Dwarf Water Lettuce | Easy Floating Plant

The Dwarf Water Lettuce, also known as Pistia stratiotes, is an excellent water plant for your open aquarium. Its light green, fleshy, strong, grooved leaves are covered with fine hairs and arranged in rosette form - and still partly overlapping. The leaves are designed so that liquids roll off them, creating a unique aesthetic that makes them incredibly popular among aquarists.

The long roots protect fish, especially juveniles. On top of that, they form a dense carpet and thus provide shade, which not only reduces algae formation but is also very pleasant for some fish. They also draw out unwanted nutrients from the water, which can further reduce algae formation, but one of the most popular uses of Dwarf Water Lettuce is as an indicator for iron deficiency. If there is not enough iron present in the tank, the leaves of this floater will turn yellow, which can be a great indicator to know that it's time to start supplementing.

The Dwarf Water Lettuce takes a bit of care as it sometimes requires trimming to ensure that it doesn't dominate the tank. They also may draw out minerals and other nutrients from the water, which may impact the aquatic life below. 

Scientific Name:  Pistia stratiotes

Common Names: Small Water Lettuce, Dwarf Water Lettuce

Caring for Dwarf Water Lettuce

Care Level:  Easy

Light: Medium-High

CO2: Not Necessary 

Fertilizer or Shrimp Safe Fertilizer

Propagation: It can propagated from side shoots