Growli

Container guide

Growing wolffia arrhiza in a pot

Verdict
Ideal in pots
Pot size
12-15 cm (5-6 in) across
Mature size
Individual plants under 1 mm — the smallest flowering plant known; colonies spread indefinitely across still water

Compost and drainage

Use a quality peat-free compost with a handful of perlite for air, and make sure the pot has drainage holes. Compost in containers compacts over time, which suffocates roots — that is the main reason potted plants decline.

Watering wolffia arrhiza in a pot

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so wolffia arrhiza in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Floats permanently on still water; no separate watering" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.

Potting on

Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

More wolffia arrhiza care

Growing wolffia arrhiza in containers — FAQ

Can you grow wolffia arrhiza in a pot?

Wolffia arrhiza is well suited to container growing — at about 1 cm mature it is comfortably pot-sized. A container around 12-15 cm (5-6 in) across gives it room without leaving the compost sitting wet, which is the usual mistake when people over-pot a small plant.

What size pot does wolffia arrhiza need?

Aim for a container 12-15 cm (5-6 in) across. Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

What compost and drainage does wolffia arrhiza need in a container?

Use a quality peat-free compost with a handful of perlite for air, and make sure the pot has drainage holes. Compost in containers compacts over time, which suffocates roots — that is the main reason potted plants decline.

How often should I water wolffia arrhiza in a pot?

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so wolffia arrhiza in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Floats permanently on still water; no separate watering" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.