African Water Fern (Bolbitis heudelotii)

KyleT

Low light, slower growing, true aquatic plant. Does well in a variety of light intensities. Does well with high water movement and CO2 or CO2 supplement (i.e. Seachem’s Flourish Excel). Don’t bury the rhizome if planting! It prefers to be attached to rock or wood. Propagation is by rhizome division.

(Mike Firrincili)

Colossus

A long time ago I bought a little sliver of African Water Fern for $10 to put in a 20 gal. with a HOB filter and plane rock gravel tank I kept in the window. It grew like crazy! I gave some to my brother, sister, and neighbor. All three of their tanks were kept up just enough to keep the fish alive. Again the plant took off. So much so my neighbor was periodically trimming it back and throwing it away.
I later put a piece in a well kept, dosed, planted aquarium and it barely grew, if at all.
Bottom line: African Water Fern thrives in crappy conditions!

AEWHistory

Throwning it away!? Nooooo! This is a very highly sought after plant, at least in my neck of the woods. Tell you friends and neighbor to take his cutting to a LFS; they'll likely offer a little credit, or at least take it off his/her hands.

As for me, I love this plant, but I find it a little harder to care for.