Parched plants: survival and viability of invasive aquatic macrophytes following exposure to various desiccation regimes

•Increased vapour-pressure deficit significantly reduced survival of aquatic plants.•Elevated temperature reduced regeneration capacity even at higher relative humidity.•Mortality rates increased under longer desiccation exposure across all treatments.•Overall, longer exposure times also resulted in reduced regeneration capacity.•Floating species displayed a greater regeneration capacity than submerged macrophytes.