Leaf colourgreen, red +1
Native range
- Argentina Northeast
- Bolivia
- Brazil North
- Brazil West-Central
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Mexico Southeast
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Venezuela
stem plant surface
A floating plant with heart-shaped leaves and crimson roots hanging beneath. Under strong light the leaves themselves turn red — the only floater in the catalogue that does that.
- Light
- low
- Difficulty
- medium
- Height
- 3 – 5 cm
- Temperature
- 18 – 30 °C
Parameters
Plant typestem plant
Growth ratefast
CO₂ demandlow
Tolerates lightmedium – high
pH5 – 8
Carbonate hardness0 – 14 °dKH
General hardness0 – 30 °dGH
Placementsurface
Propagationfragmentation, cuttings +2
Grows emersedyes
Appearance
Small water-repellent leaves lie on the surface in rosettes, hiding the stem; the roots are a striking blood red. In bright light the leaves take on bronze and red tones, in shade they stay plain green.
Keeping
Easy in an open tank and awkward in a closed one: drops of condensation sit on the water-repellent leaves and rot them. It multiplies fast, so a share goes in the bin every week, and it dislikes strong surface movement — under a filter outflow the leaves get pushed under and drown.
Placement
On the surface, ideally in a calm corner. The red roots are worth looking at, and the shade underneath suits plants that dislike bright light.
Propagation
By itself: side shoots break off and become new plants. Simply scoop out the excess.
Fish and this plant
Water conditions match
The water suits 1033 of 1249 species in the catalogue — these are the ones people look up most often.
Swordtail GuppiesCobra GuppyBlood Red MollyButterflyfishRed Zebra CichlidJulii CorydorasFeatherfin SynodontisRed-finned ParotocinclusGastromyzon monticolaEgg-shaped GoldfishFlame TetraGardner's KillifishAfrican TetraKenyi CichlidCuckoo CatfishGolden SwordtailHypsolebias picturatusCommon ZaccoLabeo BicolorGambusiaFlying barbGastromyzon scitulusAlbino Zebra DanioGeophagus Brokopondo
Will eat this plant
These species damage plants, especially when their diet is short of vegetable food.
Bengal LoachZebra LoachBurmese Border LoachEmperor BotiaMarbled HeadstanderPellegrin's LeporinusLeporinus striatusFalse Black TetraCommon MetynnisMylossoma duriventreRed Whiptail CatfishMolly sphenopsBalloon MollyLyretail MollyMarble MollyHi-Fin PlatyHawaii PlatyBlue PlatyPintail PlatyBlack PlatyChocolate MollyMoonlight GouramiMelanotaenia parva
Cultivars
The same plant with a different look: light, water and care are shared with the species.
Other varieties: Phyllanthus Fluitans Red Root Floater