Mosquito Fern (Azolla caroliniana), also known as Fairy Moss, is a floating plant that is native to the Southeastern United States. It has a lovely texture and green coloration, and it often turns a reddish hue with maturity, depending on its lighting. It carries symbiotic Anabaena, a blue-green algae which helps the Mosquito Fern to actually fertilize other aquatic plants through nitrogen release. This hardy plant propagates very quickly and can provide shade to areas of the aquarium or pond, which will encourage more reclusive species to come out of hiding. This is a truly beautiful and very beneficial plant for aquariums and ponds with gentle water flow.

Care is extremely easy for Mosquito Fern. It can thrive in a relatively wide pH range as well as moderate to high lighting. Its only major specific requirement is that, like many floating plants, it reportedly does not do well with a high level of surface agitation. It is best kept in an aquarium with gentle water flow. Under these simple conditions, it will multiply very quickly. It does not require CO2 supplementation.

Like most plants, Mosquito Fern will benefit from supplementation such as Seachem Flourish, Flourish Excel, nitrogen, iron, and other plant supplements.