Stem plants grow vertically within the botanical method, biotope, or blackwater aquarium, where each node is capable of sprouting new leaves, roots, or new stems. When you trim a stem, it regrows, allowing you to create dense growth from only a few stems. These fast growers help sequester excess nutrients while creating vertical habitat within the aquarium. Their upward growth helps shade plants at lower levels and suppresses algae, making them ideal for mid-to-background planting. In nature, we often see stem plants flowing within the water current, covered in thin layers of biofilms, algae, and detritus—eventually hitting the surface and growing emersed above the waterline.
