TCulture Phyllanthus fluitan (Portion)

Originated from the American tropics, Phyllanthus fluitans is a floating plant part of the Phyllanthaceae family.
It is similar to the Salvinia, differentiated only by the mono leave structure on each node. The water repellent, heart shaped leaves hide the stem which can sometimes give life to white flowers with six petals. The more intense the light, the browner the leaves will become. Sustainably cultivated in Denmark.

Plant info

Type:
Floating plant

Origin:
South America

Country or continent where a plant is the most common. Cultivars arise or are bred in cultivation.

Growth rate:
Medium

Growth rate of the plant compared to other aquatic plants.

Height:
3 – 5+

Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.

Light demand:

The average or medium light demand of an aquarium plant is 0,5 W/L.

CO2 :

A medium need in CO2 is 6-14 mg/L. A high demand in CO2 is approx. 15-25 mg/L.

Phyllanthus fluitans (Red Floater) for Singapore Open-Top Tanks

Phyllanthus fluitans is the floating plant we reach for when an aquascaper wants a touch of red drifting across the surface. Its small heart-shaped, water-repellent leaves form a loose mat, and under good light the foliage and dangling roots blush a warm red. It suits the open-top rimless tanks many Singapore hobbyists favour, where overhead lighting can reach the floating canopy directly.

Floating plants like this earn their keep by shading the tank, dampening algae, and mopping up nitrate, making them genuinely useful as well as decorative. The catch in our climate is heat: open tanks under bright LEDs can get warm and humid, and these floaters dislike condensation trapped against their leaves, so a little surface movement and airflow keeps them happy. Thin the mat regularly so light still reaches plants below.

For best red colour give it strong light and steady iron; in dim tanks it stays plain green. See our red floater care guide and floater colour troubleshooting, and browse more in our floating plants range.