Ornamental Aquatic Plants: Aquarism and Landscaping — A Growing Niche in Brazil

The ornamental aquatic plants — for aquariums, artificial lakes, and water gardens — are one of the fastest-growing ornamental niches in Brazil. Fishkeeping, with over 15 million practitioners in the country, creates a constant demand for aquarium plants (Echinodorus, Anubias, Vallisneria, Ludwigia), and the landscaping boom with artificial lakes generates demand for lake aquatic plants (water lily, water taro, papyrus, bulrush).

Aquarium aquatic plants have the highest value per cm³ in the ornamental market — a clump of Anubias nana can be sold for R$ 20 to R$ 80, with a production cost of R$ 2 to R$ 5. It is a market predominantly distributed via e-commerce and growing at 30% per year.

When aquatic plants are propagated in an aquatic nursery and distributed with certified quality, this segment can greatly contribute to job and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions to implement the best solutions in the Brazilian agribusiness sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and the 255 segments of the national agribusiness — from the grain chain to sustainable extraction, including horticulture, fruit growing, livestock farming, and much more.

The series Innovation for Brazil to Produce More was developed precisely to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and worldwide, across the 255 segments of the agribusiness sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governments, and marketers.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to structure the production of aquatic plants for aquaristics and landscaping

Aquatic plants for aquariums require filtered water and appropriate lighting — propagation in shallow tanks 20 to 30 cm deep with 12 hours of light per day. Lake plants are simpler to propagate and have a landscaping market that grows with the boom of residential water gardens.

✔    Anubias, Echinodorus, Cryptocoryne — the best sellers in fishkeeping

✔    Water lily, papyrus, bulrush — for artificial landscaping lakes

✔    Shallow tanks (20 to 30 cm) with filtered water and LED lighting

✔    Vegetative propagation by division — low multiplication cost

✔    PRONAF for ornamental aquaculture

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for the Small Rural Producer presents in detail the best solutions for this segment and the other 254 of Brazilian agribusiness — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Micro and Small Local Suppliers

What equipment does the ornamental aquatic chain demand

Ornamental aquatics demand propagation tanks, filters, and LED lighting — investment from R$ 5,000 to R$ 50,000 for different scales.

Solutions by area of engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — LED lighting systems for aquatic nurseries;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — pH, temperature, and dissolved CO₂ sensors;

Control and Automation Engineering — filtration and water circulation systems;

Mechatronic Engineering and Robotics — packaging for aquatic plants for shipment;

Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for pumping and lighting;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — inventory management and e-commerce orders.

✔    Aquatic propagation tanks

✔    Water filtration systems

✔    LED lighting for aquatic nurseries

✔    Packaging for shipping aquatic plants by mail

✔    E-commerce platform for aquatics

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Micro and Small Local Supplier maps, segment by segment, business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support aquatic plants and create a fishkeeping hub

Fishkeeping is the second-largest hobby activity in Brazil by number of practitioners — and a municipality that supports aquatic producers creates a high-value niche segment with national distribution via e-commerce.

✔    Ornamental aquaculture program for family farmers

✔    Municipal IDM: locally produced aquatic plants

✔    Fishkeeping Festival — identity and tourism

✔    Partnership with pet shops for local supply

✔    Fishkeeping and aquatic plants school for youth

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents the step-by-step for municipal secretaries and managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agribusiness.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agricultural Product Merchants

How aquatic plants generate business for e-commerce, pet shops, and landscapers

The e-commerce of aquatic plants is the fastest-growing distribution channel in the segment — with plants being sent by mail in wet packaging throughout Brazil. A producer with 50m² of tanks can earn R$ 5,000 to R$ 15,000/month via e-commerce without leaving home.

For landscapers with artificial lake projects, colorful flowering water lily and Egyptian papyrus are the most valuable ornamental aquatic products — with rare variety water lilies reaching R$ 80 to R$ 200/unit for high-end water garden projects.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and food service:

Aquarium aquatic plants (Anubias, Echinodorus) — e-commerce; high turnover;

Colorful water lily for artificial lake — premium landscaping;

Papyrus and bulrush for water garden — naturalized landscaping;

Collection of rare Cryptocorynes — aquarium collectors;

Water carpet (Hemianthus, Marsilea) — premium planted aquarium;

Aquatic plants for biofiltration — sustainability niche.

Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities

✔    Aquarium e-commerce: aquatic plants for fishkeepers in Brazil

✔    Pet shops: fresh aquatics for local fishkeepers

✔    Landscapers: water lily and aquatics for artificial lakes

✔    Aquarium collectors: rare species of Anubias and Bucephalandra

✔    Digital platforms: subscription for aquatic plants

✔    Lake builders: aquatics for residential water gardens

Growth strategies for the local merchant

The aquatic plant producer who sells via e-commerce with delivery by mail has access to the market of 15 million fishkeepers throughout Brazil — with no physical store costs, with packaging costing R$ 3 to R$ 8 and an average ticket of R$ 60 to R$ 120.

Both PRONAF and Pronampe cover tanks and equipment. SEBRAE subsidizes access to e-commerce platforms.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for the Small Agricultural Product Merchant maps 30 merchant profiles and details the growth opportunities in all 255 segments of agribusiness.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By purchasing any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Groups with 30 members can organize and fund in-person strategic planning events to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and worldwide.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Businesses

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Agricultural Product Merchants

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Project Management in Innovation and Technology

Instructor: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering