusa Plant Mats are the perfect solution. Available in a variety of compositions including mosses, aquatic plants, and terrarium species, these mats embody the beauty of nature in a simple, easy-to-use form. Let’s break down what they are, how to use them, and what makes them so popular in the aquascaping and terrarium world. What Are ADA Wabi-Kusa Mats? Originally inspired by traditional Japanese Wabi-Sabi aesthetics...

Aquarium Floating Plants for Aquariums: Improve Water Quality & Natural Filtration If you're looking to enhance the beauty and health of your aquarium, floating aquarium plants are a must-have. These surface plants not only provide aesthetic appeal but also offer practical benefits such as improved water quality, natural shading, and hiding spots for fish and fry. In this guide, we’ll explore four of the best floating aquarium plants: Phyllanthus fluitans (red root floater), Limnobium laevigatum (Amazon Frogbit), Salvinia minima, and Dwarf Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) each with unique traits and benefits for freshwater tanks. 1. Phyllanthus fluitans (Red Root Floater) Phyllanthus...

What Is Aquascaping?  Aquascaping is the art of arranging aquatic plants, rocks, driftwood, and other elements in an aesthetically pleasing way inside an aquarium. Often compared to underwater gardening, aquascaping combines nature, design, and creativity to transform fish tanks into living works of art. Aquascaping involves crafting underwater landscapes by using design principles like balance, contrast, and focal points. It often resembles terrestrial scenes like forests, mountains, or minimalist Zen gardens—only submerged. Who Discovered Aquascaping? Aquascaping as we know it today was popularised in the 1990s by Takashi Amano, a Japanese photographer, aquarist, and nature lover. He introduced the Nature...

Why Horizon Aquatics Is Your #1 Destination for Aquarium Plants – Online and In-Store When it comes to sourcing healthy, vibrant, and high-quality aquarium plants, Horizon Aquatics stands out as the trusted go-to choice for aquarists across the UK. Whether you're a seasoned aquascaper or just starting your planted tank journey, we make it easy to find the perfect plants – both online and in our welcoming store. Winner: Best Aquascaping Store in the UK — multiple consecutive years (PFK Awards) Horizon Aquatics is proud to be the multi-year winner of the UK’s Best Aquascaping Store award. Unmatched Quality, Every Time...

Eleocharis Plant Guide for Aquascaping – Care & Layout Tips Eleocharis, is a beloved species in the aquascaping world. Its fine, grassy texture brings a sense of lush, natural realism to planted tanks. But not all Eleocharis species are exactly the same, each has its own look, growth habit, and care requirements. In this post, we’ll cover the five popular Eleocharis species, pusilla mini, parvula, acicularis, montevidensis, and vivipara—and explore which aquascape styles they suit best, their care needs, whether they require trimming, and how to keep them clean and healthy. ADA Gallery photo taken by Horizon aquatics  1. Eleocharis...

Aquarium Plant Index: The Ultimate Guide to Aquatic Plant Care on YouTube If you're looking for the best care information on live aquatic plants, look no further than our Horizon Aquatics YouTube playlist: Aquarium Plant Index. Whether you're a beginner aquascaper or a long term planted tank hobbyist, this carefully curated playlist is your go to source for accurate, easy-to-understand care guides for freshwater aquarium plants. Each aquarium plant video is less than 10 minutes long so is a nice quick easy way to learn about your next plant choice, watch the one you want or binge the playlist.  What is...

Cryptocoryne Aquarium Plants: All About Them (And How to Handle Crypt Melt) If you're passionate about planted aquariums, you've probably come across the genus Cryptocoryne. More commonly known as 'crypts' among aquarists, these freshwater plants are appreciated for their stunning variety, low-maintenance care, and adaptability. But they also have a well-known quirk: the infamous, and dreaded "crypt melt." In this post, we'll explore what makes Cryptocoryne species so appealing, which varieties are popular among hobbyists, and what to do if your crypts suddenly seem to disintegrate before your eyes. What Are Cryptocoryne Plants? Cryptocoryne is a genus of aquatic plants native...

Best Carpeting Plants for Aquascaping Your Freshwater Aquarium If you're looking to create a stunning aquascape that mimics natural underwater meadows, aquarium carpeting plants are the key. These low-growing aquatic plants spread across the substrate to form a lush, green "carpet" that brings your tank to life and provides a natural environment for your fish and invertebrates. Image of Glossostigma carpeting plant in the ADA Gallery, photo taken by Horizon Aquatics  What Are Carpeting Plants? Carpeting plants are species that grow horizontally rather than vertically, covering the substrate with dense, compact foliage. They’re popular in aquascaping especially in Iwagumi layouts,...

Emersed Aquatic Plants & Wabi-Kusa: A Complete Guide to Above Water Growth Techniques Live aquarium plants are typically associated with lush planted aquariums, swaying leaves, dense green carpets, and vibrant stems reaching toward the surface. But many aquatic plants are just as happy growing above the waterline. This is known as emersed growth, and it opens up a whole new world of aquascaping possibilities. Wabi-kusa is a Japanese aquascaping concept that blends aquatic plants with the principles of wabi-sabi—the beauty of imperfection and natural simplicity. Typically made using a soil or substrate ball planted with aquatic species, wabi-kusa can be...

Epiphyte Aquarium Plants: Attach, Grow, Thrive When designing a beautiful aquascape, adding a variety of textures and growth styles can take your aquarium from good to stunning. One essential group of plants that every aquascaper should know about is epiphyte plants. These versatile species don’t root in soil like typical plants — instead, they anchor themselves onto rocks, wood, or other surfaces, creating a more natural, wild look inside your tank.In this blog, Horizon Aquatics will dive into what epiphyte plants are, why they’re perfect for aquascaping, how to care for them, and some of the best types to add...

How to Get Vibrant Red Aquarium Plants & How to Care For Them Adding red aquarium plants to your aquascape instantly transforms your aquarium into a vibrant underwater world. Their striking colours create contrast against green plants and give your tank a pop of colour. But why exactly, are some aquarium plants red, and what extra care do they need compared to green plants? In this blog, we'll dive into the science behind their colour, essential care tips, and introduce you to five stunning red aquarium plants for every skill level – from beginner to advanced aquascapers. Why Are Aquarium...

The 'Moss' We Can't Get Enough Of: Riccardia Chamedryfolia  Riccardia chamedryfolia moss also known as 'Coral Moss' or 'Mini Pelia' is a liverwort native to Asia, particularly South East Asia.  The Structure of the moss has a branched layered look resembling branch coral which is where the name 'Coral Moss' comes from.    What is a Liverwort? Although we often refer to Riccardia as a moss, it’s actually a liverwort—a plant closely related to mosses and sharing many of the same characteristics. In the aquascaping world, it’s commonly grouped with mosses and treated as such. Liverworts are terrestrial plants that...

ADA Aquarium Plants  If you’re serious about creating a stunning, healthy aquascape, ADA tissue culture aquarium plants are a must-have. These plants offer unbeatable quality, vibrant growth, and a completely pest-free start for your aquarium. In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about ADA tissue culture plants — including their benefits, popular varieties, and expert tips for planting and care. ADA tissue culture aquarium plants are of high quality and include both common, well-known species as well as rare and unusual aquatic varieties. BIO Mizukusa no Mori BIO Mizukusa no Mori — meaning "Bio Aquatic Plant Forest"...

Live Aquarium Plants: Tissue Culture vs Potted Plants  A question we are asked all the time is 'what is the difference between tissue culture aquarium plants or potted aquarium plants?'  Tissue Culture Plants:Tissue culture aquarium plants, such as Tropica's 1-2 grow range, are grown in a laboratory setting. This ensures they are sterile, free from algae and pests. These tiny plants are packed tightly into small pots, making them ideal for starting a new aquarium. We recommend purchasing one tissue culture pot per palm-sized aquarium to get started. Tissue culture plants have gained immense popularity in the aquatic industry, with...

Easy Beginner Aquarium Plants  As a dedicated aquascaping store, we frequently welcome new visitors who are exploring our planted aquariums in our gallery for the first time. The most common question we receive is, "What plants are easy to take care of?" Answering this can be tricky as it often depends on whether the aquarium contains a soil or sand/gravel substrate, as well as the presence of CO2 and the intensity of lighting used. For aquariums using soil but no CO2 injection and a basic starter light, we recommend the following aquatic plants: Limnophila sessiflora  Hygrophila siamensis 53B Staurogyne repens...

Setting up an Aquascape - Start to Finish This comprehensive blog is designed to equip you with all the information necessary to confidently establish your first successful aquarium. We will cover all the essential considerations, provide expert tips, tricks, and discuss the pros and cons, ensuring that you feel confident to create and maintain your aquascape. Before you start, there are a few things to consider when setting up your aquarium, if you have already selected your 'aquarium hardware' you might want to skip this first part. Selecting your Aquarium Choosing an aquarium can be overwhelming due to the wide range...