Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) Care Guide

A versatile fern that can be planted in substrate or left floating. Grows extremely fast, making it ideal for absorbing excess nutrients and providing fry cover.

Overview

Ceratopteris thalictroides is an aquatic plant in the family Pteridaceae. A versatile fern that can be planted in substrate or left floating. Grows extremely fast, making it ideal for absorbing excess nutrients and providing fry cover.

Taxonomy

Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Ceratopteris
Scientific name: Ceratopteris thalictroides
Other names: Indian Fern, Water Fern

Habitat

A pantropical and subtropical aquatic fern (family Pteridaceae) recorded from Korea south to western Australia. Reproduces vegetatively via adventitious plantlets on mature fronds, reaching full size within a month.

Growth requirements

Light: medium (≈50-80 PAR at substrate)
CO2: optional (CO2 improves growth and coloration)
Temperature: 20-28 °C
pH: 6-7.5
GH: 3-12 °dGH
Substrate: any (rootless or floating)
Nutrient demand: medium
Growth rate: fast
Difficulty: beginner

Placement

Recommended placement: background
Maximum height: 30 cm
Trim every: 10 days

Propagation

In cultivation the plant is propagated by adventitious plantlets on mature fronds and vegetative division or fragmentation.