Plant Profile
Riccia Fluitans is the choice for you if you want to recreate the legendary, high-definition layouts made famous by master aquascaper Takashi Amano. This unique liverwort grows in thick, bright green, interlocking mats that look absolutely striking under bright lights. Because it is rootless, it can either be left free-floating at the surface or tied and glued down to rocks, driftwood, or stainless steel mesh to form a bubbling green carpet. Under strong lighting and a steady supply of carbon dioxide, it will routinely trap oxygen bubbles right at its leaf tips, producing a breathtaking, shimmering phenomenon known as "pearling."
Tissue Culture cups ensure your aquascape gets a super clean starting point. Lab‑grown and fully sterile, it arrives without pests, snails, duckweed, or any unwanted algae. It’s the go‑to option for anyone who wants peace of mind when adding fresh greenery to a carefully maintained setup.
Key Features & Benefits
- Vibrant neon-green coloration and fine branching structure deliver a high-end, professionally scaped look.
- Functions as a floating surface cover for fry or a dense foreground carpet when tied to hardscape.
Care & Planting Instructions
- Rinse away the nutrient gel thoroughly under lukewarm water, separate into small portions, and attach to mesh or hardscape.
- Maintain a stable aquarium environment and trim regularly to prevent the lower layers from dying off and floating away.
- Give the plant an occasional light haircut with sharp aquascaping shears to keep its shape neat, compact, and perfectly balanced.
- Propagate your patch in seconds by cutting or pulling a small clump apart and anchoring it to a new surface in your tank.
- Add CO2 injection if you want to accelerate growth and unlock the most intense, eye-popping green coloration possible.
- Master the prep and planting process by checking out a beginner's guide to tissue culture plants to prevent your delicate new plantlets from melting or floating away.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
| Attribute |
Specification |
| Scientific Name |
Riccia fluitans |
| Common Name(s) |
Riccia Fluitans, Floating Crystalwort, Riccia |
| Family |
Ricciaceae |
| Plant Type |
Liverwort |
| Care Difficulty |
Easy to Medium (High maintenance due to frequent trimming) |
| Light Requirement |
Medium to High |
| CO2 Requirement |
Optional (Recommended to achieve pearling) |
| Placement / Usage |
Floating Surface Cover, Foreground Carpet (Tied to Hardscape), Crevice Accent |
| Growth Rate |
Fast |
| Water Parameters |
pH 6.0–7.5 | Temperature 60°F–80°F (15.5°C–26.5°C) |
| Propagation Method |
Division (Pull or cut apart interlocking mats) |
| Origin |
Widespread |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I prepare Riccia Fluitans tissue culture cups before planting?
Remove the plant from the tissue culture cup, gently rinse all nutrient gel off the fronds under running lukewarm water, and divide the mat into smaller portions before tying or anchoring them to your hardscape or mesh pads.
2. Why is my submerged Riccia carpet detaching and floating to the surface?
Because Riccia Fluitans lacks true roots, it cannot anchor itself to substrate. As the top layer grows thick under light, it shades out the bottom layer, causing it to die off and lose its grip. Frequent, close trimmings with sharp shears are necessary to keep the carpet low and attached.
3. How do I get Riccia Fluitans to pearl (produce tiny oxygen bubbles)?
Pearling occurs when the plant undergoes rapid photosynthesis. Providing moderate-to-high lighting alongside steady CO2 injection and adequate liquid micro/macro nutrients will force Riccia to trap oxygen bubbles at its branch tips, creating a shimmering effect.
