will plants grow right in the sand?

i dont have have a gravel vac can i just use a hose as a siphon?

how would i go about cleaning the sand without sucking it up?

yeah i might just buy a cheap nice piece of driftwood then saw it down, if i buy it from a store or online, then boil it for 1-2 hours will it sink forever?

I am most likely going to use, CaribSea Tahitian Moon Soon for substrate. Crypt Wendtii and Java Fern for plants. I have no clue where I'm going to get driftwood that would fit in a 10 gallon. Also, I think I might just use a hydro sponge filter, the one where the bubbles come out the top so there ...

im starting a new 10 gallon tank especially designated for corydoras, i need to get small size gravel, plants (any ideas, java fern, swords, etc..), and i would like a big piece of wood or stick, you know you see that in a lot of tanks, should i use sponge or regular filter? i dont know but does ...