How to plant with ADA soil?.

**octopus** · 13th Jun 2013, 16:58

I am facing difficulty planting directly into the soil. Tried using the twizzer but the soil could not grip resulting in the plant pulled out of soil when the twizzer is removed. Used my barehands to plant, result is better but gets uprooted eventually. Is there a trick to planting them directly to the ADA soil or do I need to top off the soil with lapis sand as with my past experience with other brand of soil?.

By the way the height of the soil in the tank is between 3 to 4 inches. The plant that I was trying to plant is the Tiger Lily. That is the only starter plant that I have with me at the moment.

**qngwn** · 13th Jun 2013, 17:12

Try inserting the plant at 45 degrees into the surface of the soil, such that when you remove your tweezer, there is the weight of the soil that will keep the plant planted in the substrate.

**cephelix** · 13th Jun 2013, 20:08

did you moisten the soil first?
I find that before pulling out the tweezer, use your other hand to push soil to cover up the space left by the plant and that should do the trick

**wongce** · 13th Jun 2013, 22:38

push in the plant with tweezers, then wriggle the tweezer a bit as you pull out..aquasoil will generally collapse down...and cover the roots

**tingfeng** · 14th Jun 2013, 00:38

Try to do it in a fast planting motion. in and out.

**armageddon** · 14th Jun 2013, 05:00

use a spray bottle, heavily moist the soil until u can see the water has gone all the way to the bottom (through the side of the tank)
use the twisser, push in, release the pressure and as mentioned, slowly "dance" your way out. at an angle will increase the grip too.
initial starting you may face difficulties. but soon you will find it easy.

**felix_fx2** · 14th Jun 2013, 17:39

@tingfeng, Kungfu planting? No-Shadow-Planting Palm?

Videos that have been posted in AQ long time ago, Most of them have no audio.

**octopus** · 16th Jun 2013, 22:21

Originally Posted by felix_fx2

@tingfeng, Kungfu planting? No-Shadow-Planting Palm?

Videos that have been posted in AQ long time ago, Most of them have no audio.

Thanks for the video link. Just a clarification. My interpretation is that the plant should be squeezed between the fingers into the soil. Correct me if I am wrong. Nevertheless the technique works but need some getting use to. Needs to remove all lightings in order to get both hands into the tank.

**felix_fx2** · 17th Jun 2013, 09:13

Originally Posted by octopus

Thanks for the video link. Just a clarification. My interpretation is that the plant should be squeezed between the fingers into the soil. Correct me if I am wrong. Nevertheless the technique works but need some getting use to. Needs to remove all lightings in order to get both hands into the tank.

Something like that, with practice you will get used to it.
Yes have to remove lighting if their in the way.

There are actually more in youtube, but i leave that to you to search it out.