Thai fern, belonging to the family of millipedes, is a rather interesting and popular plant, consisting of a long rhizome and lanceolate bright green leaves, reaching a height of thirty centimeters. The central vein is whitish at the base and slightly convex. It can often be found in amateur aquariums, where it is very bushy, clinging to the side walls or spreading in the center.
The birthplace of this plant is Southeast Asia, where it grows in large quantities in ponds. It is interesting that there it can grow on earth. This is explained by the large number of seasonal rains that periodically flood the lowlands of the rivers.
Thai fern develops all year. The minimum temperature for its normal development is twenty-four degrees. Otherwise, its growth slows down or stops altogether.
For this plant, it is very important that the water in the aquarium is soft, with a hardness index of not higher than six. It should be slightly acidic (pH within five). These indicators are characteristic of old water, which means that its frequent change will not benefit the plant.
Thai fern tolerates both strong and moderate lighting. The duration of the day should be at least twelve hours. Therefore, with problems with light, a fluorescent lamp is perfect.
Soil to this plant is not necessary, since its root system is underdeveloped. Thai fern propagates by the vegetative method. Its rhizome can be divided into two or three parts so that there are leaves on each of them. Some varieties of this plant, for example, Thai narrow-leaved fern, multiply by buds formed on old leaves. Young plants grow from them. At the same time, the leaf itself dies, and a new sprout floats to the surface, where it is located until it develops a normal rhizome. After that, due to his severity, he himself goes down to the bottom and grows to the ground.
Another species of this plant - the Thai pterygoid fern - does not tolerate the presence of suspended particles in water. In addition, he reacts poorly to transplants. And on bottom fish, which, digging the soil, slow down its growth.
The Thai fern is different from the rest of the aquarium plants. In addition to being very unpretentious, he is also very beautiful. It is easy enough to grow it even in an aquarium with not very strong lighting. In addition, this plant does not need regular fertilizing with fertilizers and in the enrichment of carbon dioxide in the aquatic environment.
Thai fern is ideal for designing aquariums in which plant-eating fish swim. They never hurt him. In addition, it does not require soil rooting: just fix it on snags or stones, leaving the roots free. In the future, the plant itself finds the best place for itself to take root.
Many owners of aquariums create dense lateral thickets from fern or interesting central compositions.