Soon (or not so soon) to be planted tank owner. Questions!

Byron

I answered that, you go by the appearance. When the stem plant reaches the surface, it is time to trim it. In a tank with sufficient nutrients and light, usually once every two weeks for Pennywort, sometimes every week. I have it in my 90g and this schedule usually works.

If plants don't grow, they start dying, and that pollutes the tank. Anubias is fairly hardy, but it needs food. Nutrients are food for plants; you can't live without food, neither can plants.

xxabc

I understand the trimming, however you mentioned trimming it at the bottom, and at the top. It seems to matter where you cut it though. When would I know to cut it at the bottom, and at the top?

Byron

When you trim a stem plant, pull the stem out of the gravel. Starting at the top (the nice end), look down the stem to where the leaves start to yellow or fall off, and cut it there. Then toss away the lower part and plant the cut end of the top part in the gravel. You can make the top part shorter than this, it's up to you, but you want to cut off the lower part up to at least where the leaves look ratty. Or if they are still OK, you can still cut the stem just to shorten the plant. Stem plants usually grow quite fast, they use a lot of nutrients to do so, and can easily get out of hand. Once they reach the surface and start to frow along the surface, they usually shade the lower portions too much which is why the lower leaves yellow and die. Some do this more than others.

xxabc

Okay thank you, that made more sense.
As for nutrients - I am definitely planning on adding two nerite snails to the bunch. They may not be much, but it is still something, isn't it? I wouldn't expect a new leaf or anything out of it. Again, I'll try to experiment with one plant and see if it's for me. If it's not, that'll be the end of it. I appreciate every single detail, definitely helpful.