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Aquarium guides/Aquarium plant melt

Aquarium plant melt: why new plants lose leaves

Plant melt is a new plant shedding leaves after planting, usually because it was grown above water at the nursery and is switching to underwater leaves, or because water conditions changed. Leave the roots or rhizome in place, remove the rotting leaves, and new growth usually follows within a few weeks, depending on the plant, the light and the temperature.

Cryptocoryne wendtii, a plant known for melting after a move
Shown: Cryptocoryne wendtii, a plant known for melting after a move. Photo: Yercaud-elango, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Why it happens

Most potted aquarium plants are grown emersed (leaves in the air) because it is faster. Underwater they grow a different kind of leaf and let the old ones go. Crypts are famous for it; they also melt after big changes in water or light.

What to do

  1. Remove dissolving leaves so they do not foul the water.
  2. Leave the roots and crown planted; do not move the plant.
  3. Add root tabs for root feeders.
  4. Wait: new leaves usually appear within weeks.

Tissue-culture plants, grown in sterile cups, melt less.

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