文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Water lettuce pond plants are commonly found in the slow moving waters of drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and canals in water anywhere from 0 to 30 feet deep. Its early origins were recorded to be the Nile River, possibly around Lake Victoria. Today, it is found throughout the tropics and the American Southwest and is quantified as a weed with no wildlife or human food uses for water lettuce recorded. It can, however, make an attractive water feature planting where its rapid growth may be corralled. So what is water lettuce?
What is Water Lettuce?
Water lettuce, or Pistia stratiotes, is in the family Araceae and is a perennial evergreen that forms large floating colonies that can be invasive if left unchecked. The spongy foliage is light green to gray-green colored and is 1 to 6 inches long. The floating root structure of water lettuce can grow up to 20 inches in length while the plant itself covers a 3 by 12 foot area typically.
This moderate grower has leaves that form velvety rosettes, which resemble small heads of lettuce — hence its name. An evergreen, the long dangling roots serve as a safe haven for fish but, otherwise, water lettuce has not wildlife uses. The yellow flowers are rather innocuous, hidden in the foliage and blooming from late summer to early winter.
How to Grow Water Lettuce
Reproduction of water lettuce is vegetative through the use of stolons and may be propagated through division of these or via seeds covered with sand and kept partially submerged in water. Water garden or container uses for water lettuce outdoors can occur in USDA planting zone 10 in full sun to part shade in the southern states.
Care of Water Lettuce
In warm climates, the plant will overwinter or you can grow water lettuce indoors in an aquatic environment in a mix of moist loam and sand with water temps between 66-72 F. (19-22 C.). Additional care of water lettuce is minimal, as the plant has no serious pest or disease issues.
What is Water Lettuce?
Water lettuce, or Pistia stratiotes, is in the family Araceae and is a perennial evergreen that forms large floating colonies that can be invasive if left unchecked. The spongy foliage is light green to gray-green colored and is 1 to 6 inches long. The floating root structure of water lettuce can grow up to 20 inches in length while the plant itself covers a 3 by 12 foot area typically.
This moderate grower has leaves that form velvety rosettes, which resemble small heads of lettuce — hence its name. An evergreen, the long dangling roots serve as a safe haven for fish but, otherwise, water lettuce has not wildlife uses. The yellow flowers are rather innocuous, hidden in the foliage and blooming from late summer to early winter.
How to Grow Water Lettuce
Reproduction of water lettuce is vegetative through the use of stolons and may be propagated through division of these or via seeds covered with sand and kept partially submerged in water. Water garden or container uses for water lettuce outdoors can occur in USDA planting zone 10 in full sun to part shade in the southern states.
Care of Water Lettuce
In warm climates, the plant will overwinter or you can grow water lettuce indoors in an aquatic environment in a mix of moist loam and sand with water temps between 66-72 F. (19-22 C.). Additional care of water lettuce is minimal, as the plant has no serious pest or disease issues.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Uses for Sweet Flag Plants
The most commonly used part of the sweet flag plant is its rhizome, which can be used to repel insects, scent a room, or give you something tasty and interesting to chew on. The flavor is usually described as spicy and strong, similar to ginger or cinnamon, with a bitter aftertaste. The leaves, too, can be bruised and hung around the room for their pleasant scent.
When and How to Harvest Sweet Flag
The best time for harvesting sweet flag is in spring before the new growth starts, or in autumn before the first frost. Sweet flag likes to grow in very wet conditions, like ditches or the shallow parts of streams. This means that harvesting sweet flag is bound to be at least a little messy. In order to get to the rhizomes, dig down at least a foot under the plant. You should be able to pull a big rooty mass out of the ground. This mass is likely to be very muddy. Remove the leaves and wash the roots.
The rhizomes are about 0.75 inches in diameter and covered in smaller little rootlets that can be removed. Don’t peel the rhizomes – most of the oils are found near the surface. Sweet flag rhizomes are best stored sliced and dried.
The most commonly used part of the sweet flag plant is its rhizome, which can be used to repel insects, scent a room, or give you something tasty and interesting to chew on. The flavor is usually described as spicy and strong, similar to ginger or cinnamon, with a bitter aftertaste. The leaves, too, can be bruised and hung around the room for their pleasant scent.
When and How to Harvest Sweet Flag
The best time for harvesting sweet flag is in spring before the new growth starts, or in autumn before the first frost. Sweet flag likes to grow in very wet conditions, like ditches or the shallow parts of streams. This means that harvesting sweet flag is bound to be at least a little messy. In order to get to the rhizomes, dig down at least a foot under the plant. You should be able to pull a big rooty mass out of the ground. This mass is likely to be very muddy. Remove the leaves and wash the roots.
The rhizomes are about 0.75 inches in diameter and covered in smaller little rootlets that can be removed. Don’t peel the rhizomes – most of the oils are found near the surface. Sweet flag rhizomes are best stored sliced and dried.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
The name pondweed refers to the 80 or so species of aquatic plants belonging to the genus Potamogenton. They vary in size and appearance so much that it’s hard to describe a typical pondweed. Some are totally submerged under the water, while others are only partly submerged. The plants are an important part of the pond’s ecosystem, and they can be ornamental in the right setting. They serve as a valuable wildlife food as well as an oxygenator that helps keep the pond in balance. When out of control, however, the plants can choke the life out of a pond, and then it’s time take steps in controlling pondweed plants.
How to Control Pondweed
Before you use herbicides, there are a couple of other pondweed control methods that are worth considering. Prevention is the best method of control, so think carefully before you plant. If you decide to plant them, use containers to hold the roots rather than in the mud at the bottom of the pond. In small ponds, try getting rid of pondweeds by removing them manually. In large ponds, releasing grass carp in the pond will keep the plants under control. Grass carp feed on the tender, submerged parts of the plant. If these methods are impractical for your situation or don’t solve the problem, it’s time to consider managing pondweed in ponds using herbicide.
Where herbicides for lawns and gardens are usually chosen based on the weed you are trying to kill, herbicides for ponds are tailored to the site. Read the label carefully before you choose, paying special attention to precautions, restrictions and intended use. Use the least toxic herbicide to protect the fish and other wildlife in your pond and preserve enough plants to support them. Herbicides containing the active ingredient endothall are a good choice for controlling pondweed. Once you’ve chosen your herbicide, follow the label instructions exactly. Measure carefully and if you have to use it more than once, wait the recommended period of time before the second application. Never use an herbicide in a pond that isn’t specifically labeled for aquatic use.
How to Control Pondweed
Before you use herbicides, there are a couple of other pondweed control methods that are worth considering. Prevention is the best method of control, so think carefully before you plant. If you decide to plant them, use containers to hold the roots rather than in the mud at the bottom of the pond. In small ponds, try getting rid of pondweeds by removing them manually. In large ponds, releasing grass carp in the pond will keep the plants under control. Grass carp feed on the tender, submerged parts of the plant. If these methods are impractical for your situation or don’t solve the problem, it’s time to consider managing pondweed in ponds using herbicide.
Where herbicides for lawns and gardens are usually chosen based on the weed you are trying to kill, herbicides for ponds are tailored to the site. Read the label carefully before you choose, paying special attention to precautions, restrictions and intended use. Use the least toxic herbicide to protect the fish and other wildlife in your pond and preserve enough plants to support them. Herbicides containing the active ingredient endothall are a good choice for controlling pondweed. Once you’ve chosen your herbicide, follow the label instructions exactly. Measure carefully and if you have to use it more than once, wait the recommended period of time before the second application. Never use an herbicide in a pond that isn’t specifically labeled for aquatic use.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
The attractive, feathery fronds of parrot feather plants (Myriophyllum aquaticum) often encourage the water gardener to use it in a bed or border. The delicate appearance of growing parrot feather compliments other foliage in your water feature or bog garden.
Parrot Feather Information
Stop: before you make the mistake of planting this seemingly innocent specimen in your landscape, you should know that parrot feather information indicates that these plants are highly invasive. Once planted, they have the potential to readily escape cultivation and overwhelm native plants. This has already happened in numerous areas in the United States. Only female specimens of the plant are known to grow in this country and multiply from root division and plant pieces in a process called fragmentation. Tiny bits of the plant have moved through waterways, on boats and located themselves aggressively in many areas. Several states have laws that prohibit growing parrot feather.
Growing Parrot Feather
Growing parrot feather began innocently enough in the United States. The South and Central American native came to the country in the 1800’s to decorate indoor and outdoor aquariums. The attractive, feathery plumes of parrot feather plants took hold and began to choke out native plants. If you choose to use parrot feather plants in your pond or water garden, keep in mind that parrot feather plant care will consist of keeping the plant under control. Keep growing parrot feather in bounds by only using in lined ponds and water features or in containers.
Parrot feather plants grow in fresh water areas from rhizomatous roots. Cutting the plant encourages it to grow, so control can be complicated if it grows to restrict your drainage pipe or begins to destroy beneficial algae. Aquatic herbicides are sometimes effective in parrot feather plant care and control. If you choose to grow parrot feather plants in or around your water feature or pond, make sure it is legal to grow it in your area. Plant only in a controlled situation, such as a container or indoor water feature.
Parrot Feather Information
Stop: before you make the mistake of planting this seemingly innocent specimen in your landscape, you should know that parrot feather information indicates that these plants are highly invasive. Once planted, they have the potential to readily escape cultivation and overwhelm native plants. This has already happened in numerous areas in the United States. Only female specimens of the plant are known to grow in this country and multiply from root division and plant pieces in a process called fragmentation. Tiny bits of the plant have moved through waterways, on boats and located themselves aggressively in many areas. Several states have laws that prohibit growing parrot feather.
Growing Parrot Feather
Growing parrot feather began innocently enough in the United States. The South and Central American native came to the country in the 1800’s to decorate indoor and outdoor aquariums. The attractive, feathery plumes of parrot feather plants took hold and began to choke out native plants. If you choose to use parrot feather plants in your pond or water garden, keep in mind that parrot feather plant care will consist of keeping the plant under control. Keep growing parrot feather in bounds by only using in lined ponds and water features or in containers.
Parrot feather plants grow in fresh water areas from rhizomatous roots. Cutting the plant encourages it to grow, so control can be complicated if it grows to restrict your drainage pipe or begins to destroy beneficial algae. Aquatic herbicides are sometimes effective in parrot feather plant care and control. If you choose to grow parrot feather plants in or around your water feature or pond, make sure it is legal to grow it in your area. Plant only in a controlled situation, such as a container or indoor water feature.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Bulrushes are water loving plants which create excellent habitat for wild birds, trap beneficial bacteria in their tangled root system and provide nesting cover for bass and bluegill. They have an architectural beauty all their own and recall the biblical story of Moses, the child cast out onto the river amongst the bulrushes. In spite of all these charming details, the plant can become an invasive nuisance and foul up boat motors, clog water ways and choke out other plants. It is also protected in many states, so it is important to know how to kill bulrushes without harming natural habitat and wildlife.
Bulrush Plant Facts
Most nature lovers can recognize bulrush. Bulrushes are sedges which colonize ponds, lakes and riparian areas. There are both hardstem and softstem varieties. Both are important parts of aquatic diversity and are commonly found in North America. Occasionally, these plants can inundate an area and because they have low forage potential, are considered undesirable in flooded plains and meadows. The Department of Natural Resources only allows removal of bulrush plant weeds in small areas to gain access to lakes or streams and has particular rules on how this can be accomplished. Bulrushes can grow in 3 to 5 feet of water or they can thrive as riparian species on the edges of moist habitats. These sedges can also survive brief periods of drought and cold temperatures. They grow from both seed and stem or root fragments, either of which can spread rapidly downstream and colonize all parts of a waterway.
Bulrush plant weeds can grow 5 to 10 feet tall and survive in marshes, bogs, sand or gravel bars. Hardstem bulrush grows in firm, sandy soil while softstem requires thick, soft silt in which to live. Bulrush has an appearance of a hard tubular or triangular stem with slender leaves. For survivalists, one of the more intriguing bulrush plant facts is its edibility. The stems and shoots are eaten raw or cooked and the roots and unripe flowers are boiled. Rhizomes may also be dried and pounded into flour.
Why Do We Need Control of Bulrush?
Hardstem bulrush is native to western North America and should not be culled in its native habitat except for small areas to open waterways. Softstem is native to Eurasia, Australia, New Zealand and some parts of North America. It may tend to become more invasive in certain types of soil and can even survive brackish water. Bulrush control in ponds may become necessary to keep it open for livestock or for irrigation needs. In small lakes, bulrush may close off boat routes and create problems for engines. The plant’s ease of spread may also be of concern as it edges out other wanted native species. Control of bulrush is restricted in most states and it is threatened in Connecticut and endangered in Pennsylvania. Check with your state Department of Natural Resources for the plants status and recommended removal tips.
How to Kill Bulrush
In managed waterways, bulrush is controlled by regulating the water levels. Higher levels promote established plants, while lowering the water can result in bulrush reduction. This can lead to other plants establishing in their absence, such as cattails, which may be less desired species. In areas where reduction of the plant is necessary, aquatic registered herbicides are recommended. These must be used with caution and all application instructions followed to prevent harming wildlife. Once you have an adequate amount of population reduction in the area, cutting under the surface of the water will provide bulrush control in ponds and smaller water bodies.
Bulrush Plant Facts
Most nature lovers can recognize bulrush. Bulrushes are sedges which colonize ponds, lakes and riparian areas. There are both hardstem and softstem varieties. Both are important parts of aquatic diversity and are commonly found in North America. Occasionally, these plants can inundate an area and because they have low forage potential, are considered undesirable in flooded plains and meadows. The Department of Natural Resources only allows removal of bulrush plant weeds in small areas to gain access to lakes or streams and has particular rules on how this can be accomplished. Bulrushes can grow in 3 to 5 feet of water or they can thrive as riparian species on the edges of moist habitats. These sedges can also survive brief periods of drought and cold temperatures. They grow from both seed and stem or root fragments, either of which can spread rapidly downstream and colonize all parts of a waterway.
Bulrush plant weeds can grow 5 to 10 feet tall and survive in marshes, bogs, sand or gravel bars. Hardstem bulrush grows in firm, sandy soil while softstem requires thick, soft silt in which to live. Bulrush has an appearance of a hard tubular or triangular stem with slender leaves. For survivalists, one of the more intriguing bulrush plant facts is its edibility. The stems and shoots are eaten raw or cooked and the roots and unripe flowers are boiled. Rhizomes may also be dried and pounded into flour.
Why Do We Need Control of Bulrush?
Hardstem bulrush is native to western North America and should not be culled in its native habitat except for small areas to open waterways. Softstem is native to Eurasia, Australia, New Zealand and some parts of North America. It may tend to become more invasive in certain types of soil and can even survive brackish water. Bulrush control in ponds may become necessary to keep it open for livestock or for irrigation needs. In small lakes, bulrush may close off boat routes and create problems for engines. The plant’s ease of spread may also be of concern as it edges out other wanted native species. Control of bulrush is restricted in most states and it is threatened in Connecticut and endangered in Pennsylvania. Check with your state Department of Natural Resources for the plants status and recommended removal tips.
How to Kill Bulrush
In managed waterways, bulrush is controlled by regulating the water levels. Higher levels promote established plants, while lowering the water can result in bulrush reduction. This can lead to other plants establishing in their absence, such as cattails, which may be less desired species. In areas where reduction of the plant is necessary, aquatic registered herbicides are recommended. These must be used with caution and all application instructions followed to prevent harming wildlife. Once you have an adequate amount of population reduction in the area, cutting under the surface of the water will provide bulrush control in ponds and smaller water bodies.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
What is bog rosemary? It is a marsh plant very different from the rosemary you cook with in the kitchen. Bog rosemary plants (Andromeda polifolia) thrive in boggy habitats like wet swamps and dry bog moss hummocks. Read on for more information on bog rosemary plants, including tips for bog rosemary growing.
What is Bog Rosemary?
Bog rosemary plants, also known as marsh Andromeda because of the species name, are creeping evergreens. Low to the ground (no taller than a couple of feet), they thrive in soggy areas in the landscape.
This native is found growing wild in the northeast United States. It also is native to parts of Europe and Asia. The new growth of these marsh Andromeda shrubs is usually lime green, although sometimes you find reddish hues. The growth is covered with a waxy film, and matures into a deep green or blue green with pale downy undersides. The leaves of bog rosemary plants are shiny and leathery. The foliage contains andromedotoxin, a powerful poison, so bog rosemary plants are rarely nibbled on by animals. Bog rosemary blossoms are unusual flowers. You’ll see a half-dozen tiny urn-shaped flowers growing together in a cluster at each stem tip. The flowers appear in May, each about ¼ inch long and pale pink. The fruits of marsh Andromeda are small bluish dried capsules that turn brown in October. Neither the flowers nor the seeds are particularly showy.
Bog Rosemary Growing
If you have a perpetually wet corner of the garden, bog rosemary growing might be just the thing. True to its common names, marsh Andromdea loves and thrives in marshy areas. Don’t worry about spending a lot of time on bog rosemary care either. If you place this shrub in an appropriate site, bog rosemary care takes very little effort.
When you have bog rosemary growing in a boggy spot in your backyard, you’ll find that it spreads quickly and requires little, if any, assistance. The plant tolerates compacted soil, wind and ice, preferring a location in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 6. Another reason you won’t have to spend too much time on bog rosemary care: the plant has few disease or insect troubles. You don’t need to fertilize or prune it.
What is Bog Rosemary?
Bog rosemary plants, also known as marsh Andromeda because of the species name, are creeping evergreens. Low to the ground (no taller than a couple of feet), they thrive in soggy areas in the landscape.
This native is found growing wild in the northeast United States. It also is native to parts of Europe and Asia. The new growth of these marsh Andromeda shrubs is usually lime green, although sometimes you find reddish hues. The growth is covered with a waxy film, and matures into a deep green or blue green with pale downy undersides. The leaves of bog rosemary plants are shiny and leathery. The foliage contains andromedotoxin, a powerful poison, so bog rosemary plants are rarely nibbled on by animals. Bog rosemary blossoms are unusual flowers. You’ll see a half-dozen tiny urn-shaped flowers growing together in a cluster at each stem tip. The flowers appear in May, each about ¼ inch long and pale pink. The fruits of marsh Andromeda are small bluish dried capsules that turn brown in October. Neither the flowers nor the seeds are particularly showy.
Bog Rosemary Growing
If you have a perpetually wet corner of the garden, bog rosemary growing might be just the thing. True to its common names, marsh Andromdea loves and thrives in marshy areas. Don’t worry about spending a lot of time on bog rosemary care either. If you place this shrub in an appropriate site, bog rosemary care takes very little effort.
When you have bog rosemary growing in a boggy spot in your backyard, you’ll find that it spreads quickly and requires little, if any, assistance. The plant tolerates compacted soil, wind and ice, preferring a location in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 6. Another reason you won’t have to spend too much time on bog rosemary care: the plant has few disease or insect troubles. You don’t need to fertilize or prune it.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Graceful and elegant, water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) are a wonderful addition to any water garden. But if your water lily is not hardy for your climate, you may be wondering how to winterize water lily plants. Even if your water lilies are hardy, you might be wondering what you should do for them to help them make it through winter. Winter care for water lily plants does take a little bit of planning, but is easy to do once you know how. Keep reading to learn more about how to over winter water lilies.
How to Winterize Water Lily Plants
The steps for wintering water lilies actually starts long before winter actually arrives, regardless of whether you grow hardy or tropical water lilies. In late summer, stop fertilizing your water lilies. This will signal to your water lily plants that it’s time to start getting ready for cold weather. A few things will happen after this. First, the water lily will start to grow tubers. This will provide food for them over the winter. Second, they will start to die back and enter dormancy, which slows their systems down and helps keep them safe over winter. The water lilies will typically grow small leaves at this time and their larger leaves will turn yellow and die. Once this occurs, you are ready to take steps for wintering your water lilies.
How to Store Water Lilies Over Winter
Wintering Hardy Water Lilies
For hardy water lilies, the key to how to over winter water lilies well is to move them to the deepest part of your pond. This will insulate them a little from repeated freezing and unfreezing, which will decrease your water lily’s chance of surviving the cold.
Wintering Tropical Water Lilies
For tropical water lilies, after the first frost, lift the water lilies from your pond. Check the roots to make sure that the plant has properly formed tubers. Without tubers, it will have a difficult time surviving the winter.
After you have lifted your water lilies from the pond, they need to be placed in water. The containers people use to store their water lilies over winter varies. You can use an aquarium with a grow or fluorescent light, a plastic tub under lights or in a glass or plastic jar placed on a window sill. Any container where the plants are in water and get eight to 12 hours of light will work. It’s best to store your water lilies bare rooted in the water and not in growing pots. Replace the water weekly in container and keep the water temperature around 70 F. (21 C.). In the spring, when the tubers sprout, replant the water lily in a growing pot and place out into your pond after the last frost date has passed.
How to Winterize Water Lily Plants
The steps for wintering water lilies actually starts long before winter actually arrives, regardless of whether you grow hardy or tropical water lilies. In late summer, stop fertilizing your water lilies. This will signal to your water lily plants that it’s time to start getting ready for cold weather. A few things will happen after this. First, the water lily will start to grow tubers. This will provide food for them over the winter. Second, they will start to die back and enter dormancy, which slows their systems down and helps keep them safe over winter. The water lilies will typically grow small leaves at this time and their larger leaves will turn yellow and die. Once this occurs, you are ready to take steps for wintering your water lilies.
How to Store Water Lilies Over Winter
Wintering Hardy Water Lilies
For hardy water lilies, the key to how to over winter water lilies well is to move them to the deepest part of your pond. This will insulate them a little from repeated freezing and unfreezing, which will decrease your water lily’s chance of surviving the cold.
Wintering Tropical Water Lilies
For tropical water lilies, after the first frost, lift the water lilies from your pond. Check the roots to make sure that the plant has properly formed tubers. Without tubers, it will have a difficult time surviving the winter.
After you have lifted your water lilies from the pond, they need to be placed in water. The containers people use to store their water lilies over winter varies. You can use an aquarium with a grow or fluorescent light, a plastic tub under lights or in a glass or plastic jar placed on a window sill. Any container where the plants are in water and get eight to 12 hours of light will work. It’s best to store your water lilies bare rooted in the water and not in growing pots. Replace the water weekly in container and keep the water temperature around 70 F. (21 C.). In the spring, when the tubers sprout, replant the water lily in a growing pot and place out into your pond after the last frost date has passed.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) are the perfect finishing touches for a garden pool or pond, adding practicality as well as beauty to a water feature. Fish use them as hiding places to escape predators and as shady retreats from the hot summer sun. Plants growing in a pond help keep the water clean and aerated, so you’ll spend less time on pond maintenance. Let’s take a look at how to grow a water lily.
Water lily plants can be divided into two types:
Hardy – Hardy types are best for northern climates where the water freezes in winter. As long as the roots of hardy specimens are below the level where the water freezes, they will reappear the following spring. Tropical – Tropical water lilies won’t survive in cold water and must be brought indoors for winter in all but the warmest areas. Many growers treat them as annuals, replanting them each year. Otherwise, remove them from the pond, clean them up, and store them in a bucket of moist sand in a cool basement before the first freeze. Tropical water lily plants can be further divided into two groups: day bloomers and night bloomers. White night bloomers look spectacular with nothing more than moonlight to illuminate them, but blues, purples, reds and pinks are very difficult to see in the dark. Avoid these colors unless the pond is illuminated by artificial light at night.
How to Grow a Water Lily
A pond or pool covered in water lilies is attractive, but complete coverage prevents light from penetrating into the water, choking out other plant and animal life. Growing water lilies in containers helps keep them from spreading and taking over a small pond and it makes water lily care much easier. When you are growing water lilies, use a large plastic pot with several holes punched in the sides and bottom. Fill the pot to within 3 inches of the top with silt, loam or clay soil and mix in a small amount of slow-release fertilizer labeled for use with aquatic soil. Plant the rhizome close to one side of the pot at a 45-degree angle with the eye pointing up. Cover the soil with a layer of pea gravel, keeping the gravel away from the top of the rhizome as much as possible. The gravel keeps the soil from floating off or washing out of the pot.
Place the pot in the bottom of the pond, adjusting the depth to that recommended for your specific variety. Most call for a depth of between 6 and 18 inches. If necessary, you can raise the depth by placing the pot on top of rocks.
NOTE: For those having fish in their water garden, water lilies should NOT be potted in regular potting soil, as this contains a lot of organic material that will eventually rot and foul the water. Remove any rotting organic material from your pond or water garden, as this is a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria and pathogens and may add unwanted excess nutrients to feed algae blooms. Instead, pot water lilies, and any other pond plant, in a heavy clay soil and cover with fist sized rock, and then river rock to prevent fish from rooting around in the pot and sending the planting medium into the pond. A few simple preventative steps up front are far easier to take than trying to treat sick and dying fish later.
Water lily plants can be divided into two types:
Hardy – Hardy types are best for northern climates where the water freezes in winter. As long as the roots of hardy specimens are below the level where the water freezes, they will reappear the following spring. Tropical – Tropical water lilies won’t survive in cold water and must be brought indoors for winter in all but the warmest areas. Many growers treat them as annuals, replanting them each year. Otherwise, remove them from the pond, clean them up, and store them in a bucket of moist sand in a cool basement before the first freeze. Tropical water lily plants can be further divided into two groups: day bloomers and night bloomers. White night bloomers look spectacular with nothing more than moonlight to illuminate them, but blues, purples, reds and pinks are very difficult to see in the dark. Avoid these colors unless the pond is illuminated by artificial light at night.
How to Grow a Water Lily
A pond or pool covered in water lilies is attractive, but complete coverage prevents light from penetrating into the water, choking out other plant and animal life. Growing water lilies in containers helps keep them from spreading and taking over a small pond and it makes water lily care much easier. When you are growing water lilies, use a large plastic pot with several holes punched in the sides and bottom. Fill the pot to within 3 inches of the top with silt, loam or clay soil and mix in a small amount of slow-release fertilizer labeled for use with aquatic soil. Plant the rhizome close to one side of the pot at a 45-degree angle with the eye pointing up. Cover the soil with a layer of pea gravel, keeping the gravel away from the top of the rhizome as much as possible. The gravel keeps the soil from floating off or washing out of the pot.
Place the pot in the bottom of the pond, adjusting the depth to that recommended for your specific variety. Most call for a depth of between 6 and 18 inches. If necessary, you can raise the depth by placing the pot on top of rocks.
NOTE: For those having fish in their water garden, water lilies should NOT be potted in regular potting soil, as this contains a lot of organic material that will eventually rot and foul the water. Remove any rotting organic material from your pond or water garden, as this is a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria and pathogens and may add unwanted excess nutrients to feed algae blooms. Instead, pot water lilies, and any other pond plant, in a heavy clay soil and cover with fist sized rock, and then river rock to prevent fish from rooting around in the pot and sending the planting medium into the pond. A few simple preventative steps up front are far easier to take than trying to treat sick and dying fish later.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Beautiful but destructive in the wrong environment, water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) are among the showiest of water garden plants. Flower stalks that grow about six inches above the foliage arise from the centers of the rosettes in spring, and by the end of spring, each plant holds as many as 20 gorgeous purple flowers. The flowers last until fall and make striking cut flowers.
How to Grow Water Hyacinth
Growing water hyacinth plants is easy. Once established, they require no special care except occasional thinning to keep them from choking out everything else in the pond. Under perfect conditions, a colony of water hyacinths can double its size every 8 to 12 days.
Water hyacinths need full sun and hot summer temperatures. Introduce them to the garden by scattering bunches of plants over the surface of the water. They quickly take hold and begin to grow. Thin the plants when they cover more than 60 percent of the water surface. Water hyacinth plants survive winters in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. They are best grown as annuals in places where cold winters keep them in check by killing them back. In warmer areas, these plants do become invasive. You can overwinter them indoors in a sunny spot, but they are inexpensive to replace each year. Most gardeners don’t find them worth the trouble to keep over winter.
Container Grown Water Hyacinths
A half barrel is an ideal container for a water hyacinth. The plants need full sun in garden ponds, but in containers they do best if they have shade from mid to late afternoon. Cover the inside of the barrel with a heavy duty garbage bag and then place a layer of soil in the bottom of the container. Don’t use commercial potting soil, which contains fertilizers and other chemicals that may harm the plant and encourage the growth of algae. Commercial soils also contain perlite and vermiculite, which floats to the top of the container. Cover the soil with a thin layer of sand. City water is usually treated with chlorine or chloramine, which is harmful to plants. Garden centers sell products that remove the chlorine and chloramine from the water and make it safe for plants. There is no need to treat the small amounts of water that you use to top off the container through the season.
You can allow the plant to float on the surface of the water, or anchor it in place by attaching one end of a length of nylon string to the plant and the other end to a brick.
How to Grow Water Hyacinth
Growing water hyacinth plants is easy. Once established, they require no special care except occasional thinning to keep them from choking out everything else in the pond. Under perfect conditions, a colony of water hyacinths can double its size every 8 to 12 days.
Water hyacinths need full sun and hot summer temperatures. Introduce them to the garden by scattering bunches of plants over the surface of the water. They quickly take hold and begin to grow. Thin the plants when they cover more than 60 percent of the water surface. Water hyacinth plants survive winters in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. They are best grown as annuals in places where cold winters keep them in check by killing them back. In warmer areas, these plants do become invasive. You can overwinter them indoors in a sunny spot, but they are inexpensive to replace each year. Most gardeners don’t find them worth the trouble to keep over winter.
Container Grown Water Hyacinths
A half barrel is an ideal container for a water hyacinth. The plants need full sun in garden ponds, but in containers they do best if they have shade from mid to late afternoon. Cover the inside of the barrel with a heavy duty garbage bag and then place a layer of soil in the bottom of the container. Don’t use commercial potting soil, which contains fertilizers and other chemicals that may harm the plant and encourage the growth of algae. Commercial soils also contain perlite and vermiculite, which floats to the top of the container. Cover the soil with a thin layer of sand. City water is usually treated with chlorine or chloramine, which is harmful to plants. Garden centers sell products that remove the chlorine and chloramine from the water and make it safe for plants. There is no need to treat the small amounts of water that you use to top off the container through the season.
You can allow the plant to float on the surface of the water, or anchor it in place by attaching one end of a length of nylon string to the plant and the other end to a brick.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
The garden offers us a variety of beautiful plants to pick and choose between. Many are selected because of their prolific fruit production, while others attract us with insurmountable beauty. Water hyacinth is one of those plants that is deceptively gorgeous, delivering a serious payload to anyone unlucky enough to plant them in warm climates. Water hyacinth in ponds seems like a great idea when you plant them, but it won’t be long before you need major help.
Is Water Hyacinth Invasive?
Although the brilliant purple water hyacinth isn’t yet federally listed as a noxious weed, plant and waterway experts the world over agree: this plant is bad news. The plant was initially spread because of its beautiful flowers, but the mistake of this particular decision was soon realized – after the damage couldn’t be undone. Now, water hyacinth threatens dams, waterways and wildlife across the globe, often forming dense mats so thick that a grown man can walk across them. So while it’s not legally considered invasive, water hyacinth control occupies a great deal of time in the minds of experts everywhere. These people would tell you that it’s only a matter of time before this plant is listed and regulated because of its aggressive nature.
How to Control Water Hyacinth
If you’ve already been drawn in by the siren song of the water hyacinth, or a former owner of your property fell hard for this plant, you know the sheer determination it can exhibit. Managing water hyacinths is no small feat, but you can rid your garden ponds of these plants for good. The most effective methods so far found to control these plants include draining ponds completely, then removing and chopping up the plant (away from the pond, as even a small piece can regrow into new water hyacinths). Water hyacinth can then be composted, provided your compost pile is far from any water sources that could be affected by runoff, or double-bagged and thrown in the trash.
It may take several tries to rid your pond completely of water hyacinth, due to its weed-like behavior. If you’ve tried simply pulling this plant out of your pond in the past, without draining or cleaning the pond and equipment thoroughly, you’ve probably convinced yourself nothing will kill water hyacinth. However, by using an aggressive combination approach, you should be rid of your water hyacinth in no time.
Is Water Hyacinth Invasive?
Although the brilliant purple water hyacinth isn’t yet federally listed as a noxious weed, plant and waterway experts the world over agree: this plant is bad news. The plant was initially spread because of its beautiful flowers, but the mistake of this particular decision was soon realized – after the damage couldn’t be undone. Now, water hyacinth threatens dams, waterways and wildlife across the globe, often forming dense mats so thick that a grown man can walk across them. So while it’s not legally considered invasive, water hyacinth control occupies a great deal of time in the minds of experts everywhere. These people would tell you that it’s only a matter of time before this plant is listed and regulated because of its aggressive nature.
How to Control Water Hyacinth
If you’ve already been drawn in by the siren song of the water hyacinth, or a former owner of your property fell hard for this plant, you know the sheer determination it can exhibit. Managing water hyacinths is no small feat, but you can rid your garden ponds of these plants for good. The most effective methods so far found to control these plants include draining ponds completely, then removing and chopping up the plant (away from the pond, as even a small piece can regrow into new water hyacinths). Water hyacinth can then be composted, provided your compost pile is far from any water sources that could be affected by runoff, or double-bagged and thrown in the trash.
It may take several tries to rid your pond completely of water hyacinth, due to its weed-like behavior. If you’ve tried simply pulling this plant out of your pond in the past, without draining or cleaning the pond and equipment thoroughly, you’ve probably convinced yourself nothing will kill water hyacinth. However, by using an aggressive combination approach, you should be rid of your water hyacinth in no time.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
If you’re in need of a good, easy-care plant that enjoys plenty of moisture, then growing lizard’s tail swamp lily may be just what you desire. Keep reading for lizard’s tail information and care.
Lizard’s Tail Information
Lizard’s tail plants (Saururus cernuus), also known as lizard’s tail swamp lilies and Saururus lizard’s tail, are perennial plants that can grow up to 4 feet tall. They have a hairy stem with very few, if any, branches. Leaves are large and heart-shaped.
Found in marshes, along the banks of ponds and streams, it is not uncommon to see some of the plant growing under water. This provides habitats for small aquatic invertebrates, which draw fish and other species. In addition, after the plant dies, it is decomposed by fungi and bacteria which provide food for aquatic invertebrates. This interesting plant produces white aromatic flowers on top of the hairy stems opposite the top leaf. The flower structure is a spike with lots of small white flowers that form an arch. The seeds form a structure that looks similar to a wrinkled lizard’s tail. This water-loving species has an orange aroma and spreads by rhizomes to form colonies.
Growing Lizard’s Tail Swamp Lily
If you have a boggy area in your yard, a small pond, or even a shallow pool of water, that receives part shade, a lizard’s tail plant may be a great option. It is an herbaceous perennial that grows best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 11. Considered a good plant for beginner gardeners, Saururus lizard’s tail is not difficult to plant or care for.
Lizard’s Tail Care
This plant requires extremely little attention once planted. It spreads by rhizomes and can be divided by root propagation. No special care is needed to over winter this plant, and it is not susceptible to bugs or disease. As long as it receives plenty of water and partial sun, it will thrive.
Lizard’s Tail Information
Lizard’s tail plants (Saururus cernuus), also known as lizard’s tail swamp lilies and Saururus lizard’s tail, are perennial plants that can grow up to 4 feet tall. They have a hairy stem with very few, if any, branches. Leaves are large and heart-shaped.
Found in marshes, along the banks of ponds and streams, it is not uncommon to see some of the plant growing under water. This provides habitats for small aquatic invertebrates, which draw fish and other species. In addition, after the plant dies, it is decomposed by fungi and bacteria which provide food for aquatic invertebrates. This interesting plant produces white aromatic flowers on top of the hairy stems opposite the top leaf. The flower structure is a spike with lots of small white flowers that form an arch. The seeds form a structure that looks similar to a wrinkled lizard’s tail. This water-loving species has an orange aroma and spreads by rhizomes to form colonies.
Growing Lizard’s Tail Swamp Lily
If you have a boggy area in your yard, a small pond, or even a shallow pool of water, that receives part shade, a lizard’s tail plant may be a great option. It is an herbaceous perennial that grows best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 11. Considered a good plant for beginner gardeners, Saururus lizard’s tail is not difficult to plant or care for.
Lizard’s Tail Care
This plant requires extremely little attention once planted. It spreads by rhizomes and can be divided by root propagation. No special care is needed to over winter this plant, and it is not susceptible to bugs or disease. As long as it receives plenty of water and partial sun, it will thrive.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Cattails are familiar majestic plants seen en masse in roadside ditches, flooded areas and marginal sites. The plants are a high nutrient food source for birds and animals, and provide nesting material for water birds. The sword-like leaves and characteristic inflorescence are unmistakable and present an architectural profile that is familiar to most people. Several species are native to North America, which gardeners may grow in their home ponds, water features or water gardens. Container cattail care is easy in most zones and produces a memorable display for almost the entire year.
Information About Potted Cattails
Cattails will spread rapidly in the correct situation, which is why you see them spread out in a sea of leaves and cone-like catkins. Growing cattails in pots will prevent them from invading other areas of the pond or garden. Potted cattails keep the rampant rhizomes from extending to unwanted areas. Since native varieties can get up to 6 feet in height, dwarf varieties are available which work better in container water gardens. Container grown cattail plants are available online or at pond and water garden supply centers. They come as rhizome starts or already sprouted in permeable baskets.
How to Grow Cattail in Containers
This bog plant is suitable for USDA zones 3 to 9 and can be brought indoors in containers to overwinter if necessary. The plants perform best in full sun to partial shade in soggy soil or up to 12 inches of water. The cattail starts you can purchase may be bare root, in water garden baskets or sprouted in shallow pots. Shipped plants take a while to take off and may take a season or two before you see the summer catkins that are such a recognizable aspect of these water plants. Start growing cattails in pots in spring when ambient temperatures have warmed to 60 F. (15 C.), or sit them in water indoors to get the rhizomes to sprout then move them outdoors.
Container Cattail Care
Cattails grow rapidly and will start to sprout as soon as they are installed and conditions warm outside. Plant them in 1-gallon containers, which are stout and not readily breakable. They have to contain the rhizomes as they develop and grow. Submerge the pot in water up to the rim or alternately, use a webbed water garden basket which holds the rhizomes suspended inside. Container grown cattail plants need little care once they establish. In colder climates, the foliage dies back so you should cut the dead leaves away to make room for new growth in spring. The catkins disperse fuzzy white seeds in fall. If you wish to prevent spread of the plant by this method, cut off the catkins as they loosen and begin to dry and form seed. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced liquid fertilizer or water plant food. Once every three years, remove the rhizomes and cut the plant into sections. You can replant the sections for new plants and share them with other water garden lovers.
Information About Potted Cattails
Cattails will spread rapidly in the correct situation, which is why you see them spread out in a sea of leaves and cone-like catkins. Growing cattails in pots will prevent them from invading other areas of the pond or garden. Potted cattails keep the rampant rhizomes from extending to unwanted areas. Since native varieties can get up to 6 feet in height, dwarf varieties are available which work better in container water gardens. Container grown cattail plants are available online or at pond and water garden supply centers. They come as rhizome starts or already sprouted in permeable baskets.
How to Grow Cattail in Containers
This bog plant is suitable for USDA zones 3 to 9 and can be brought indoors in containers to overwinter if necessary. The plants perform best in full sun to partial shade in soggy soil or up to 12 inches of water. The cattail starts you can purchase may be bare root, in water garden baskets or sprouted in shallow pots. Shipped plants take a while to take off and may take a season or two before you see the summer catkins that are such a recognizable aspect of these water plants. Start growing cattails in pots in spring when ambient temperatures have warmed to 60 F. (15 C.), or sit them in water indoors to get the rhizomes to sprout then move them outdoors.
Container Cattail Care
Cattails grow rapidly and will start to sprout as soon as they are installed and conditions warm outside. Plant them in 1-gallon containers, which are stout and not readily breakable. They have to contain the rhizomes as they develop and grow. Submerge the pot in water up to the rim or alternately, use a webbed water garden basket which holds the rhizomes suspended inside. Container grown cattail plants need little care once they establish. In colder climates, the foliage dies back so you should cut the dead leaves away to make room for new growth in spring. The catkins disperse fuzzy white seeds in fall. If you wish to prevent spread of the plant by this method, cut off the catkins as they loosen and begin to dry and form seed. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced liquid fertilizer or water plant food. Once every three years, remove the rhizomes and cut the plant into sections. You can replant the sections for new plants and share them with other water garden lovers.
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Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Did you know wild cattails were edible? Yes, those distinctive plants growing alongside the water’s edge can easily be harvested, providing a source of vitamins and starch to your diet all year round. This common grass is very easily identified in nature and its benefits as a food and more are numerous to everyone from a day hiker to a wilderness survivor. Read on to learn more about what cattails are used for.
How to Harvest Cattails
Virtually all parts of the cattail plant are edible at some point of the year. Cattail harvesting can be as simple as picking one right off the plant in summer. The lower part of the stem is white and, when eaten raw, tastes like cucumber. If you cook it, it tastes like corn. The pollen can be removed from the stalk simply by shaking into a paper bag and using it as a thickener to soups and stews. In late summer, the green flower heads can be eaten like corn on the cob. In autumn, the roots can be harvested by soaking in water until a gel forms. You can use the gel in bread making and soups.
What are Cattails Used for?
In addition to harvesting cattails for food, they have many other uses. Basically, cattail harvesting can provide water, food, shelter and fuel for fire, almost everything needed to survive in the wild. The brown, tight heads can be used as a torch when dipped in oil or fat. The gel found within the leaves can be used medicinally as a topical anesthetic. The heads provide puffy wool-like material that can be used for insulation of clothing, mattresses and padding when sleeping out in the woods.
The leaves, when cut, dried and resoaked, can be used for mats, baskets, hats or ponchos. Next time you pass some of those wild cattails blowing in the wind, remember all of the things cattails are used for and how easy harvesting wild cattails can be.
How to Harvest Cattails
Virtually all parts of the cattail plant are edible at some point of the year. Cattail harvesting can be as simple as picking one right off the plant in summer. The lower part of the stem is white and, when eaten raw, tastes like cucumber. If you cook it, it tastes like corn. The pollen can be removed from the stalk simply by shaking into a paper bag and using it as a thickener to soups and stews. In late summer, the green flower heads can be eaten like corn on the cob. In autumn, the roots can be harvested by soaking in water until a gel forms. You can use the gel in bread making and soups.
What are Cattails Used for?
In addition to harvesting cattails for food, they have many other uses. Basically, cattail harvesting can provide water, food, shelter and fuel for fire, almost everything needed to survive in the wild. The brown, tight heads can be used as a torch when dipped in oil or fat. The gel found within the leaves can be used medicinally as a topical anesthetic. The heads provide puffy wool-like material that can be used for insulation of clothing, mattresses and padding when sleeping out in the woods.
The leaves, when cut, dried and resoaked, can be used for mats, baskets, hats or ponchos. Next time you pass some of those wild cattails blowing in the wind, remember all of the things cattails are used for and how easy harvesting wild cattails can be.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Submerged water plants that work in the warm liquid of a fish tank are few and far between. Some of the tropical fern species, such as Bolbitis water fern and Java fern, are commonly used as greenery in tank situations. African water fern grows from a rhizome which can easily be attached to a rock or other surface. They are easy to manage in soft water with either fertilizer or no fertilizer. Below you will find some African water fern info so you can use this lovely plant to aquascape your tanks.
What is an African Water Fern?
Fish keepers will know the Bolbitis water fern, or African fern (Bolbitis heudelotii). It is a tropical shade epiphyte found around bodies of water and boggy regions. The fern is a robust specimen and useful as a natural plant in fish tanks. It will grow on a rock or piece of wood, which helps anchor the plant to the floor of the tank or even the wall.
Bolbitis is found in fast-moving tropical waters. It is an epiphyte and anchors itself to rough rocks or pieces of wood. Also known as Congo fern, the plant is dark green with delicately cut leaves. It is slow growing, but can get tall and is most useful as a bottom plant. The rhizome should not be buried in the substrate but rather tethered to an appropriate piece of lava rock, bark or other medium. The fern can grow 6 to 8 inches wide and as tall as 16 inches. This is accomplished at a snail pace since growing African water fern leaves can take up to 2 months.
Growing African Water Ferns
In order to grow the fern in water, it must first be attached to a medium. Release the plant from its nursery pot and clean off the rhizomes. Hold the rhizomes in place on the chosen medium and wrap them onto it with fishing line. Over time the plant will self attach and you can remove the line. The fern prefers slightly acidic to soft water with gentle current and medium light, although it can adjust to brighter light levels. Keep the plant looking its best by removing dying fronds at the base of the rhizome. Propagation of Bolbitis water ferns is through rhizome division. Use a sharp, clean blade to ensure a sterile cut and then tie the new rhizome to a rock or piece of bark. The plant will eventually fill in and produce another thickly fronded fern. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer at start time that is consistent with aquatic use. The best growth is achieved by plants situated near the bubbler or current source.
African Water Fern Care
These are fairly easy plants to maintain as long as the tank and water health is good. They do not do well in brackish or salty water, and should be grown in fresh water only. If you wish to fertilize after its initial planting, use a balanced liquid fertilizer once per week and infuse the water with CO2. Fertilizer is not necessary in a low maintenance tank where fish waste will provide nutrients. Keep temperatures between 68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit/20 to 26 degrees Celsius. African water fern care is minimal and this easy-to-grow plant will decorate your natural tanks for years to come.
What is an African Water Fern?
Fish keepers will know the Bolbitis water fern, or African fern (Bolbitis heudelotii). It is a tropical shade epiphyte found around bodies of water and boggy regions. The fern is a robust specimen and useful as a natural plant in fish tanks. It will grow on a rock or piece of wood, which helps anchor the plant to the floor of the tank or even the wall.
Bolbitis is found in fast-moving tropical waters. It is an epiphyte and anchors itself to rough rocks or pieces of wood. Also known as Congo fern, the plant is dark green with delicately cut leaves. It is slow growing, but can get tall and is most useful as a bottom plant. The rhizome should not be buried in the substrate but rather tethered to an appropriate piece of lava rock, bark or other medium. The fern can grow 6 to 8 inches wide and as tall as 16 inches. This is accomplished at a snail pace since growing African water fern leaves can take up to 2 months.
Growing African Water Ferns
In order to grow the fern in water, it must first be attached to a medium. Release the plant from its nursery pot and clean off the rhizomes. Hold the rhizomes in place on the chosen medium and wrap them onto it with fishing line. Over time the plant will self attach and you can remove the line. The fern prefers slightly acidic to soft water with gentle current and medium light, although it can adjust to brighter light levels. Keep the plant looking its best by removing dying fronds at the base of the rhizome. Propagation of Bolbitis water ferns is through rhizome division. Use a sharp, clean blade to ensure a sterile cut and then tie the new rhizome to a rock or piece of bark. The plant will eventually fill in and produce another thickly fronded fern. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer at start time that is consistent with aquatic use. The best growth is achieved by plants situated near the bubbler or current source.
African Water Fern Care
These are fairly easy plants to maintain as long as the tank and water health is good. They do not do well in brackish or salty water, and should be grown in fresh water only. If you wish to fertilize after its initial planting, use a balanced liquid fertilizer once per week and infuse the water with CO2. Fertilizer is not necessary in a low maintenance tank where fish waste will provide nutrients. Keep temperatures between 68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit/20 to 26 degrees Celsius. African water fern care is minimal and this easy-to-grow plant will decorate your natural tanks for years to come.
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文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月26日
Bladderwort plants are rootless aquatic, carnivorous plants usually found in shallow ponds, lakes, ditches, marshes and slow-moving streams and rivers. Bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) are rootless plants with long, leafless stems that extend prominently above the water. Through the summer, the stems are topped by bright yellow to purple flowers. If you’re interested in growing bladderworts, or if you’re more concerned with bladderwort control, keep reading for more bladderwort information.
Interesting Bladderwort Information
The bladderwort family includes about 200 species, but only about 50 exist in the United States. Although the visible stems are bare, the plants have small, underwater leaves that resemble rubbery bladders. The bladders are equipped with tiny hairs that are triggered by small insects, like mosquito larvae and water fleas. The trigger opens a “trap door” that lures the creatures with a sweet, slimy substance. Once the creatures are lured into the trap, they are eaten and digested by the plant. The submerged portions of bladderwort plants provide critical habitat and food for a variety of small aquatic creatures. The plants are eaten by a huge number of water dwellers, including fish, ducks, reptiles, turtles, deer, frogs and toads. The flowers are pollinated by small insects such as flies and bees.
Bladderwort Control
The presence of bladderwort plants indicates a healthy aquatic environment. However, the plant is rambunctious and can become invasive in certain conditions. When this happens, the plants can choke out native plants and alter the natural balance of chemicals in the water. The large mats, measuring as much as 7 feet across, present problems for boaters and other recreationists. The environmentally friendly way of bladderwort control involves hand pulling the plant, or removing plants with an aquatic weed rake or weed cutter. It’s best to remove smaller patches, and it’s typical for plants to regrow from the roots. Grass carp, which like to dine on bladderwort, often do a good job at keeping the plant in check, but be sure the fish are permitted in your area. Be patient; you probably won’t notice much benefit until the second season. Check the regulations in your state if the problem is so severe that you are considering chemical control, because most states maintain tight control over use of herbicides in aquatic environments. You may need a permit, or you may be required to hire a licensed person.
Growing Bladderworts
If you want to cultivate bladderwort plants, you can dig up and transplant portions of mature plants in spring or shake dry flowers over a small dish or paper plate to remove the tiny seeds. Bladderwort plants reseed easily, but remember its considerable invasive potential. You can also grow bladderwort plants indoors as tropical houseplants. The plants need at least four hours of bright sunlight and prefer another four hours of indirect or filtered light every day. Plant bladderwort in one part perlite and one part peat, and no potting soil. Set the container in a dish of mineral-free water.
Interesting Bladderwort Information
The bladderwort family includes about 200 species, but only about 50 exist in the United States. Although the visible stems are bare, the plants have small, underwater leaves that resemble rubbery bladders. The bladders are equipped with tiny hairs that are triggered by small insects, like mosquito larvae and water fleas. The trigger opens a “trap door” that lures the creatures with a sweet, slimy substance. Once the creatures are lured into the trap, they are eaten and digested by the plant. The submerged portions of bladderwort plants provide critical habitat and food for a variety of small aquatic creatures. The plants are eaten by a huge number of water dwellers, including fish, ducks, reptiles, turtles, deer, frogs and toads. The flowers are pollinated by small insects such as flies and bees.
Bladderwort Control
The presence of bladderwort plants indicates a healthy aquatic environment. However, the plant is rambunctious and can become invasive in certain conditions. When this happens, the plants can choke out native plants and alter the natural balance of chemicals in the water. The large mats, measuring as much as 7 feet across, present problems for boaters and other recreationists. The environmentally friendly way of bladderwort control involves hand pulling the plant, or removing plants with an aquatic weed rake or weed cutter. It’s best to remove smaller patches, and it’s typical for plants to regrow from the roots. Grass carp, which like to dine on bladderwort, often do a good job at keeping the plant in check, but be sure the fish are permitted in your area. Be patient; you probably won’t notice much benefit until the second season. Check the regulations in your state if the problem is so severe that you are considering chemical control, because most states maintain tight control over use of herbicides in aquatic environments. You may need a permit, or you may be required to hire a licensed person.
Growing Bladderworts
If you want to cultivate bladderwort plants, you can dig up and transplant portions of mature plants in spring or shake dry flowers over a small dish or paper plate to remove the tiny seeds. Bladderwort plants reseed easily, but remember its considerable invasive potential. You can also grow bladderwort plants indoors as tropical houseplants. The plants need at least four hours of bright sunlight and prefer another four hours of indirect or filtered light every day. Plant bladderwort in one part perlite and one part peat, and no potting soil. Set the container in a dish of mineral-free water.
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