How to prune riccia fluitans

As needed, any time of year. Physically remove or skim excess floating mats by hand or net. For tied-down carpets, use aquascaping scissors to trim the surface flat, removing strands that lift away from the substrate or hardscape.

Weekly to bi-weekly in high-light setups. Riccia fluitans (crystalwort) is a floating liverwort that grows rapidly and must be thinned regularly to prevent it from covering the entire water surface and blocking light. When tied down as a carpeting plant it needs frequent trimming to stay flat. No complex pruning is needed — remove excess portions as they grow.

Physically remove or skim excess floating mats by hand or net. For tied-down carpets, use aquascaping scissors to trim the surface flat, removing strands that lift away from the substrate or hardscape.