Water Lettuce – The Floating Rosette of Tranquility 🌱💦

Scientific Name: Pistia stratiotes
Category: Floating Plant

🌿 A Rosette from the Sky

Delicate as a feather, yet bold enough to command the surface—Water Lettuce floats like a leafy lotus on a cloud, spreading soft, fuzzy rosettes that resemble tiny heads of green cabbage with ballerina flair. Each plant fans out into the shape of a perfect whorl, with velvety light green leaves and trailing roots that look like nature’s underwater chandeliers.

Beloved by shrimp, fry, and aquascapers alike, Pistia stratiotes is both beautiful and functional. It absorbs excess nutrients, offers shade and cover, and helps maintain a healthy balance in your aquatic world—all while looking effortlessly elegant.

🌊 What to Expect:

• Floating rosettes up to 3–6 inches wide

• Soft, velvety leaves with pale green hues

• Long, feathery roots that dangle beautifully into the water

• Fast growth in high-nutrient setups

💧 Care & Conditions:

• Light: Medium to high (strong light = faster growth)

• Temp: 70–82°F (21–28°C)

• pH: 6.5–7.5

• Water Flow: Low to moderate

• Growth Rate: Fast in warm, bright conditions

🦐 Why You’ll Love It:

✅ Provides shade and shelter for shrimp, fry, and shy fish
✅ Excellent for nitrate control and water clarity
✅ Soft roots are prime real estate for biofilm
✅ Easy to manage—just scoop to thin out
✅ Pairs beautifully with botanicals and wood

🎁 Bonus Tip:

Trim roots occasionally to encourage compact growth and prevent them from tangling in filter flow—plus, it gives your tank a cleaner, more sculpted look! ✂️🌿