Salvinia Auriculata care guide
Salvinia Auriculata (Salvinia auriculata) — medium light, 18-30 °C, pH 6-8, no CO2.
Overview
Salvinia Auriculata (Salvinia auriculata) is a round-leaved plant of the family Salviniaceae, grown as an aquarium plant. A medium-sized floating fern with paired, oval leaves covered in water-repellent hairs. Larger than S. minima and creates effective surface coverage for shading and nutrient control.
Taxonomy
- Family: Salviniaceae
- Genus: Salvinia
- Scientific name: Salvinia auriculata
- Common synonyms: Eared Watermoss, Butterfly Fern
Habitat
Salvinia auriculata originates from South America, where it grows in freshwater marshes, ditches and slow-moving streams, frequently emersed on seasonally flooded ground.
Growth requirements
- Lighting: medium
- CO2: not required
- Temperature: 18-30 °C (64-86 °F)
- pH: 6-8
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Substrate: none (floating or epiphytic)
- Maximum height: 3 cm
- Growth rate: fast
- Nutrient demand: low
- Recommended placement: floating
- Typical trim interval: 7 days
Placement
In aquascapes this plant floats at the surface.
Propagation
Propagation is by division of the parent clump; daughter plants are separated once they have formed several leaves and visible roots.
Common issues
Pale or stunted new growth usually signals a nutrient or iron deficiency, while algae on older leaves often follows light that exceeds the available nutrients or CO2; correcting fertilisation and trimming affected parts resolves most cases.