Wild AI
PLANT OVERVIEW
About Floating Fern
A small floating fern with slightly folded, water-repellent leaves.
Salvinia natans is a great floating plant for nutrient export. It grows quickly and provides excellent shade and cover for fry.
Floating · Beginner friendly
Floating Fern
Salvinia natans
1 / 4
DIFFICULTY
Easy
A forgiving choice for newer planted tanks.
LIGHT
Moderate
Around 10 hours is a useful starting point.
CO₂
Optional
Injection is not normally necessary.
GROWTH
Fast
High trimming needs.
CARE PROFILE
What this plant needs.
The useful numbers and practical notes, grouped around how you actually keep the plant.
TANK FIT
Placement + size
Primary placementFloating
Typical height0.5–1 in
Typical width1 in
Suggested minimum tank2 gal
Suggested tank height3 in+
LIGHT + CO₂
Energy demand
Ideal lightModerate
Photoperiod range8–12 hr
Approx. PAR20–100
Injected CO₂Optional
CO₂ benefitVery Low
NUTRITION
Where it feeds
Root feedingVery Low
Water-column feedingVery High
Overall fertilizer demandModerate
Iron demandLow
MicronutrientsLow
WATER
Useful parameter range
Temperature68–82°F
pH6–7.5
GH2–15 dGH
KH2–12 dKH
How to plant it.
Substrate: None
Float on surface.
What to expect after planting.
Propagation
Division
Acclimation
Very hardy.
What usually goes wrong.
Can completely cover the surface if not thinned.
KEEP EXPLORING
Plants with similar growing conditions.
Matched from the PlantLab database using light, CO₂, difficulty, feeding demand and placement.
Amazon Frogbit
Limnobium laevigatum
Moderate light
CO₂ optional
Floating
View plant →
Dwarf Water Lettuce
Pistia stratiotes
Moderate light
CO₂ optional
Floating
View plant →
Fairy Moss
Azolla caroliniana
Moderate light
CO₂ optional
Floating
View plant →
Hornwort
Ceratophyllum demersum
Moderate light
CO₂ optional
Floating
View plant →
Water Spangles
Salvinia minima
Moderate light
CO₂ optional
Floating
View plant →
Duckweed
Lemna minor
Moderate light
CO₂ optional
Floating
View plant →