Slow growing floating plants

I see a lot of mentions of fast growing floating plants. In an effort to not bite off more that I can chew, I'm looking for some slow growing floating plants of my first planted tank.

I don't want anything that will block a lot of light to the plants on the bottom of the tank and that has cool roots that hang down 4 or 5 inches. Any suggestions?

 

I have to cull all my floating plants that I do not want to cover the surface with every week. But Brazilian pennywort or hydrocotle vulgaris will float and stay attached like a vine so it won't float freely all over and block light (or easier to keep out of the direct light).

 

thanks

 

I have a circle made of air line (with a coupler to attach the ends to each other and keep it air tight) that floats on the top of my 40 gallon to contain the water lettuce. I have a piece of fishing line tied to it that I then drape over the back of the tank and secure with a piece of tape to keep it where I want it. It works fairly well.

 

pennyworth and hornworth are both easy to manage; duckweed you want to avoid.

 

Water sprite? Not sure how fast it grows, but maybe easier to manage.

 

Not considered a "floating plant", but a banana plant sends shoots up to the surface that each grow a lovely 'lily pad' that will rest on the surface. Might be an option to consider?

 

Not considered a "floating plant", but a banana plant sends shoots up to the surface that each grow a lovely 'lily pad' that will rest on the surface. Might be an option to consider?

thanks, that sounds like what i'm looking for.

 

Here's a couple of pictures of it. It's in the bottom left of the first pic, you can see the 'bananas', and the stem that shoots off of it up to the surface. Some of the leaves will stay in the water, then die off. Others will reach the surface and lie flat.