Ceratopteris cornuta

Broad-leaf water sprite

Ceratopteris cornuta

Broad-leaf water sprite

  • Fast-growing aquatic fern
  • Light green
  • Undemanding
  • Suitable as submerged and floating plant
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Middle ground plant for aquariums

Middle ground

Background plant for aquariums

Background

Spawning plant for aquariums

Spawning plant

Aquarium plant for the water surface

Surface

Difficulty of the aquarium plant
Difficulty Medium
Growth of the aquarium plant
Growth Very fast
Light above the aquarium
Light Medium
Maximum water hardness for this aquarium plant in the aquarium
Water hardness max. Hard
Care height of aquarium plants
Recommended care height 15-40 cm
CO2 in the planted aquarium
CO2 Yes
Discus in the planted aquarium
Discus suitable Yes

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Description

Ceratopteris cornuta is a water sprite species with markedly broader leaf lobes than the much more filigree "Sumatra fern". This medium large aquatic fern grows as submerged, rooted plant as well as free-floating plant. It gets at least 30 cm tall. On nutrient-rich, wet bottom it develops emersed spore-bearing leaves that become considerably longer than the submerged ones.

Submers

Structure of the submerged leaves

Ceratopteris cornuta is undemanding and tolerates harder water; medium lighting is sufficient. The optimum temperature lies between 22-28 °C. Good CO2 and nutrient supply enhances its already fast growth. This aquatic fern multiplies by many adventitious plantlets on older fronds.
It is recommended to put the leaf rosette of Ceratopteris species not too deeply into the substrate. The "heart" of the plant where new fronds develop should remain above the bottom surface.
However, when water sprite is delivered as potted plant, it often has hardly roots and detaches easily from the rockwool substrate during transport. But the plants will grow new roots in the aquarium. They can be floated until the roots are long enough for planting, or pinned onto the ground with a plant pin (e.g. JBL - ProScape - Plantis) right away. New plantlets may sprout on broken leaves.
Also the planting of young Ceratopteris plants from tissue culture may be somewhat difficult. The plantlets are often entangled and not easy to separate from each other. Also in this case they can be floated until their roots are grown longer. It is also possible to plant or attach clumps of several plants.

Submers

Freshly sprouted frond of the Broad-leaf water sprite

This water sprite looks well in the midground as solitary plant or loose group; it is recommendable for initial planting of new tanks and also for beginners. Used as floating plant, it is ideal for labyrinth fish breeding tanks.

The water sprite Ceratopteris cornuta has been placed in the species C. thalictroides by various authors. In aquaristics, however, those forms with more coarsely pinnate/lobed leaves are known under the name of C. cornuta, and those with more finely pinnate leaves as C. thalictroides.
Ceratopteris richardii is quite similar to C. cornuta and can only safely be discerned by close examination of the spores. This species is used as model organism in plant genetics. It is even possible that C. richardii is kept in the hobby, however, that it is mistaken for C. cornuta.

Like Ceratopteris thalictroides, C. cornuta can be planted in the substrate as well as cultivated as a floating plant.


To be continued ...

Synonyms Pteris cornuta P. Beauv., Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. f. cornuta (P. Beauv.) Glück
Complete botanical name Ceratópteris cornúta (P. Beauv.) Le Prieur
Family Pteridaceae
Genus Ceratopteris
Difficulty medium
Usage Background, Plant for spawning, Midground, Specimen plant, Water surface
Growth very fast
pH value 5 - 8
Temperature tolerance 18 - 30°C
Carbonate hardness 0 - 21°dKH
General hardness 0 - 30°dGH
Propagation Proliferating leaves, Spores
Can grow emersed? yes
Source Flowgrow
Synonyms
Pteris cornuta P. Beauv., Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. f. cornuta (P. Beauv.) Glück
Complete botanical name
Ceratópteris cornúta (P. Beauv.) Le Prieur
Family
Pteridaceae
Genus
Ceratopteris
Difficulty
medium
Usage
Background, Plant for spawning, Midground, Specimen plant, Water surface
Growth
very fast
pH value
5 - 8
Temperature tolerance
18 - 30°C
Carbonate hardness
0 - 21°dKH
General hardness
0 - 30°dGH
Propagation
Proliferating leaves, Spores
Can grow emersed?
yes
Source
Flowgrow

How many plants do I need?

How big is the area to be planted? (cm)

General information

Item no.
EAN
Weight
Shipping weight

Questions and answers about Ceratopteris cornuta

You have questions about this product? Ask other customer or our support team about this product!

I have already planted it in the substrate. How can I keep it small? Is it enough to simply cut off the larger leaves, or is there a better method to control its growth?
Translated from German
M.G
Apr. 2026
Sven Breitenbach
Apr. 2026
Support
The large leaves can be removed to keep the Ceratopteris cornuta small. However, since it grows very quickly, continuous maintenance is required.
Translated from German
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Customer reviews

This item has been rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
14 Reviews
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5 Stars(13)
4 Stars(0)
3 Stars(0)
2 Stars(1)
1 Star(0)
Bastian L.
Great product
6th March
Ceratopteris cornuta - Pot
Ceratopteris cornuta - Pot

Very good quality.

Translated from German
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Top Ware

Sehr gute Qualität.

Dominik S.
Beautiful healthy plant
12th February 2025
Ceratopteris cornuta - Pot
Ceratopteris cornuta - Pot

The plant arrived very beautiful and healthy. The size is great too, top quality as usual, which you can hardly get anywhere else

Translated from German
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Schöne gesunde Pflanze

Die Pflanze ist sehr schön und Gesund angekommen. Die Größe ist auch super, wie meist eine top Qualität, die man fast nirgends bekommt

Frank W.
very nice
8th February 2025
Ceratopteris cornuta - Pot
Ceratopteris cornuta - Pot

all the plants met my expectations. Compared to a delivery from a competitor, a difference like night and day. Thanks

Translated from German
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sehr schön

alle Pflanzen haben meine Erwartung erfüllt. Gegen über der Lieferung eines Mitbewerbers ein Unterschied wie Tag und Nacht. Danke

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