So you decided that have live plants in your aquarium would add a lot to the environment.
The next question is what plants and where to get them.
There are actually two sources of live plants.
You can get the in the wild or you can purchase them from a local pet or aquarium store.
I would not recommend getting your plants from the wild.
You run the risk of introducing any number of aquatic pests like snails and parasites or worse yet - disease.
But if you must, make sure you clean every plant carefully in clear cool water with a soft toothbrush.
A much simpler and safer route is to buy them from a store.
Before you start out on your buying trip spend some time in planning what types of plants you are interested in.
Do some research and learn about of variety of plants.
Make a list of the ones that would go well in your aquarium.
But be prepared, the dealer make not have everything you're looking for so plan some alternates.
Buy a few plants at a time.
You'll be surprised at how far a few plants will go.
You don't want to over plant your aquarium.
A good rule of thumb is having one plant for every six square inches of substrate area.
Simply multiply your tank's width by the length and divide by six to get the number of plants you'll need.
Be sure to have the dealer to bag your plants in water for the trip home.
You want to make sure they don't dry out during the trip.
Wrapping them in wet newspaper will work as well.
If it's cold, you may want to carry them in something like a cooler to keep them warm.
When you get them home, you'll need to clean and acclimate them.
Put them in a pan of water with a 10% solution of potassium permanganate to kill unwanted germs.
Trim all the cutting to the height you want.
Never pinch or tear off dead plant pieces.
Use a sharp scissors.
Plants need time to acclimate.
So don't expect them to flourish immediately.