Bolbitis heudelotii

Overview

Bolbitis heudelotii, the African water fern, is one of the most beautiful epiphyte ferns you can keep. Its finely divided, translucent dark-green fronds have an almost fern-of-the-forest look and catch the current beautifully when tied to wood in a flowing stream tank. It is a rhizome plant in the same mould as Java fern and Anubias: undemanding on paper, but slow, and happiest in cooler, oxygen-rich water.

Planting & placement

Bolbitis is an epiphyte — it must never be buried. Tie or glue the horizontal rhizome to driftwood or rock, leaving the rhizome fully exposed so only its wiry black roots grip the surface. See our how to plant aquarium plants guide for the tying technique. It suits the midground or background, and looks its best in good flow, where the lacy fronds sway and stay clean. Pair it on the same hardscape with Anubias and Java fern for a layered, natural aquascape.

Light, CO2 & ferts

Keep light low to medium — strong light does little for Bolbitis except invite algae onto the slow-growing older fronds. It appreciates but does not require CO2; a gentle injection plus stable, cooler water (it dislikes prolonged warmth above about 26 °C) gives the fastest, healthiest growth. Because it feeds through its fronds, a regular liquid water-column fertilizer with iron matters more than root tabs — see our best aquarium plant fertilizer guide.

Propagation & problems

Propagate by rhizome division — cut a healthy section carrying several fronds and roots, then attach it to new hardscape. New plants establish slowly, so don’t expect quick spread. The most common complaints are algae on old fronds (reduce light, improve flow) and melting after a move or a spell of warm water, from which established rhizomes usually recover. Because it grows so slowly it rarely needs trimming, but you can shorten leggy fronds back to the rhizome to encourage fresh, compact growth. It is untouched by most fish and works well in soft to moderately hard water. Give it stable, cool, flowing water and time, and Bolbitis becomes a striking, long-lived centrepiece that only improves with age.