Zaire, Congo Water Fern, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
Genus:
bolbitis
Type:
Congo water fern (Bolbitis heudelotii)
Family:
ferns
Hometown:
Tropical Africa.
Height of root:
40 to 50 centimeters
Light:
Partial shade to normal light
Temperature:
22 to 28° C
Growth:
The water fern grows very slowly. However, over time it can grow into an impressive plant. About every 2 months it forms a new leaf.
pH:
5.0 to 7.0
Degree of hardness:
The water should be very soft to medium hard
CO2:
CO2 fertilization is necessary because the fern has a high need for nutrients.
propagation:
The root can be divided. Each piece of root should have at least 3 leaves.
Difficulty: The cultivation of the water fern is rated as easy to slightly difficult.
Difficulty:
difficult to very difficult
Location in the aquarium:
The water fern is a plant for the background. Since he loves running water, a location near the filter outlet is ideal.
Look
The leaves with their stems grow directly from the elongated root. They are 20 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide. The transparent, green to dark green leaves are bipinnate when covered by water. If they protrude from the water, they are only simply feathered.
distribution
The Congo water fern is native to tropical Africa. It often grows in areas that are kept wet by splashes from waterfalls or fast-flowing rivers. But it can also be found under the water surface.
husbandry conditions
Actually, the water fern is a swamp plant. But it also grows in aquariums. The root of the water fern must not be planted in the ground, as it will then rot. Therefore, the touchdown plant should be attached to a mangrove root or stone with a nylon cord. When it is firmly attached, the nylon cord can be removed again.
particularities
The leaves outside the water form spores, which the fern uses to reproduce.