Home Freshwater Plants Marsilea
Marsilea
(Marsilea sp.)
• Care Level: Easy • Lighting: High • Maximum Size: 24"
• Placement: Foreground to Midground • Water Conditions: 68-84° F, pH 6.0-7.5, KH 3-8
• Propagation: Adventitious Plants, Runners, Seeds • Color Forms: Dark to Lime-Green
Supplements: High Quality Substrate Fertilizer, CO2 Supplementaion
• Origin: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and Australia • Family: Marsileaceae
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Species Information
Marsilea native habitat, distribution, behavior & aquarium compatibility.
The aquatic fern, also known as Marsilea, originates from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and Australiainland. Marsilea prefers relatively calm or still water, with fronds producing leaflets in the shape of four-leaf clovers, generally floating on the water's surface.
Marsilea can grow in a number of different substrates and under optimal conditions; it will form a thick, dark to lime-green carpet with its numerous runners. Due to their fast rate of growth and steady propagation, the various species of Marsilea are some of the most popular foreground plants for aquariums.
There are over fifty species of Marsilea that have been identified, but the most common include Marsilea crenata, Marsilea hirsuta, Marsilea quadrifolia, Marsilea mutica and Marsilea minuta. The less common species are Marsilea drummondii and Marsilea angustifolia.
Aquarium Care
How to successfully keep Marsilea in the home aquarium.
Marsilea requires a nutrient rich substrate and high intensity lighting of at least 3 watts per gallon with full spectrum (5000-7000K) bulbs. Optimal lighting and CO2 injection will promote more compact, robust growth, while shade or inadequate lighting tend to make the genus grow vertically.
Propagation Information
How to propagate Marsilea.
The Marsilea genus mainly propagates by runners and occasional trimming of the runners is recommended using a sterile razor blade or very sharp, sterilized scissors. For propagation, allow the new plant to form its own leaves prior to separating it from the mother plant.
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