Here are all details about the Hornwort plant, a popular aquatic plant for freshwater aquariums and ponds:

🌿 Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)

✅ Common Names:

• Hornwort

• Coontail

• Rigid Hornwort

• Cedarweed

🧬 Scientific Classification:

• Kingdom: Plantae

• Family: Ceratophyllaceae

• Genus: Ceratophyllum

• Species: Ceratophyllum demersum

🌱 Plant Description:

• Appearance: Dark green, bushy plant with thin, feathery, horn-like leaves.

• Leaf Structure: Whorls of 6–12 needle-like leaves around the stem.

• Height: Up to 1–3 meters in the wild; typically 20–60 cm in aquariums.

• Texture: Brittle and delicate when handled.

• Growth Form: Can be free-floating or anchored.

☀️ Care Requirements:

⚡ Growth Characteristics:

• Fast grower, especially under high light.

• May release allelopathic chemicals that inhibit algae growth.

• Does not root — stays floating or loosely anchored.

• Absorbs nutrients directly from the water.

✂️ Maintenance Tips:

• Trim regularly to prevent overgrowth.

• Remove decaying parts to avoid ammonia spikes.

• Can be divided easily by cutting healthy stems.

🪴 Planting Tips:

• Can be left floating or anchored with weights.

• Works well in low-tech tanks and breeding tanks.

• Ideal for background or mid-floating areas.

🐟 Aquarium Compatibility:

• Excellent for fry tanks — provides hiding space.

• Helps oxygenate water and reduce nitrates.

• Compatible with most community fish, goldfish, guppies, and shrimp.

• Not eaten easily due to stiff leaves — goldfish may try but avoid.

🌸 Propagation:

• Propagates through stem cuttings.

• Just cut a portion and let it float or plant it — grows quickly.

⚠️ Special Notes:

• Can become invasive in outdoor ponds.

• Sheds leaves under poor lighting or abrupt water changes.

• Requires frequent trimming in small tanks due to rapid growth.

🛒 Availability:

• Commonly available in aquarium stores, nurseries, and online.

• Sold in bunches or loose stems.