Frogbit is a leafy aquatic plant that can be rooted or free floating. It has broad round or heart-shaped leaves and displays small white flowers for part of the year. Frogbit can be grown in ponds or in aquariums to provide hiding places for fish. It tends to grow readily in a wide range of water and habitat conditions and is not overly complicated to care for.
Plant the frogbit by gently dropping it onto the surface of the aquarium or pond where you want to grow it. The roots of the plant should point down, towards the bottom of the water. From here, the plant will remain free floating, or, if there is a substrate of some type, may take root.
Maintain a water temperature between 64 and 86 degrees F. It is within this temperature range that the frog bit will be the healthiest. You can monitor the temperature of the water with a small thermometer.
Maintain a water pH level between 6.0 and 8.0. Use a water testing kit to determine the pH level in your pond or aquarium. You can use water additives to raise or lower the pH level if necessary.
Keep the water current gentle in the pond or aquarium. Aquatic plants require a little current in the water in order to stay healthy. However, since frog bit is primarily a floating plant, it’s best for the current to be slow and gentle. A small waterfall feature, in a pond, or a filtration system in an aquarium will usually create enough of a current.
Keep the frogbit in an area where it will receive light. Frogbit prefers to receive about three hours of direct light each day. A place in a sunny area of your home will do this. However, if you have fish in your aquarium and don’t want to expose them to the temperature fluctuations sunlight can cause, you can install a full-spectrum aquarium light. Keep the light far enough away that the leaves of the plant do not burn.
Remove any dead or dying leaves, flowers or root and stem pieces regularly. Rotting plant matter can change the chemical levels of the water, and also cause pollution in the water.
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