Red Root Floater
Phyllanthus fluitans
A beautiful floating plant whose leaves blush red and whose roots glow crimson under strong light.
| Care Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Lighting | Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement | Not required |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Placement | Floating |
Overview
Red Root Floater (Phyllanthus fluitans) is a beautiful floating plant whose leaves blush red and whose roots glow crimson under strong light. It is a intermediate-level aquarium plant, best suited to keepers able to provide good light and stable conditions.
This guide covers how to grow Red Root Floater successfully - its appearance and growth habit, lighting needs, whether it needs CO2, fertilising, planting and placement, propagation, and the common problems to avoid.
Appearance & Growth Habit
A beautiful floating plant whose leaves blush red and whose roots glow crimson under strong light.
It is a medium grower used in the floating of the aquascape. Slower growth makes it tidy and low-maintenance, though it can collect algae if light is high and nutrients are low.
Lighting Requirements
Red Root Floater grows best under medium to high lighting. It needs strong, even light reaching its leaves, so use a good planted-tank LED.
Run lights on a timer for about 6-8 hours a day. Longer photoperiods usually feed algae rather than plants, so increase duration cautiously and watch for any green film.
CO2 & Fertilisation
CO2: Not required. It grows perfectly well without pressurised CO2, which makes it ideal for low-tech setups.
Dose a balanced liquid fertiliser (such as API Leaf Zone) for water-column nutrients. Yellowing, holes or stunted leaves usually signal a nutrient deficiency, not disease.
Planting & Placement
As a floating plant, simply rest it on the water surface - do not plant it. Keep some surface flow low so it is not constantly pushed underwater, and thin it so light still reaches plants below.
Propagation
It spreads by side shoots across the surface - simply remove excess to control it.
Sharing trimmings is part of the fun of the hobby - one healthy plant can fill a tank and stock several more over time.
Common Problems
The most common issue is algae on the leaves, which points to too much light, too few nutrients or weak flow rather than a fault with the plant. Melting (leaves dissolving) after planting is normal as it converts to underwater growth - keep conditions stable and new growth follows.
Keep light, CO2 and fertilisation consistent, remove dying leaves promptly, and avoid burying the crown or rhizome of plants that grow from one.
Is Red Root Floater Right for Your Tank?
Red Root Floater is a beautiful plant for keepers able to provide good light, CO2 and stable conditions, rewarding the effort with a standout display. Combine it with our other plant and aquascaping guides to build a lush, balanced planted aquarium.