- Sku: PPFMINI
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
Mini Bolbitis (Bolbitis heteroclita 'Difformis') - Potted
Mini Bolbitis (Bolbitis heteroclita 'Difformis') is a dwarf fern with finely divided, lacy fronds that stays only a few inches tall. It gives rock work and driftwood in a small tank the feathery fern texture that full-size Bolbitis brings to a big one, at nano scale. Like other rhizome plants it lives on hardscape rather than in the substrate. It is easy to keep alive in low light, but it grows very slowly underwater and takes patience while it adjusts, so we rate it intermediate. Browse our other live freshwater plants to plan around it.
Care Guide
- Never bury the rhizome. Attach it to rock or driftwood with cotton thread, fishing line, or a small dab of Seachem Flourish Glue. A buried rhizome rots.
- Unpot it first. Remove the pot and tease away as much rockwool as you can without tearing the fine roots.
- It arrived grown above water. The pot is grown emersed, where the fronds are larger and lacier. Underwater, new fronds come in smaller and a little coarser, and some older fronds may die back during the switch. Trim those off and leave the plant alone.
- Light: low to moderate. Strong light mostly feeds algae on its slow-growing leaves.
- CO2: helpful but not required. It noticeably speeds up an otherwise very slow grower.
- Fertilizer: it feeds from the water, so skip root tabs and use a liquid such as Seachem Flourish.
- Water: 68 to 82°F, pH 6.0 to 7.5. Clean water and gentle to moderate flow keep debris and algae off the fronds.
- Growth: very slow underwater. Expect weeks between new fronds, not days. Divide the rhizome once it has several growing points.
Specifications
| Botanical name | Bolbitis heteroclita 'Difformis' (syn. Edanyoa difformis) |
| Common names | Mini Bolbitis, Bolbitis Difformis, Baby Leaf Bolbitis |
| Plant type | Rhizome fern |
| Experience level | Intermediate |
| Light requirement | Low to moderate |
| CO2 | Helpful, not required |
| Placement | Foreground or midground, attached to rock or wood |
| Mature height | 2 to 4 in |
| Growth rate | Very slow |
| Water temperature | 68 to 82°F |
| pH | 6.0 to 7.5 |
| Propagation | Divide the rhizome |
| Origin | Philippines |
| Sold as | One potted plant, grown emersed |
| Pickup | In-store pickup only |
Placement and Companions
Where it goes: on small stones, the base of driftwood, or in gaps in rock work, in nano tanks and in the foreground of larger ones. It also grows well out of water in a humid paludarium or riparium.
Other rhizome plants we carry: Bolbitis Heudelotii is the full-size African fern for larger tanks, and Java Fern Windelov gives a similar lacy, forked look in a faster, easier plant.
Fish and invertebrates: safe with shrimp, snails and small community fish. Shrimp such as Amano Shrimp are welcome, since they graze algae off the slow-growing fronds.
Recommended Supplies
- Seachem Flourish Glue: gel glue for attaching the rhizome to hardscape.
- Seachem Flourish: a liquid fertilizer, since this plant feeds from the water column.
- Amano Shrimp: algae grazers that help keep slow plants clean.
- Java Fern Windelov: a faster lacy fern for the same kind of spot.
FAQ
Why is it growing so slowly?
That is normal for Mini Bolbitis underwater. It can take a month or more to settle in and put out new fronds. CO2 and steady liquid fertilizer help.
Why do the new leaves look different from the pot?
The nursery grows it above water, where the fronds are bigger and lacier. Underwater fronds are smaller. Both are the same plant.
Can I plant it in the substrate?
Not the rhizome. Tie or glue it to rock or wood, and let the roots find their own grip.
How is it different from Bolbitis Heudelotii?
Size and speed. Heudelotii is a large fern for big tanks. Mini Bolbitis stays a few inches tall and suits nano tanks and foreground rock work.
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Mini Bolbitis (Bolbitis heteroclita 'Difformis') - Potted
