Description
Bolbitis heudelotii
The African water fern, Bolbitis heudelotii, is a beautiful, time-tested aquatic fern with transparent bottle green pinnate fronds. It has a wide distribution across tropical Africa, growing attached to rock along the mean waterline of fast-flowing waters, partly together with Anubias species. Also under aquarium conditions, Bolbitis heudelotii attaches itself to solid objects by its blackish roots, but it will also grow when it is fastened to the substrate surface. Just make sure you do not cover the rhizome as it might otherwise rot away.
Growth is sped up a lot by the addition of CO2 and fertilisation via the water column. Bolbitis heudelotii develops best in soft, slightly acidic water, however, it is a relatively undemanding plant and will also grow in medium-hard water. The plant has a low light demand but also thrives with intense lighting when a good nutrient and CO2 supply is provided. This fern is easy to propagate: Simply cut the creeping rhizome. When the bush has become too large, Bolbitis heudelotii tolerates hard pruning.
Price for a rhizome with 3 to 5 leaves, grown submerged.
Plant Info:
- Package: Rhizome with 3 to 5 leaves
- Type: rhizome
- Family Name: Dryopteridaceae
- Origin: Africa
- Care: Easy
- Light demand: Medium
- CO2 : Low to Moderate
- Growth rate: Slow
- Height (cm): 10 – 20
- Propagation: Cut along the rhizome
