How to Grow Vallisneria Spiralis

Place 2 inches of aquarium gravel in a 1-foot-deep plastic planting pot. The gravel will help give the plants a good anchor when you place the water in the pot. Make sure the pot does not have any holes that may allow water to escape.

Fill the pot halfway up with tap water, and fill it the rest of the way with de-ionized water. The mixture of these two water types will reduce the amount of minerals present and allow for a purer water form.

Place the starter plants in the gravel by pushing them down about 1/2 inch under the gravel. If you're using a partially grown plant, cover the bulb until no white is showing. Place the pot in a location where it will receive an average of six hours of full-spectrum fluorescent light.

Fertilize the plant on a monthly basis to ensure it grows healthy. Use 1 tbsp. of fish emulsion per 2 gallons of water when fertilizing. Evaporation will occur over time, so make sure to keep the water level where it should be.

Remove any dead foliage as it may occur. Dead grass will put off nitrogen that will only deneutralize the water, which can stunt growth on the healthy part of the plant.

Place the plants in your aquarium as they grow overtime. Make sure you anchor them in gravel or under anything heavy to secure them in place. Monitor the pH level so it is between 6 and 7.5. Use a standard pH water test kit for these measurements.