SubstrateSource Java Fern Half Mat Live Aquarium Plant Microsorum pteropus

Hygrophila polysperma is a wetland plant that can occur as a submerged or an emersed plant. It inhabits lakes, streams, marshy areas, ditches, and rice-fields (de Thabrew 2014). This species can grow in water at depths up to 3 m and on stream banks as an emersed plant (Nault and Mikulyuk 2009). Hygrophila polysperma can inhabit habitats with a variety of environmental conditions. It favors warmer waters of 18-30°C but can tolerate water temperatures as low as 4°C (Kasselmann 1995, Ramey 2001, Rixon et al. 2005, US EPA 2008). It grows in waters with pH of 6.5-7.8 (Spencer and Bowes 1985, Doyle et al. 2003) and water hardness of 30-140 ppm (Nault and Mikulyuk 2009). This species has low light saturation and compensation points, so it is capable of photosynthesizing in low light levels (Doyle et al. 2003). Hygrophila polysperma exhibits low seasonality and can maintain shoot biomass year round (Spencer and Bowes 1985). Growth rate is dependent on water temperature and daylight (Nault and Mikulyuk 2009), and can increase dramatically in the presence of nutrient inputs (Sutton and Dingler 2000). This species can draw CO2 from both the water and atmosphere (Doyle et al. 2003).

Supplier of plants:
oxygenators, reeds, iris, water lilies, bog gardens,
wildlife ponds, natural ponds, lakes, floating plants,
deep water plants, marginals, native british and tropical.

Far from creeping, this fast growing North American native will provide a quick cover for fish. Olive-green leaves are reddish on the underside and form large mats of foliage. In ponds, they produce brilliant yellow flowers. Plants can survive with only three hours of direct sunlight each day but they prefer as much as possible. They grow natively along streams, swamps, and around ponds and can be invasive in earth-bottom ponds. Plants can be submerged in up to four inches of water. These are good for indoor aquariums too! The plant typically grows to a height of 12 to 20 inches. The width of each stem is about 2 to 3 inches, based on leaf growth. In order to achieve strong shoots the substrate should be nutrient rich and light intensity high. The red color is more intense if proper lighting is provided. Three to five strong specimens can be used for the mid to background area. Ludwigia repens can grow well in both very soft and hard water although soft, slightly acidic water is best. Optimum growth temperature is 75 to 79 degrees, although it can grow in temps from 59 to 79 degrees.

Supplier of plants:
oxygenators, reeds, iris, water lilies, bog gardens,
wildlife ponds, natural ponds, lakes, floating plants,
deep water plants, marginals, native british and tropical.

Limnophila sessiliflora is a rooted, aquatic, perennial, herbaceous plant that grows up to 12 ft (3.7 m) tall. It is fast growing, grows new plants from fragments, and can exist in a variety of aquatic habitats.
Foliage
Leaves of this plant have two types of whorled polymorphic leaves. The submerged stems have dissected, dark green, lance shaped leaves up to 1.2 in. (30 mm) long with irregularly serrated margins. The emergent stems have flat shiny hairs and fine, needle like leaves up to 0.12 in. (3 cm) long.

Supplier of plants:
oxygenators, reeds, iris, water lilies, bog gardens,
wildlife ponds, natural ponds, lakes, floating plants,
deep water plants, marginals, native british and tropical.