attaching plants to driftwood

never quit

I'm thinking about ordering a couple pieces of driftwood and several plants and attach them to the driftwood. According to aquariumplants.com "Simply attach the roots/rhizome with fine (cotton) thread, or carefully "staple" to the driftwood, and the roots will grow and attach to the rocks or driftwood."
This seems the most economical way to go, and it lets you decide what plants you want to use....They mention a few plants, like Java Fern and Anbiuas.
Has anyone had luck with this or do you have any tips that make the attaching successful?

Thanks
Never Quit

Romad

I've never done it myself but I know some folks use fishing line too. I'm not sure I'd like the idea of staples in my tank.

GwenInNM

I used a rubberband around the Java Fern I had attached to pice of driftwood. Within 2 weeks I was able to remove the rubberband and the plant remained in place. Good luck. It's a pretty simple thing to do. You can also stick the roots into a whole in the wood, that should work.

Gwen

jeaninel

I've attached anubias and java fern to wood using black cotton thread. It works great and the black makes it less noticeable.

Mat Rob

I used green thread to attach Java fern and Java moss to some driftwood. It seemed to work fine. Until last night when I saw one fish with a 3in peice of thread hanging out of its mouth and another fish puliling on the other end. It was a fish tug-of-war. At first it was kind of funny but than I had to get it before they really ate it. It took awhile but finally got it. All fish are good and plants are still on the driftwood.

iamgray

I just got some anubias barteri, java moss, and java fern yesterday, and this is my first attempt at this sort of plant... but all I did with the anubias and java fern was to find nooks that I crammed/wedged the roots into... and the java moss, I just wrapped it around things and tied it to itself. I'll see how it works out...

lorax84

I usually use single strand thread to attach things to wood. After a couple of weeks I take it off and it usually holds. If it is a smaller plant I will usually cramp it in a crack in the wood.

Edit: the nice thing about cotton thread is that it will eventually break down on it's own

never quit

Yeah, I agree, I don't think the idea of staples sounds like it's got the plant in its best interest!

Rip

i just got some java fern today. all i did with it was place it in the back of the tank so that the roots were touching the gravel surface, and then took a large rock, and gently placed it in front of the java fern so it would stay in place. should that be okay?

lorax84

I have done that before and had it work and I have done it and seen it floating 10 mins later. It' is really a tank to tank thing, some fish really like to uproot plants. As long as you didn't bury it in the gravel you should be fine.