Common Water Moss Plant Care
Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw.
Updated ยท Sources ยท How we source care data
Fontinalis antipyretica, greater water-moss, or common water moss, is a species of submerged aquatic moss belonging to the subclass Bryidae. It is found in both still and flowing freshwater in Europe, Asia, Greenland and Africa.
Low to medium light
At a glance
How do you care for Common Water Moss?
Common Water Moss grows best in low to medium light.
Where Is the Common Water Moss Native To?
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Cรดte d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Greenland
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kenya
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritania
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of the Congo
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- The Netherlands
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Common Water Moss?
Common Water Moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) belongs to the Fontinalaceae family within the Fontinalis genus. Common Water Moss is native to both still and flowing freshwater in Europe, Asia, Greenland and Africa. Common Water Moss is also known as Greater Water Moss, Fire Moss.
Common Water Moss displays a mat-forming aquatic moss growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Common Water Moss produces small, inconspicuous flowers occasionally produced.
What Light Does the Common Water Moss Need?
Common Water Moss thrives in low to medium light. Avoid placing Common Water Moss in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Low to medium light
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Common Water Moss?
Freshwater aquatic environments with clean, clear water. Good drainage is essential for Common Water Moss to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Common Water Moss?
Not applicable - grows submerged in water. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Common Water Moss?
Common Water Moss can be propagated through fragmentation, spore dispersal. Similar propagation techniques also apply to dalecarlian water moss plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Common Water Moss Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Common Water Moss, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Common Water Moss?
Common Water Moss is susceptible to algae, aquatic insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Common Water Moss is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Fontinalis genus โ compare its care with other Fontinalis species on PlantoScan.
Fontinalis is part of the Fontinalaceae plant family โ browse all Fontinalaceae genera and species.
Common Water Moss copes with lower light than most plants โ browse the full list of low-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw., family Fontinalaceae (first published in Sp. Musc. Frond. 298 1801) โ World Flora Online record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Common Water Moss, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks โ values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link โ we check and correct reported errors.
