Rheophyte / Epiphyte

Rheophyte

Rheophytes are aquatic plants that can be found in tropical rainforests with fast-moving water currents where few other organisms can survive. Many famous aquarium plants species such as Anubias, Bolbitis, Bucephalandra (Buce), Microsorum (Ferns), Schismatoglottis Roseaspatha, Schismatoglottis Prietoi
are found in the tropical jungle stream.

Many of the aquarium mosses (Vesicularia, Taxiphyllum, Fissidens, Lomariopsis Lineata, Monosolenium Tenerum, Riccia Fluitans, etc ) are also found in this area such as Java Moss, Singapore Moss, Taiwan Moss, Weeping Moss, Christmas Moss, Flame Moss, Pellia, Crystalwort, etc.

Depending on the low and high water seasons. Rheophytes plants are emerged, growing above water in the low water season. In high water season, Rheophytes plants are totally submerged in the fast-flowing stream with their roots firmly developed and attached to stone, rock, and wood.

Rheophytes are usually, slow-growing and easy to care for. It often doesn't require much light and nutrients to do well. However, if Rheophytes plants are surrounded by a rich nutrient environment, it will improve overall health.

Most rheophytes do not require routine pruning. Care and maintenance of epiphytes plants are simply by removing old, damaged leaves. Rheophyte plant propagation can be done by trimming the plant rhizome and attaching new plants to your favorite aquascape.

Epiphyte

Epiphytes are commonly known as air plants. Epiphytes are often a non-aquatic plant that grows on other plants but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rainforests.

However, many aquarium hobbyists use the word Epiphyte rather than Rheophyte to describe aquarium plants that can grow in driftwood, rock, stone, or fish tank decoration.

Some skilled hobbyists also use common aquarium stems plants as a rheophyte/epiphyte such as Hydrocotyle tripartita, Micranthemum Monte Carlo, Hemianthus Callitrichoides, and even Ludwigia sp. Super Red but these work best in the short term only as they are fast-growing plants that won't be fixed on the decoration stone/wood for a long time.