N
Glam Journal

Is Bolbitis easy to grow?

Author

Elijah King

Updated on March 06, 2026

Is Bolbitis easy to grow?

These are fairly easy plants to maintain as long as the tank and water health is good. They do not do well in brackish or salty water, and should be grown in fresh water only.

How do you grow Bolbitis?

Bolbitis comes from West Africa, a fern with beautiful, transparent green leaves, 15-40 cm tall and wide. When planting, do not cover the rhizome because it will rot, and it is best to plant Bolbitis heudelotii on a root or stone. Keep the plant in position with fishing line until it has gained a hold.

How fast does African water fern grow?

This fern thrives best attached to lava rocks or pieces of wood in water moving areas. With its delicately cut dark green leaves, it grows extremely slow with a single leaf growing in about two months.

Is El Nino fern fully aquatic?

Bolbitis heteroclita is a freshwater semiaquatic plant. Most individual plants will not tolerate marine environments, although some can adapt to brackish water. Unfortunately, El Nino Ferns can be quite finicky and suffer the transition from growing in semiaquatic environments to fully aquatic.

Can you plant Bolbitis?

Do not directly plant Bolbitis into your substrate. In order for this plant to grow it must be attached to a hardscape. Like buce or anubias, covering the rhizome of this plant will cause it to rot. Instead, simply place this Bolbitis on top of your hardscape and weigh it down with plant weights if necessary.

How do I plant Bolbitis in my aquarium?

When planting, do not cover the rhizome because it will rot, and it is best to plant Bolbitis heudelotii on a root or stone. Keep the plant in position with fishing line until it has gained a hold. Easy to propagate by splitting the horizontal rhizome.

Does El Nino Fern need substrate?

Our slow growing Top Fin El Nino Fern in a Tube does well when tied to rocks or wood. Do not be place rhizome below substrate. Fern grows to a large size, adding a natural look to any aquarium.

What are Betta bulbs?

Betta bulbs are a mix of aponogeton bulbs. It’s hard to narrow down what species of aponogeton betta bulbs are because you’ll normally buy them in mixed batches.

Is Bolbitis a rhizome plant?

Propagation of Bolbitis is super easy–just gently split the horizontal rhizome. This plant grows from rhizomes that can be attached directly to your hardscape–such as driftwood or stone. When given minimal light, this plant will grow slowly and show a deep green color.

How fast does Bolbitis grow?

Although this fern is very slow to start growing, taking up to two months to grow one new leaf in some cases, it can grow moderately fast once acclimated and established in optimum conditions.

Is El Nino Fern easy?

El Niño Fern, also known as Asian Water Fern or Bolbitis Broadleaf, is a very low-maintenance plant that is excellent for both the simple and expert planted aquarium!

How tall does El Nino fern grow?

Specification

Fаmіlу name:Dryopteridaceae
рH:6.0-7.2
Mаx height:12”
Leaf size:2-3”
Flowers:Yеѕ

What is a Bolbitis water fern?

Fish keepers will know the Bolbitis water fern, or African fern ( Bolbitis heudelotii ). It is a tropical shade epiphyte found around bodies of water and boggy regions. The fern is a robust specimen and useful as a natural plant in fish tanks.

What is a Bolbitis plant?

Bolbitis is found in fast-moving tropical waters. It is an epiphyte and anchors itself to rough rocks or pieces of wood. Also known as Congo fern, the plant is dark green with delicately cut leaves. It is slow growing, but can get tall and is most useful as a bottom plant.

What is Bolbitis heudelotii?

Bolbitis heudelotii, also known as African water fern, African fern, or simply as bolbitis, originates in the tropical regions of Africa. Bolbitis heudelotii was first described in 1934 by (Bory ex FÉe) Alston.

What is the scientific name of African water fern?

Bolbitis heudelotii was first described in 1934 by (Bory ex FÉe) Alston. However, the African Water Fern was described as early as 1845 by (Bory ex FÉe) Acrost, according to Flora Zambesiaca, under the genus and species Gymnopteris heudelotii.