Ceratopteris cornuta Broad-leaf water sprite

Ceratopteris cornuta is a water sprite species with markedly broader leaf lobes than the much more filigree "Sumatra fern". This medium large aquatic fern grows as submerged, rooted plant as well as free-floating plant. It gets at least 30 cm tall. On nutrient-rich, wet bottom it develops emersed spore-bearing leaves that become considerably longer than the submerged ones. Ceratopteris cornuta is undemanding and tolerates harder water; medium lighting is sufficient. The optimum temperature lies between 22-28℃. Good CO₂ and nutrient supply enhances its already fast growth. This aquatic fern multiplies by many adventitious plantlets on older fronds. It is recommended to put the leaf rosette of Ceratopteris species not too deeply into the substrate. The "heart" of the plant where new fronds develop should remain above the bottom surface. However, when water sprite is delivered as potted plant, it often has hardly roots and detaches easily from the rockwool substrate during transport. But the plants will grow new roots in the aquarium. They can be floated until the roots are long enough for planting, or pinned onto the ground with a plant pin (e.g. JBL-ProScape-Plantis) right away. New plantlets may sprout on broken leaves. Also the planting of young Ceratopteris plants from tissue culture may be somewhat difficult. The plantlets are often entangled and not easy to separate from each other. Also in this case they can be floated until their roots are grown longer. It is also possible to plant or attach clumps of several plants. This water sprite looks well in the midground as solitary plant or loose group; it is recommendable for initial planting of new tanks and also for beginners. Used as floating plant, it is ideal for labyrinth fish breeding tanks. The water sprite Ceratopteris cornuta has been placed in the species C. thalictroides by various authors. In aquaristics, however, those forms with more coarsely pinnate/lobed leaves are known under the name of C. cornuta, and those with more finely pinnate leaves as C. thalictroides. Ceratopteris richardii is quite similar to C. cornuta and can only safely be discerned by close examination of the spores. This species is used as model organism in plant genetics. It is even possible that C. richardii is kept in the hobby, however, that it is mistaken for C. cornuta. Like Ceratopteris thalictroides, C. cornuta can be planted in the substrate as well as cultivated as a floating plant.

Flowgrow

Fast-growing aquatic fern Light green Undemanding Suitable as submerged and floating plant

Pteris cornuta P. Beauv., Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. f.cornuta (P. Beauv.) Glück

Ceratópteris cornúta (P. Beauv.) Le Prieur

Pteridaceae

Ceratopteris

Background

easy

very fast

need

5-8

18-30℃

0-21 dKH

0-30 °dGH

Proliferating leaves, Spores

yes