Water Forget-me-not (Scorpion Grass) care

Light

Water Forget-me-not is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Grows and flowers best in partial shade to bright indirect light, such as a north- or east-facing pond margin or dappled shade under trees. Tolerates full sun if the soil or water remains consistently moist. In hot, exposed, dry situations the leaves become yellow and scorched. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water water forget-me-not permanently moist to marginal aquatic; up to 10 cm over crown. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Thrives in permanently wet soil or shallow water up to 10 cm over the crown. Excellent at the very edge of a wildlife pond, in bog gardens, or alongside slow-moving streams. Never allow to dry out; even brief drought causes wilting and leaf scorch. Also grows well as a shallow submergent in very still water.

Soil and pot

Water Forget-me-not grows best in moist to wet loam or clay; aquatic basket compost in containers. Grows in a wide range of wet substrates from light loam to heavy clay, provided they remain permanently moist or saturated. Ordinary garden soil kept wet suits it perfectly. In containers, use aquatic basket compost or loam-based compost weighted with gravel to prevent the mix floating free. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Water Forget-me-not sits happiest at around 55–100% humidity and -20 to 25°C (-4 to 77°F). A wetland plant naturally adapted to high-humidity riparian environments. No special humidity management is required in garden conditions; simply maintain the wet soil or shallow water it needs and ambient humidity at the water's edge will be adequate. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed water forget-me-not sparingly. Little or no feeding required. In aquatic baskets, one slow-release fertiliser tablet in spring provides enough nutrition for the season. Over-feeding promotes lush, soft growth susceptible to powdery mildew and reduces the long flowering period. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on water forget-me-not in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Powdery mildew in late summer — The most common problem: white powdery coating on leaves appears in warm, humid, still conditions from August onwards. Cut plants back hard after the main flush of flowering in late summer; they typically regenerate a flush of clean new growth. Good air circulation reduces recurrence.
• Short lifespan and self-seeding gaps — Individual plants often behave as short-lived perennials or biennials and die out after 2–3 years. Allow plants to self-seed around the pond margin — seedlings fill gaps reliably and the colony perpetuates itself. Alternatively, take stem cuttings each spring to renew the planting.
• Slug damage in spring — Slugs readily graze the soft young foliage emerging in spring, leaving ragged holes in leaves. In moist pond margins slugs are abundant; use garlic-based spray or wool pellets (pond-safe) as deterrents and hand-pick slugs at night if necessary.

Propagation

Stem cuttings 8–10 cm long taken in spring or summer root readily in wet compost or even in a glass of water within 2–3 weeks. Plants also self-seed prolifically; allow seed to fall naturally around the pond margin. Division of established mats in spring is also straightforward. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Water Forget-me-not is mildly toxic to pets. Myosotis scorpioides is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. However, other Boraginaceae family members are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are hepatotoxic in quantity, and not all Myosotis species have been individually assessed. Out of caution the plant is classified as mildly-toxic rather than confirmed pet-safe. No significant poisoning incidents involving this species are documented in cats or dogs. If a pet consumes a large quantity, consult a vet. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Water Forget-me-not deep-dive guides

Every aspect of water forget-me-not care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common water forget-me-not problems & fixes
• Water Forget-me-not watering schedule
• Water Forget-me-not light requirements
• Best soil mix for water forget-me-not
• Water Forget-me-not fertilizing guide
• When to repot water forget-me-not
• How to propagate water forget-me-not
• How to prune water forget-me-not
• What's eating my water forget-me-not?
• Water Forget-me-not growth rate & size
• Water Forget-me-not cold hardiness
• Water Forget-me-not temperature & humidity
• Is water forget-me-not toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is water forget-me-not toxic to cats?
• Is water forget-me-not toxic to dogs?
• Getting water forget-me-not to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Water Forget-me-not qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Water Forget-me-not is also known as Water Forget-me-not, True Water Forget-me-not, and Scorpion Grass.

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