Plants - FAQ
What makes O'Henry's plants special?
O'Henry's is committed to providing the best quality plants possible, so that you don't have to worry about wasting your money on "aquatic" plants that end up rotting in your tank as soon as you get them home.
What is O'Henry's 7 day guarantee?
At O'Henry's, we're confident that we have the best live plants and fish around! We can guarantee that our home raised stock will arrive alive and thrive in your home when you follow our acclimation protocol. If your fish or plants die within the first 7 days of receipt you can qualify for a full refund or replacement.
Emersed VS Submerged stock
Have you ever been told that it's normal for your aquarium plants to go slimy when you first get them, and that they should bounce back? That is because the plant you bought was likely grown emersed- a.k.a above water level. When an emersed plant is placed fully underwater, it has to grow a set of completely new leaves and roots that can withstand its new environment. The old leaves and roots die off naturally to make room for the new ones, leading to slime-out.
Why are aquatic plants usually grown emersed before selling?
Did you know that most aquarium plant species are mainly grown terrestrially in nature? Aquatic plant suppliers know this and tend to grow their stock above water for multiple reasons.
- Faster growth and larger plants
- Lower CO2 demands
- Less overall maintenance
- Easier shipping
Since most of these plant species are better equipped for terrestrial growth, it can be significantly easier to produce larger, more attractive plants by growing them all emersed. It allows large plant growers to output more plants at a faster rate to sell to retailers, but it doesn't give the actual end customer a good experience, since these plants will die when submerged a large percentage of the time.
How do I know if I am getting an emersed grown plant?
From most other retailers, you can't know until you receive your order! At O'Henry's we are transparent about which plants we grow emersed and why, and we start the transitioning process for you by creating a super humid (up to 100%!) environment so you have the best chance of success with your purchase.
Why are the 'transitioned' (submerged grown) plants more expensive?
The transitioning process takes a long time, from several weeks to months depending on the species, size, and quality of the plant when we get them in from our supplier.
It can take extreme care and attention to the lighting, pruning, nutrient supply, and water quality in order for a plant to thrive during the transitioning process.
Many aquarists don't have the time or energy to devote to this, so we take that off your plate! Since the intense process requires extra husbandry and consumables to complete, we have to charge a nominal fee to make it possible to provide this service and ensure our quality stays top-notch.