Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus fluitans): easy red floating plant
A compact, decorative floater... and made for low-tech
Phyllanthus is a small ideal floating plant, from nano to large tanks. Its hydrophobic leaves (Salvinia effect) form a mat that filters light and reassures surface fish (excellent with Bettas). Under strong light, it takes on a spectacular rust-red hue, while its also reddish roots create pretty plumes beneath the surface.
Phyllanthus, sometimes called "Red root floaters," looks a lot like Salvinia, but it forms a less dense cover and especially reddens very easily.
Why choose Phyllanthus fluitans?
- Very easy red color under intense lighting.
- No heavy technology: no CO2 needed (floating plant), just sufficient lighting.
- Natural anti-algae: absorbs nitrates and phosphates on the surface and filters light.
- Very decorative roots: entirely red-tinted, they serve as refuge for fry who find numerous infusoria there, and for microfauna.
- Perfect for low-tech and aquascaping (non-opaque, adjustable surface mat).
- Compact: also ideal for nano-aquariums because it is not invasive and small in size.
Cultivation tips
- Light: medium to strong (reddening is very pronounced under strong light).
- Water and current: calm water, little surface agitation to avoid drift and preserve the root microbiotic environment.
- Nutrition: benefits from "living" water (fish or shrimp). No fertilizer needed.
- CO2: unnecessary (absorbs CO2 directly from the air).
- Management: regularly harvest excess to allow light to pass through, benefiting submerged plants.
- Outdoor: only in summer in ponds or poubellariums. Bring inside before cold weather.
Possible uses of Phyllanthus
- Low-tech aquarium: natural light filtering, reassuring atmosphere for aquatic animals.
- Aquascaping: red/green contrast, decorative "curtain" roots because they are strongly colored.
- Bettas and surface fish: shaded and resting areas, bubble nest reinforcement, infusoria for newly hatched fry.
- Summer pond and trash pond: beautiful red touch on the surface (bring inside in winter).
FAQ – Phyllantus fluitans
How to get a beautiful red color?
Provide strong light and an open surface (little shade). But the roots are always a deep red.
Is CO2 needed?
No. Like all floating plants, it uses CO2 from the air.
Is it nano compatible?
Yes, it is one of the floating plants best suited for nanos.
Can it be mixed with other floating plants?
Yes (Salvinia, duckweed...). Just monitor the surface cover by regularly removing excess.
Will it survive outdoors in winter?
No, it is a tropical plant: outdoors only in summer, bring the base inside before the cold.
Additional information
- Scientific name: Phyllantus fluitans
- Plant type: floating filtering fern
- Light: medium for a green color, stronger to achieve this beautiful red color.
- Temperature: 18 to 28°C. In an aquarium, or outdoors in summer. It will then turn strongly red in the sun.
- Water: it prefers calm or very slow-flowing water. Still surface. Tap water suits it very well.
- Size: the heart-shaped leaves do not exceed one centimeter, nor do the roots.
- Packaging: 5 rosette plants (approximate weight: 10 g).
- Guarantee: without rock wool or any artificial substrate of any kind. We raise it in real natural conditions, with its microbiota.
- Recommendation: As a precautionary principle, please never release this plant into the wild, even if it would not survive the winter in our regions. Our ecosystems are fragile and must be preserved.
