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Water Lettuce

About Water Lettuce

Water lettuce is toxic if eaten in large quantities. It can be invasive in locations with year-round warm temperatures and high humidity. The roots dangle downward from the plants, serving as a shelter for fish. It grows in still waters of ponds, ditches, swamps and slow-moving streams.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Pistia stratiotes

Genus

Pistia

Family

Araceae

Order

Alismatales

Also known as

Pistia, Water cabbage, Nile cabbage and Shellflower

How to care for Water Lettuce

💦 Water

How often to water your Water Lettuce

Water Lettuce needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Water Lettuce in your home

Water Lettuce love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Water Lettuce does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Water Lettuce in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Water Lettuce

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Water Lettuce: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Water Lettuce after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Water Lettuce can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

How to Grow Water Lettuce →

Benefits of Growing Water Lettuce →

Common Water Lettuce Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Water Lettuce →

Outdoor Care Guide for Water Lettuce →

💦 Water Needs

Water Lettuce prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water Lettuce Water Frequency →

Water Lettuce Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Water Lettuce requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Water Lettuce Light Requirements →

Water Lettuce Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Water Lettuce is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

🪴 Soil

Water Lettuce is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Water Lettuce →

Best Pots for Water Lettuce →

When and How to Successfully Repot Water Lettuce →

What Are Healthy Water Lettuce Roots →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Water Lettuce grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Water Lettuce Lifecycle →

Water Lettuce Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Water Lettuce →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Water Lettuce can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Water Lettuce Temperature Tolerance →

Water Lettuce Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Water Lettuce →

When to Plant Water Lettuce →

How to Plant Water Lettuce →

Where to Plant Water Lettuce →

Winter Care for Water Lettuce →

Best Companion Plants for Water Lettuce →

Is Water Lettuce a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Water Lettuce, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.