Fastest Growing Aquarium Plants in India: 12 Easy Picks

The fastest growing aquarium plants for most Indian tanks are hornwort, water sprite, guppy grass (Najas), Vallisneria, water wisteria, Hygrophila, Rotala and Ludwigia, and the best fast growing plants for beginners are hornwort, water sprite and Vallisneria because they need no CO2 and forgive mistakes. Fast growers also absorb nitrate and ammonium quickly, which is why they are the usual answer to the question of which plants absorb nitrate fast. In this guide you will find a comparison table of 12 easy picks, which ones suit low light and which need strong light, how to keep them from taking over, and what to do when summer heat above 30°C starts to melt the delicate ones.

Why fast growing plants matter

A plant that grows quickly is a plant that is busy taking up nutrients. Fish waste breaks down into ammonium, nitrate and phosphate, and algae feeds on the same things. When fast growing stem plants and floaters take those nutrients first, algae finds less left over. That is the main reason experienced hobbyists plant a new tank heavily with fast growers from day one rather than adding a few slow plants and hoping for the best.

Fast growers also hide mistakes. A new tank goes through swings in ammonia and nitrite while the filter matures, and dense stem plants soften those swings. They do not replace the filter or water changes, a point we cover in do aquarium plants clean water, but they make the tank more stable. Another benefit is cuttings: every trim gives you free plants to spread through the tank or share with friends, which saves money, as discussed in where to buy live aquarium plants in India.

12 fast growing aquarium plants compared

Growth speed depends on light, nutrients and temperature, so treat the table as a general guide rather than a promise. Plants marked low light will still grow in a basic tank with a modest LED, while plants marked medium to high usually colour up and grow best with stronger light and regular fertilizer.

Duckweed also grows very fast, but treat it with caution. It spreads across the surface within weeks, shades the plants below and is almost impossible to remove completely once it enters a tank. Choose frogbit or Salvinia instead if you want floaters, and keep the surface at least partly open so fish can reach air and oxygen exchange continues. For wider background on each plant group see the types of aquarium plants and their names.

Fastest growing plants for low light

If your tank has a basic LED or sits near a window with indirect light, choose plants that do not depend on strong light. Hornwort, water sprite, guppy grass, Vallisneria, water wisteria and Hygrophila all grow well under modest lighting. Floating plants also grow in low light because their leaves sit at the surface, close to the lamp. These plants are the foundation of a low-tech planted tank, and many of them are also in our list of best aquarium plants for beginners.

Low light does not mean no light. Aim for 6 to 8 hours a day on a timer; our guide on how many hours to keep an aquarium light on explains why a longer period usually causes algae rather than more growth.

Fastest growing plants for high light

Rotala, Ludwigia, Bacopa and some Hygrophila varieties speed up noticeably when the light is stronger, and Rotala and Ludwigia develop red or orange shades. With stronger light, the plants need more of everything else: nutrients, and often a carbon source. Without them, a strong light mostly feeds algae. If you want to move in that direction, read our planted aquarium lighting guide and consider the options below, then see CO2 systems for planted aquariums before you raise the light much.

Sobo AL-380 (15.5W)Planted tanks, 1-2 ft Neo Helios Nano S3 Plus13W full spectrum Blue Pet Nano S3 (10W)WRGB flat light Sobo AL-480 (21W)Planted tanks, 2-3 ft

Match the light to the tank length. The Blue Pet Nano S3 (10W) at ₹850 and the Neo Helios Nano S3 Plus at ₹1,050 suit smaller tanks, the Sobo AL-380 (15.5W) at ₹1,230 fits 1 to 2 ft planted tanks and the Sobo AL-480 (21W) at ₹1,500 is meant for 2 to 3 ft tanks. Browse the full aquarium light collection for more.

Planted tank lights by tank size (Fish Bazaar range)

Pick the row that matches your tank length, then choose by plant level: the cheaper full-spectrum lights suit low to medium light plants such as Anubias, Java fern and Cryptocoryne, while the Chihiros WRGB II Pro and B Series are built for red plants, carpets and CO2 tanks. Tank length is the longest side of the glass. Prices are in rupees as listed on Fish Bazaar on 9 October 2026 and can change, so check the product page for the current price and stock.

Chihiros sizes (30, 45, 60, 80, 90, 120) match the tank length in cm. Wattage alone does not decide plant growth, so match the light to your plants and add CO2 and fertilizer only if you want demanding species. Not sure which light fits your tank? See the full aquarium light range or message us with your tank size.

What fast growing plants need to keep growing

Fast growth burns through nutrients, so a plant that raced ahead in the first month may stall in the second if nothing is added. There are four things to watch.

Several products from the store cover these needs. Seachem Flourish (₹1,020) is a comprehensive supplement with trace elements, Sunken Garden Green (₹490) is an all-in-one plant fertilizer, Seachem Flourish Iron (₹1,020) and Seachem Flourish Potassium (₹1,020) top up those specific nutrients, and Sunken Garden Root Tabs (₹290) feed root feeders. Follow the pack directions, start at the low end of the dose and watch the plants for a week before increasing. For help choosing between them read the aquarium plant fertilizer guide.

Seachem Flourish 250 mlComprehensive plant supplement Sunken Garden GreenAll-in-one plant fertilizer Seachem Flourish Iron 250 mlIron supplement Seachem Flourish Potassium 250 mlPotassium supplement Sunken Garden Root TabsRoot fertilizer, 6+1 pack

How to keep fast growers in check

Fast growth is only an advantage when you manage it. Left alone, hornwort and stem plants reach the surface in a few weeks, shade the plants below and become leggy and bare at the bottom. A routine solves this.

• Trim often. Every one to two weeks, cut stems back to the height you want. Cut just above a pair of leaves, because most stem plants branch from that point.
• Replant the tops. Strip the lowest leaves from healthy tops, push them into the substrate and discard the old bare stem. This keeps the plant bushy and gives free cuttings.
• Thin runners. Vallisneria sends out runners constantly. Cut the runner and pull out extra daughter plants before they crowd the tank.
• Remove floaters by net. Scoop out one third of the floaters each week, and use the removed plants as compost or share them rather than throwing them into drains or natural waterbodies.
• Do not leave trimmings to rot. Fish out loose pieces, because decaying leaves raise ammonia and feed algae.

The planting method for cuttings is covered in how to plant aquarium plants step by step, and routine care in aquarium plants care and maintenance. If you want a dense carpet from a fast grower, see carpet plants for aquariums.

Fast growers in Indian heat and water

Indian summers push tank water past 30°C in many homes, and this is where fast growing plants show their differences. Hornwort and Rotala can drop leaves or melt in water above about 32°C, and Anacharis (Egeria) prefers cooler water, so it often struggles in a warm Indian summer. Vallisneria, Hygrophila, water sprite and guppy grass cope better with warm water. To protect your plants, keep the tank out of direct sun, shorten the light period by an hour or two during heat waves, aim a small fan across the water surface to cool it and keep stronger-light stem plants for the cooler months. If leaves start turning translucent or brown, see why aquarium plants melt or turn brown.

Tap water in many Indian cities contains chlorine or chloramine, and hard water is common. Treat new water with a conditioner such as Sunken Garden Anti Chlorine (₹290), and remember that Vallisneria, guppy grass and Hygrophila tolerate hard water better than many fine-leaved stem plants. During the monsoon, plants ordered online may arrive damaged, so unpack them quickly and trim any rotten parts before planting.

Sunken Garden Anti ChlorineWater conditioner

Fast growing plants and algae

A tank full of fast plants can still grow algae if light, nutrients and carbon are out of balance. The usual causes are too many light hours, too little fertilizer for the amount of light, or plants that are shaded and dying. If algae appears, trim dead leaves, reduce the light period and keep the plants growing, rather than adding more chemicals. For more on that cause and effect, see whether aquarium fertilizer causes algae. If you also want to understand why growth sometimes stalls, plants not growing despite fertilizer is a useful next read, and how to grow aquarium plants faster goes through all the levers in detail.

For a complete overview of all plant groups, return to our complete guide to aquarium plants for fish tanks in India.

हिंदी में संक्षेप: सबसे तेज़ बढ़ने वाले एक्वेरियम पौधों में हॉर्नवॉर्ट, वाटर स्प्राइट, वैलिसनेरिया, गप्पी ग्रास, वाटर विस्टेरिया और हाइग्रोफिला शामिल हैं, और ये बिना CO2 के भी आसानी से बढ़ते हैं। ये नाइट्रेट सोखकर शैवाल को कम करने में मदद करते हैं। हर एक से दो हफ्ते में छँटाई करें, कटे हुए ऊपरी हिस्से दोबारा लगाएँ और गर्मियों में पानी को 30°C से ऊपर जाने से बचाएँ।

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest growing aquarium plant?

Hornwort, water sprite and guppy grass are usually the fastest, and floating plants such as frogbit and Salvinia also spread quickly. Actual speed depends on light, nutrients and temperature.

What are the best fast growing aquarium plants for beginners?

Hornwort, water sprite, Vallisneria, water wisteria and Hygrophila are good choices. They grow without CO2, tolerate beginner mistakes and do well in a standard LED setup.

Which plants absorb nitrate fast?

Fast growing stem plants and floaters such as hornwort, water sprite, guppy grass, Hygrophila and frogbit take up nitrate quickly. They help keep levels down, but regular water changes are still needed.

Do fast growing plants need CO2?

Many do not. Hornwort, water sprite, Vallisneria and Hygrophila grow well without CO2, while Rotala and Ludwigia grow fastest and look best with stronger light and a carbon source.

Do fast growing plants reduce algae?

They can, because they compete with algae for nutrients. They only help when they are healthy and growing, and a tank with too much light or too few plants can still get algae.

Why is my hornwort dropping needles?

Hornwort often sheds needles when the water is too warm, when it is moved to a new tank or when nutrients are low. Keep the tank cooler, add some fertilizer and trim off the bare sections.

How often should I trim fast growing stem plants?

Usually every one to two weeks. Cut the stems to the height you want and replant the healthy tops so the plant stays bushy.

Can fast growing plants survive Indian summers?

Some can. Vallisneria, Hygrophila, water sprite and guppy grass handle warm water well, while hornwort, Rotala and Anacharis may melt or shed leaves above about 32°C unless you shade and cool the tank.

Should I add duckweed to my aquarium?

Most hobbyists avoid it. Duckweed spreads across the whole surface, shades plants below and is very hard to remove, so frogbit or Salvinia are easier floating choices.

Do fast growing plants need fertilizer?

Yes. Fast growth uses up nutrients, so a complete liquid fertilizer in small regular doses and root tabs for root feeders help the plants keep growing and stay green.

Related plant guides

• Aquarium plants for fish tanks: the complete India guide
• How to grow aquarium plants faster
• How to plant aquarium plants step by step
• Best carpet plants for aquariums
• Why aquarium plants melt or turn brown
• Do aquarium plants clean water?
• Types of aquarium plants and their names

Not sure which light or fertilizer suits your fast growing plants? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 91523 30102 and we will help.