Why Are My Plants Melting After Planting?

Have you ever thought that a new aquarium plant that was looking healthy at first, suddenly started losing its leaves or looked like it was dying? Don't worry, and it's actually quite normal. Aquarium plants usually need time to adjust when you move them to a new tank with different water conditions, nutrients, and lighting. Let's check out the most common reasons why it happens and what you can actually do to help your plants settle in and grow healthy.

Your Plant Is Adjusting To Its New Aquarium

If you have recently bought a new aquarium plant from a pet store or online and it starts losing leaves after being added to the tank, don't be surprised. It is a very normal part of the adjustment process. Most aquarium plants are grown above water (emersed) at plant farms. The reason is that they grow faster, are easier to transport, and are less likely to develop algae. 

However, once the plants are placed in the aquarium, they should adapt to living fully underwater (submerged). As the leaves that grow above water are designed to absorb light and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, they usually can't survive underwater. That's why those older leaves die off, and make the plants look like they are "melting."

Don't worry, it does not mean the plant is dying. As long as the roots are healthy and the plants are not disturbed, they will begin growing underwater leaves that are much better suited to their new environment. These new leaves are usually smaller and thinner than the original ones. You will also notice fresh shoots appearing within a few weeks. 

It is also a good idea to trim away leaves that are clearly melting. You can cut them off near the base of the stem or close to the substrate. Make sure to remove the dead leaves. It helps keep the aquarium clean and can even reduce the risk of excess nutrients building up in the water, which can encourage algae growth. 

Check out the 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Setting Up Your Aquarium. 

Changes In Water Conditions Can Stress The Plant

Aquarium plants can also lose leaves or develop brown, unhealthy-looking foliage when the water conditions change. It usually happens after you move a plant from one aquarium to another, such as when you bring it from a pet store to your home. 

Even changes made within the same aquarium can stress the plants. For example, plants mostly struggle if you suddenly increase or reduce fertilizer dosing, start or stop using CO2, adjust the lighting, change the regular water change routine, or experience seasonal temperature changes. 

Some plants, mostly Cryptocoryne (commonly known as crypts), are particularly sensitive to these changes. They can suddenly lose most of their leaves, a condition known as crypt melt. The best solution is to be patient and keep the aquarium environment as stable as possible. 

You can continue providing the plants with the nutrients they need and avoid making any additional major changes. You can either remove melting leaves one at a time or trim the damaged leaves all at once so that the plants can focus their energy on producing healthy new growth. With regular care and stable water conditions, most plants start to recover within a few weeks.

The Plant Wasn't Planted Correctly

Planting an aquarium plant the right way is important for its health and growth. There are different types of plants that have different planting needs. When you plant them incorrectly, it can cause them to struggle or even die. Here are some of the common guidelines for planting: 

• Bulb plants (lotus, lilies, and crinum)

These should be placed on the top of the substrate, or only bury them partially. If the entire bulb is covered, it will rot instead of growing properly. 

• Rhizome Plants (Fern, Java, Anubias, and Bucephalandra) 

These should never have their rhizome (the thick horizontal stem that produces leaves and roots) buried. Instead, you can attach these plants to the rocks or driftwood, or bury only the roots by keeping the rhizome above the substrate. 

• Stem Plants (Pearl Weed, Bacopa, and Pogostemon stellatus)

These grow best when their stems are planted firmly in the substrate. 

• Rosette Plants (Amazon Swords and Cryptocoryne)

These should have their roots buried. However, the crown (where the leaves grow from) should remain above the substrate. When you bury the crown, it can cause the plant to rot.

Check out How to Plant Aquarium Plants in Substrate. 

Plants Are Not Getting Enough Nutrients Or Light

Aquarium plants need the right balance of light and nutrients to grow. If they don't get enough of either, they start turning yellow, lose leaves, or look like they are melting. When a plant doesn't have enough nutrients, it can use the nutrients that are stored in its older leaves to keep growing. As a result, the older leaves can turn yellow, become weak, and eventually die. 

If your plants look pale, grow slowly, or keep losing leaves, they may need more nutrients. You need to use a high-quality all-in-one liquid fertilizer to provide the nutrients needed for healthy growth. For plants that absorb most of their nutrients through their roots, such as Cryptocoryne, Amazon Swords, and bulb plants, you need to add tabs or use a nutrient-rich aquarium substrate. 

Light is also important. Even if your plants have enough nutrients, they will not grow well if they don't get enough light. It can happen when the aquarium light is too weak, larger plants block light from reaching smaller ones, and the light is not designed to support plant growth. 

You need to trim the overgrown plants. It allows more light to reach the rest of the aquarium. If your tank is still too dim, you can consider upgrading to an LED light specifically for the planted aquariums.

Here is the difference between LED vs T5 Aquarium Lighting. 

The Plants Were Damaged During Shipping

If you ordered your aquarium plants online, they can get exposed to the hot or very cold temperatures during shipping. That type of damage is not always visible right away, but when you place the plant in the aquarium, it starts losing leaves or appears to melt. For example, if the plant freezes during transit, its leaves may die, or the plant may fail to recover. However, if you suspect your plant was damaged during shipping, you can contact the seller to see whether they offer a replacement or refund. 

The Bulb Can Not Be Viable

Some bulb plants, such as dwarf aquarium lilies, can fail to grow because the bulb is not viable. It can happen occasionally, even with healthy-looking bulbs. If you have had the bulb in your aquarium for several weeks and there are still no signs of leaves or roots, it may not sprout. In that case, you need to contact the seller to ask about the replacement. Buying bulb plants that have already started growing can also reduce the risk of getting a non-viable bulb. 

Your Anubias Can Have Rhizome Rot

Anubias plants can sometimes develop a disease known as Anubias rot. It causes the rhizome, the thick horizontal stem that produces leaves and roots, to become soft, mushy, and eventually break down. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed cure. If you see signs of rot, you need to remove the affected parts of the rhizome as soon as possible. 

It can help prevent the disease from spreading and give the healthy portion of the plant a chance to survive. Because the exact cause of Anubias rot is not fully known, it can occur at different stages. It can even include shipping, cultivation, or after planting. If your newly purchased plant develops a problem soon after arrival, you need to contact the seller to ask if they provide a replacement or refund.