Carolina Mosquito Fern

Minute two-lobed leaves on branching stems, each plant less than two centimetres across, growing in dense clusters. Mostly green, tinged pink, orange or red at the edges.

Easy given warmth and light: it needs at least medium light to grow properly and does not tolerate cold. It grows extremely quickly across the surface, breaking into smaller pieces as it spreads, so removing the excess by hand is the routine job — and the same speed makes it a strong competitor against algae.

Floating. Bear in mind that a closed surface cover shades everything planted beneath it. It is more often used in ponds than in tanks.

It splits by itself: the clusters break apart as they grow.