Nymphoides thunbergiana – Care Sheet
(Rooted Leaf / Young Plant Stage)
Plant Type
African floating aquatic plant (yellow floating-heart)
1. Starting Point: Rooted Leaf (Critical Stage)
A rooted leaf is not yet a stable plant. Success depends on:
Keeping it anchored
Preventing rot
Avoiding sudden depth or nutrient shocks
Treat this phase like a seedling.
2. Container & Planting
Best Container
Small plastic pot or shallow aquatic basket
Diameter: 8–12 cm
Holes are fine (actually preferred)
Substrate (keep it simple)
Best mix:
70–80% washed river sand
20–30% fine loam or pond soil
❌ No compost
❌ No bark / peat
❌ No floating substrates
The roots need weight and oxygen, not richness.
Planting Method
Lay the rooted leaf flat
Gently press roots 1–2 cm into substrate
Do not bury the crown
Add a thin gravel cap (optional but recommended)
3. Water Depth (this matters a lot)
Initial depth (first 2–3 weeks)
5–10 cm above the substrate
Leaf can float or just reach the surface
After establishment
Gradually increase to 15–30 cm
Mature plants tolerate up to 40–50 cm, but don’t rush it
Too deep too early = stalled growth or rot.
4. Light Requirements
Full sun to bright light
Minimum: 6 hours direct sun
Ideal: Morning to early afternoon sun
In Pretoria:
North- or east-facing exposure is perfect
Avoid deep shade — this species will sulk, not adapt
5. Temperature
Ideal range: 18–30 °C
Actively growing above 20 °C
Can tolerate cooler winter water but will slow down
In winter:
Expect reduced growth or partial dieback
Rootstock survives if not frozen (not an issue locally)
6. Fertilisation (be disciplined)
For rooted leaf stage
None for the first 2–3 weeks
Once new leaves appear:
1 × slow-release aquatic fertiliser pellet
Push deep into substrate (away from crown)
Do this once every 6–8 weeks
❌ No liquid fertiliser in water
❌ No overfeeding — causes algae and soft rot
7. Water Quality
Freshwater
Slightly acidic to neutral preferred (pH 6.5–7.5)
Tolerates harder water (typical Gauteng tap water is fine)
Avoid:
Stagnant, foul-smelling water
High organic load
A bit of movement is good; strong current is not.
8. Growth Expectations
Weeks 1–2:
Leaf stays stable, roots anchor
Little visible change (this is normal)
Weeks 3–5:
First new floating leaf
Root system expands rapidly
Weeks 6–8:
Plant becomes self-sustaining
May start sending runners
This species is moderate, not aggressive.
9. Common Problems (and the truth)
Leaf melting
Normal if the original leaf dies after new growth appears
Not normal if everything collapses → usually depth or rot issue
Rot at base
Caused by:
Burying the crown
Too rich substrate
No oxygen around roots
No new leaves
Almost always insufficient light or too deep water
10. Maintenance
Remove dead leaves promptly
Thin runners if grown in containers
Repot only when pot is clearly root-bound
This plant does not like frequent disturbance.
Summary (plain truth)
Shallow water first
Full sun
Poor but heavy substrate
Minimal feeding
Patience for the first month
Get those right and Nymphoides thunbergiana becomes an easy, well-behaved aquatic that flowers reliably without turning invasive.