Water Lettuce
Pistia stratiotes · family Araceae
- Light
- Medium
- CO₂
- Not required
- Temperature
- 20–30 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 5–20 °dGH
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Height
- up to 15 cm
- Placement
- Floating
- Root feeder
- No
Pros and cons
- Creates shade — saves you from algae blooms
- Long roots — paradise for fry and shrimp
- Heavy root-feeding nitrate consumer
- Sensitive to lid condensation — leaves rot
- Quickly takes over the surface
- Doesn't like strong air flow
Description
A floating plant with a rosette of velvety leaves on the surface and a long beard of roots underwater. Provides shade and shelter.
Care
Just place it on the water. Propagates via daughter rosettes. Avoid strong air flow — it scorches the leaves.
FAQ
- Почему пистия гниёт?
- Конденсат с крышки капает на бархатистые листья. Нужно либо открытый аквариум, либо щель в крышке для вентиляции.
AuthorGoldie Editorial
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Reviewed byGoldie Science Board
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Wikipedia: Pistia stratiotes · Wikipedia · 2026-05-22