Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort)

Hornwort is probably the best all-round oxygenator to have, as it is relatively slow growing and does not produce roots, so any excess can be easily removed. It does die right back in winter to just the bushy green tip, so is only available Spring to Autumn. Flowers are insignificant. Generally I supply this as a bunch with a lead strip weight, but sometimes it gets rather brittle and is then impossible to bunch; at these times it will come loose. This tends to be in late and early season. Mostly it sits on the bottom, but occasionally patches will float to the surface. Each portion or bunch weighs about 50g drained. PLEASE NOTE: This plant may have green tips which may be dark, almost black, and brown or black stems below, this all depends on the depth it was harvested from, it is all live and any brown or black portions are normal and not substandard.

It’s always really hard to source early in the year and it takes until about June before portions become more generous. This year, 2024, for the first time, we have secured some early supplies in limited quantities in clear plastic tubs. We would prefer not to have this extra plastic, but that’s how it comes. Each tub contains the equivalent of about 1 1/2 of our usual portions and is priced accordingly, fine for small ponds but best to wait until summer if you have a large pond when we can supply loose in larger quantities.