What to Do When New Plants “Melt” After You Add Them to the Tank

What to Do When New Plants “Melt” After You Add Them to the Tank

So you just added some new live plants to your tank.
They looked great on arrival.
A few days go by…

And suddenly the leaves start to:

  • Turn yellow

  • Get soft or transparent

  • Break apart

  • Or seem to “disappear”

This is called plant melt — and it’s one of the most common (and normal) things that can happen with new aquarium plants.

The good news?
Plant melt does not mean your plant is dying.
It means your plant is adjusting.

Let’s break it down simply.

Why Plant Melt Happens

Many aquarium plants are grown above water at the farm (this is called emersed growth). When they enter your tank, they switch to underwater growth (submerged growth).

This switch requires a total leaf rebuild.

So the plant does exactly what it’s supposed to do:

  1. Drops old leaves

  2. Keeps its root system

  3. Regrows new underwater leaves adapted to your tank

It looks scary — but it’s normal.

Which Plants Commonly Melt?

Some plants are known for this:

  • Cryptocoryne (Crypt Wendtii Red, Lutea, etc.)

  • Amazon Swords

  • Water Onion / Crinum

  • Staurogyne Repens

  • Bucephalandra

If your Crypts melt — congratulations, your plants are normal. 😄

How to Know if the Plant Is Still Healthy

Focus on the base of the plant, not the leaves.

Your plant is very likely fine if:

✅ The roots are still white/tan/firm
✅ The crown / base is solid (not mushy)
✅ New small leaves are starting to form (even tiny ones)

Your plant is in recovery mode — don’t disturb it.

What To Do (Step-by-Step)

1. Leave the plant in place

Do not uproot or replant it.
Movement = stress.

2. Trim away melted leaves

This prevents decay → keeps the water cleaner.

3. Keep your light at 6–8 hours/day

More light does not make plants recover faster.
Too much = algae.

4. Add a gentle fertilizer routine

New growth needs nutrition, not intensity.

Use:

  • Root tabs under swords, crypts, and rooted plants

  • All-in-one liquid fertilizer once per week for water column feeders

5. Be patient

New leaves usually show in 10–21 days.
Full regrowth happens over 3–6 weeks.

Plants reward patience every time.

Optional: The “Floating Boost” Trick

If a plant is struggling:

  • Snip 1–2 healthy leaves or small sections

  • Float them at the surface under the light

Floating gives the plant maximum oxygen + energy
→ Helps recovery happen faster.

This works especially well for:

  • Hornwort

  • Ludwigia species

  • Mosses

  • Stem plants

When to Worry (Rare)

Only be concerned if:

❌ The crown/base turns mushy
❌ The plant smells rotten
❌ Roots dissolve into threads

If that happens, send us a picture — we’ll help.

But 95% of the time?

It’s just a plant adjusting.

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