When it comes to your aquarium, plants play a huge role. Not only do a variety of aquarium plants help improve the appearance of your tank and create a vibrant aesthetic, but they also contribute to the overall health of your tank’s ecosystem. Aquarium plants are needed by fish for a number of reasons, including for providing hiding places and aiding natural water filtration.

Want to fill your aquarium with some easy-to-grow aquarium plants and need help deciding? Here at Pond Planet, we’ve created a fact file of a few easy aquarium plants for beginners for you to choose from.

1. Java Moss

First on our list is the Java Moss plant. Java Moss is one of the easiest aquarium plants to grow, as it is very low maintenance when it comes to both water and lighting. As Java Moss has no roots, most of its nutrients are accessed through its leaves via the water and it grows by attaching itself to your tank’s rocks and ornaments. Aside from the occasional trim back, these plants don’t require any maintenance, making them ideal for beginners. Java Moss is incredibly hardy and is able to grow in most water conditions, though these plants thrive best in moderately dimmed light and temperates around 15-32°C (59-90°F).

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2. Java Fern

Similarly to Java Moss, Java Fern is another easy aquarium plant to have in your tank. Hardy, slow-growing and low maintenance, Java Fern is one of our top easy to grow aquarium plants for beginners. When it comes to lighting and environmental conditions, Java Fern also does best with a medium-low light, with a water temperature of 15-28 °C (60-83 °F). Like the Java Moss, Java Fern will float until it has attached itself to one of the surfaces in your tank, such as rocks, driftwood or substrate.

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3. Amazon Sword

Amazon Sword is another popular option when it comes to easy aquarium plants for beginners, as it thrives in a wide range of conditions and is easy to maintain. One thing to note about Amazon Swords is that they can grow to be very large and need to be trimmed back. They get their name due to their sword-like leaves, which can grow up to 20 inches tall!

Our tip is to ensure the water is replenished on a regular basis, as the plant can not function in dirty water. Our recommendation is a weekly partial water change of about 20% which is key to keeping the plant sturdy and healthy. The Amazon Sword needs direct lighting and temperatures around 22-27 °C (72-82 °F).

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4. Anubias and Anubias Nana

Anubias and Anubias Nana are another of our easy aquarium plants for beginners. Anubias Nana is the smaller of the two with shorter leaves, making it a better choice for smaller aquariums. Both these plants are ideal for covering the substrate, providing excellent habitats for fish that tend to stay at the bottom of the tank. Both Anubias and Anubias Nana grow very slowly, making them very low maintenance. As these are very robust and adaptable plants, Anubias and Anubias Nana are suited to most tanks, but they thrive best with moderate lighting and a water temperature above 20°C (68°F). 

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5. Vallisneria

Last but not least on our list of easy to grow aquarium plants is Vallisneria, a long eelgrass that has the ability to grow to up to six feet tall! Aside from careful pruning to control its height, Vallisneria is one of the easiest aquarium plants to opt for, as they’re very undemanding and low maintenance. Once you’ve planted Vallisneria in your tank, it will multiply spread easily and create a lush, jungle aesthetic. In terms of environmental needs, Vallisneria can thrive in a large range of water temperatures, from 20 to 28°C (68-82°F) and prefers brighter lighting.

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Whether you’re new to fishkeeping and looking for the best aquarium plants for beginners or are simply looking for the easiest aquarium plants to add to your existing tank, these low-maintenance plants are some of the best you can opt for. Once you’ve picked your plants from our list, ensure you’ve got the rest of the aquarium kit you need, including additional aquarium decor, substrates and heating and lighting here at Pond Planet.