Why are my plants wilting?

[florap]

I'm still figuring things out with my plants - I've got a banana plant and I noticed one of the leaves wilted, which got me wondering why that happens. Luckily, I've also got a new leaf coming out, so I guess that's a good sign, right? But I'd still love to know the reason behind the wilting.

[Puzzlea]

I'm still figuring things out with my plants - I've got a banana plant and I noticed one of the leaves wilted, which got me wondering why that happens. Luckily, I've also got a new leaf coming out, so I guess that's a good sign, right? But I'd still love to know the reason behind the wilting.

A plant will wilt when it's not getting enough water, but that's not the only reason. Too much heat can cause wilting, and so can not enough heat. Overwatering is also a common issue, and a lack of light can cause problems too.

[coltin]

A picture of your plant would be helpful. If it was grown out of water and then submerged, the leaves that formed above water can rot and drop off. Terrestrial plants generally don't do well underwater - they'll eventually rot and die if kept submerged.

[angelica]

A picture of your plant would be helpful. If it was grown out of water and then submerged, the leaves that formed above water can rot and drop off. Terrestrial plants generally don't do well underwater - they'll eventually rot and die if kept submerged.

It's common for aquarium plants to experience this transition. They usually take 2-6 weeks to adjust to their new environment. When the old leaves wilt, just pinch them off – this will promote new growth. The new leaves that grow under water often have a completely different shape.

[coltin]

Common names can be tricky, as they often differ from one place to another - for instance, a banana plant in some regions, like Austflakeia, refers to a plant that produces edible bananas. Using scientific names and sharing pictures can help clear up any confusion that might arise from these varying common names.

[florap]

Thanks for looking out, I appreciate it. I'll try to be more on top of things. Maybe I'll actually learn something new.

My gut feeling is that the plants aren't getting enough light and/or water circulation. I've got a school of fry and a huge ball of plants at the top of the tank, so I'm just going to have to be patient for a bit. I don't want to disrupt whatever is happening in the greenery. This past week has been crucial for the tank, with the female minnows' bellies going from big to small and now back to big again. I'm hoping whatever is going on will wrap up soon so I can get some light on the lower plants and improve the water circulation.

If I can get a few more minnows, I'll set up my 20-gallon tank.