Duck in the Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce tank!!

Water Hyacinth and water lettuce are floating water plants that are very versitile. You can even grow them in a bird bath :o)

The pros and cons of Water Hyacinth for your pond

Ask a pond owner about Water Hyacinth and he or she will immediately attest to the marvelous benefits of this floating tropical plant…or lambaste it for its wandering ways. You see, this tropical floating plant is banned in many southern states. It's so aggressive it clogs water-ways.
For midwest and northern ponds, Hyacinth may be a blessing in disguise. Sure these floaters spread quickly and may choke out other plants, if you don't remove them. But a lot of pond owners swear by their ability to clean up the water. Hyacinth’s roots, which dip two to three inches below the surface, remove nutrients from the water…nutrients that feed algae and cloud once crystal clear water. A great place for Hyacinth is the water fall bed. It will help your biological or mechanical filter do its job. And fish love to eat the roots!

The green almost succulent foliage of the Hyacinth is beautiful by itself. But add the tall purple flowers in mid to late summer, and it resembles a meadow in your pond. One way to prevent these spreaders from multiplying is to tie a string around the area where you want to contain them, about 2 inches above the water surface. And if you go on vacation, make sure you pull some out before you leave, because you might find they have taken over the pond when you return.
Even if you don’t live in the south, plant Water Hyacinth with care. When you remove the plants from your pond, don’t throw them into a natural water-way. Instead put them in your compost pile.

Hyacinth act somewhat like a filtration system. When they take off, murky or green pond water becomes clear again. Because these natives of the Amazon start to die off when water temparatures dip below 65 degrees, you might want to over-winter them in a bowl of water indoors. The trick here is to buy the strongest grow light you can find and place the pot in a very sunny window. Unless you have fish in the bowl, you’ll need to supplement the water with aquatic fertilizer.

If you don’t want to bother over wintering Hyacinth, they are easy to buy in the spring. Either on-line or at a local pond store, usually for less than ten dollars a plant. To find out whether your state allows this intriguing plant, check with the US Department of Agriculture.

 

Water Lettuce Care:

 

Water Lettuce has velvety foliage that spreads like strawberry plants across the surface; they may produce inconspicuous white flowers. The bright green leaves are deeply veined and resemble heads of floating lettuce; they grow to lengths of up to 10 inches and up to 4 inches wide. Water Lettuce helps to provide shade for the pond and fish, as well as a safe haven and spawning area for the fish. They help oxygenate and clarify the water and will use the extra organic nutrients in the pond, thereby reducing algae production.
Water Lettuce seems to prefer some shade in warmer climates, but is also susceptible to frost, and even a brief exposure to frigid temperatures produces scalded leaves that quickly turn to rotting areas. Zones 9-11.

Care Level: Easy

Temperament: Peaceful

Lighting: Natural

Water Conditions: 70-80° F, pH 6.5-7.5

Propogation: Viviparous

Max. Size: 10"

Color Form: Green, White

Origin: Farm Raised

Family: Araceae