About the species

Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv' is recognised by its finely divided, almost crested leaf tips. The variety is patented and named after Tropica's founder Holger Windeløv, and many count it among the most beautiful aquarium plants available. It grows 15–20 centimetres tall and equally wide, and is left alone even by herbivorous fish.

Facts

• Latin name: Microsorum pteropus 'Windeløv'
• Plant type: Rhizome plant
• Origin: Cultivated variety
• Height: 10–20 cm
• Growth rate: Slow
• Position: Wood and stone

Light requirement

Low light requirement. It manages with the lighting that comes with most aquariums and is happy in partial shade behind or beneath taller plants. Strong lighting does not harm it, but raises the risk of algae on the leaves because the plant cannot use all the available light.

CO₂ & nutrition

Manages entirely without added CO₂, which makes it as suitable for a simple aquarium as for an aquascape. Liquid carbon or injected CO₂ speeds up growth but is never a requirement. Dose an all-round fertiliser with iron and micronutrients every week.

Planting

The rhizome must never go into the substrate — it will rot. Instead tie or glue the plant onto a piece of wood or a stone using fishing line, thread or plant glue, and leave it until the roots have taken hold on their own. It can also simply be wedged into a crevice in the hardscape.

Rinse the wood in aquarium water and put it straight in place. New wood may float for the first few days; wedge it under a stone until it has soaked up enough water.

Care & propagation

It needs almost no maintenance at all. Propagation is simple: divide the rhizome with sharp scissors or a knife so each piece keeps at least three or four leaves. Make sure there is a gentle current past the plant so no debris collects between the leaves.

Position in the aquarium

It grows on hardscape rather than in the substrate, so it can be placed anywhere in the aquarium — on a piece of wood, a stone or a back wall. That makes it as useful in the foreground as high up in the layout.

Difficulty level

🟢 Easy — grows in most aquariums without CO₂ and under ordinary lighting.

Delivery format

Delivered pre-grown on a natural piece of wood. The plant is already attached and established, so you only have to place the wood where you want it — no planting and no tying.

Recommendation

A rewarding choice when you want the hardiness of a fern but something more detailed than plain leaves. Attach it to a piece of wood in partial shade and leave it be — it only gets finer with the years.