Frog (vodokras)

Vodokras is a perennial that predominantly lives in a reservoir. If we consider the external characteristics of water paint, then it most of all resembles a water lily, but at the same time there are some differences between water lilies and water paint. The name of this culture fully and completely reflects its essence, especially its external decorative characteristics, translated from Greek, the name means "a flower that adorns the water surface." In this article we will give a more detailed description of this plant, talk about its main types and about the features of cultivation. The article will be interesting both to those who still have absolutely no experience in interacting with these plants, and to those who have already independently bred vodokras to decorate ponds in the plots.

Description of the plant, its main types

Vodokras is a culture that belongs to the vodokras family of the same name. It is a refined, delicate plant that lives mainly in the aquatic environment, since the plant feels most comfortable in it. Today, about three main types of water paint are known, all of them are distinguished by a spectacular appearance and are used to decorate ponds and ponds that are built in landscape design. Also, vodokras has other names - paddling or frog, toad - all of this refers to the same culture. The external plant resembles a water lily most of all, but if we talk about size, then in a frog plant it is much smaller. The plant is located on a fairly short stem, which is formed from a large viable bud. A large rosette with leaves is immediately formed on the stem, which are located on elongated petioles. At the place where the leaf connects with the petiole, pedicels are just formed, on which small but incredibly attractive flowers are located.

The length of the frog plant itself reaches half a meter, no more. It consists of an underwater part - the root system itself and the stem. The floating part of the frog plant consists of leaves and flowers, which also have antennae. The rhizome of the toad is very short, more like a frog bite. Perhaps, in connection with this, the plant also received such a sonorous name.

The rhizome is presented in the form of a bundle, which just includes numerous tangled roots, they are located in the water column, but practically do not reach the bottom. Thanks to such a root system, the toad gets all the trace elements and substances that just help it survive in any conditions. On the roots, villi are located, which are able to retain air and oxygen, and therefore small air cavities are created. Thanks to this, the flower remains on the surface of the water and does not sink.

The leaves of the water paint are round, heart-shaped, very attractive and decorative, the color of the leaves can vary from light green to bright, very saturated color, which attracts special attention. The diameter of each leaf is about four centimeters, and the length of the leaf is about six centimeters. When a very bright light falls on the leaves, the leaves can shimmer in different colors, especially due to the fact that the leaves have a waxy surface.

The flowering of the toad begins in mid-summer, the flowers are very compact in size, the leaves are also very small, located at the very base.Outwardly, the flowers do not look like a lily - they rather resemble a chamomile that is located on the water - the middle has a bright yellow hue, there are about three snow-white petals in a circle, which have a ribbed edge, but at the same time they look very interesting and attractive as plantings that can really decorate any body of water or pond located on personal plot as part of landscaping. Flowers fade quickly enough - one will be fresh and can stay in the water for several days. Almost immediately, in the place where the flower used to be, a completely new inflorescence appears, and there is a feeling that the flowering of the toad is continuous. Inflorescences can be both male and female, they grow from the side of one shoot, but at the same time they are located on opposite leaves. It is for this reason that, in principle, one cannot expect fruits from a frog plant - they simply will not be tied.

The frog plant is a culture that predominantly grows in stagnant bodies of water, and it can also be found in places where there is little water flow. The plant also feels comfortable in the coastal part of water bodies, while the bushes are quite unpretentious, and they can be found even in cold, northern regions, and can also be found in subtropical regions. In Russia, the frog plant successfully grows in the Western part of our country, it can also be found in reservoirs that are located in the Siberian region and the Far East, which, of course, suggests that this plant takes root well in various parts.

Now I would like to talk about the frog species. This plant is generally divided into two main varieties:

- ordinary water paint

- vodokras (frog) is doubtful.

In addition, for example, in Belarus, another species of the genus of vodokras grows - this is a toad, and this makes it possible to consider another unique variety of this culture. As a rule, vodokras floats not one flower at a time, but in groups, while the toad blooms successfully, gives excellent strong shoots, from which new bushes grow in the future. After the young bush has grown, it separates from the common maternal part and begins to cling to other individuals. This is one of the characteristics of this plant that distinguishes it from many other crops. In the autumn period, the toad grows shoots, which are distinguished by the fact that they are very thin and look very fragile. At the very tips of the shoots, buds are formed, which sink to the bottom of the reservoir when the winter frosts begin. This is just so that the plant can survive the winter as successfully as possible, and in the new season demonstrate all its features and decorative characteristics.

After spring has come, the buds will gradually begin to be saturated with oxygen, they will rise to the surface, and a new cycle of development and growth of this plant will begin. Completely new inflorescences will appear from the buds, which will multiply even more actively. Further, they will give even more flowers, which will make the toad even more remarkable and attractive as an ornamental plant. This will continue until the onset of autumn, and the frog plant will begin its new life cycle again. In general, this plant is generally distinguished by its vitality and the fact that it can withstand even the most unfavorable conditions: even in them the toad will retain its characteristics, remain as viable, the next flowering will be more abundant and brighter than the previous one.

Growing a plant at home

Vodokras can be grown both in natural conditions and in artificially created reservoirs. The plant is unpretentious, and therefore it will feel very good in stagnant water.In order to grow a frog plant at home, it is enough to use several viable buds that were plucked in the autumn. You can also purchase the buds from specialized stores or nurseries, where they are specially prepared for subsequent planting. In general, experienced gardeners say that the frog plant is not picky about planting conditions. It is enough to dip the bud into water and take care of the plant, looking after it and controlling its condition and growth rate. The depth of water when placing the buds should be at least half a meter, since the plant generally takes root well in deeper areas - the water level should be at least one and a half meters. If the gardener plans to root the frog plant in a pond, then the water paint is planted to a depth of no more than thirty centimeters so that the root system can reach the bottom and take root in it.

You can also grow a toad in an aquarium, but in this case, the gardener is required to comply with certain rules and agrotechnical requirements in order for the vodokras to fully develop under the given conditions:

- The frog plant thrives best in warm and clean water, so this should be taken into account when filling aquariums. The water temperature should vary from twenty to thirty degrees, no more and no less. Vodokras also grows well in hotter zones, so residents of the southern regions should also keep this in mind and not worry if there is a desire to grow this plant on their site, but there are concerns - vodokras will definitely take root

- a third of the water must be regularly replaced, and this is mainly due to the fact that the frog is practically unable to take root in dirty or stagnant water, in which bacteria and sediment can form. For this reason, if the water color grows in the aquarium, then the liquid in it should be changed about three times a week, at least. At the same time, the quality of the water should be at a high level - the hardness should not be higher than twelve points, and the acidity should be at an average level, then the vodokras will definitely feel very comfortable

- Vodokras is a culture that develops well in good lighting conditions, and in general, Vodokras can grow in light shading, but you should carefully monitor that the plant does not lose its decorative effect and attractiveness. Therefore, when vodokras grows in artificial conditions, then the gardener is required to create conditions for good and full illumination of the planting. The light should reach the plant within 12 hours, at least, and if natural light is not enough, then possible artificial lighting should be organized to make the plant feel comfortable. From such measures, not only the appearance of the water color will depend, but also its general condition. In order to maintain natural cleanliness in the reservoir, it is recommended to plant water-paint next to a plant such as duckweed. In the natural environment, both plants very often grow next to each other, complement each other, and therefore in an artificial environment they will also be able to create such a mutually beneficial duet, which will have an excellent effect on the state of the water color itself.

Another main important point in growing vodokras at home, artificial conditions, is that the plant must be carefully protected from attacks from any pests. The gardener must regularly inspect the plant, its leaves, and thanks to this control, the risk of developing bacteria and microorganisms can be reduced to almost zero. The plant can multiply very quickly, therefore, in artificial aquarium conditions, the water coat must be regularly shortened and cut, as well as the antennae and rosettes that the plant lets out in large quantities must be cut off.

You can propagate water paint in two main ways at once.Firstly, the frog plant can be propagated by dividing the stem, and secondly, this is a vegetative method, when already ripe and ready buds are added to the plant. The frog plant can be propagated by buds mainly in the spring. At the same time, the buds are harvested in the fall, they are left in the aquatic environment for the whole winter, so that they have time to adapt to the given conditions. With the onset of spring and warmth, the buds can sink to their permanent habitat, and the water in this place should be at comfortable temperatures, then the toad adapts much faster. If we are talking about an artificial environment, then the plant can be propagated there using a method such as dividing a bush. Since vodokrs can start up a large number of antennae, then in the future they can be carefully separated from the mother bush and lowered into water for further reproduction of vodokras. In addition, in April and at the very beginning of May, the plant can be divided into parts, and each part can be separately released into the water for planting. If you maintain optimal conditions, then the bush is able to quickly take root in new conditions, and young shoots can actively grow, making the bush even more abundant and decorative, large and attractive.

As we have already said, the toad is a perennial crop that is capable of renewing itself annually on its own. At the same time, the plant is practically not adapted to low temperatures, and therefore it can be found only in warm regions with a corresponding stable and warm climate. The toad in the form of buds overwinters, which sink to the very bottom of the reservoir to protect itself from too strong frosts and temperature extremes. With the onset of frost, the plant itself sheds its leaves, and the petioles can generally die off quickly, and the plant completely loses its health and decorative effect. In winter, if vodokras grows in a backyard, then the gardener should be as careful as possible to ensure that the thickness of the water layer, which will definitely freeze through, is higher above the soil than the fallen buds, otherwise frost will overtake them, and the plant will generally be lost, with the onset of a warm time and spring, the buds will not emerge and will not give absolutely any result in their growth and development.

The frog can be found in different bodies of water and places. And from here you can ask the question of how this bush gets from one reservoir to others. The thing is that the mucous membrane of the buds of a plant has its own peculiarity, and the buds go into hibernation for the winter time in order to maintain their health and be nourished with energy and strength for the new season. The buds have a rather peculiar adhesive surface that allows them to stick to the paws of birds and animals, to their wool, and they transfer seeds from one reservoir to another. So there is no special secret in moving a plant to other bodies of water, everything is very prosaic and obvious.

Of course, there are some tips on how to maintain and care for the water paint. When a gardener chooses decorative plantings and wants to send them to an artificially created reservoir, he should keep in mind that the toad has the specifics of a very active growth. Therefore, it is best to plant vodokras in large reservoirs, since in small ones it will very quickly fill absolutely all the space, and it is likely that all other inhabitants of the same aquarium or reservoir will be evicted from the container. If the frog plant was nevertheless planted in small containers, then you should regularly prune the leaves and remove the shoots of the bush so that it does not grow to incredible sizes. In order for young shoots to grow faster, it is necessary to fertilize the material in which the vodokras grows with urea, but do this in a limited amount so as not to cause even more damage to the plant.

When a gardener acquires buds, it is impossible to immediately release them into their permanent habitat and development. The kidneys must first be carefully examined from all sides, to reveal that they are completely healthy, that there are no pests or the rudiments of any diseases on them. Dry parts of the roots, as well as shoots, must be cut or shortened before planting, the gardener also removes rotten parts of the plant and leaves so that the planting material is absolutely clean and that the rudiments of any diseases are removed on time, otherwise there is a great risk that diseases will develop already in wet conditions and, of course, this will play an extremely negative role in the development of the plant in the future.

Before planting, the plant should be lowered into a container with a disinfectant. So it is possible to ensure and guarantee the purity of the planting material, as well as prevent the risks of pests or harmful bacteria entering the reservoir and completely exclude such possibilities. Thus, the health of the planting and its future entirely depends on the gardener himself and on how attentive and not indifferent he is, because the future of the plant will depend on him. Since the plant has a specific feature - it hibernates, then around the beginning of autumn, the lighting should be gradually reduced. Thanks to this measure, in the future, the bush will be able to leave for the winter painlessly and without negative consequences. If the gardener has decided that the water color will grow only in the aquarium throughout the year, then the lighting level can be left exactly the same. It is also important to understand that in this case the lifespan of one individual is significantly reduced, but in general it is possible to grow other plants that will also retain their decorative properties, which are so important for this particular plant.

Of course, the frog looks great in artificial reservoirs or aquariums, but if suddenly the plant experiences a nutritional deficiency or a deficiency in lighting, this will lead to the fact that it will lose its decorative features and features, the leaves will cease to be so bright, the foliage, on the contrary, will darken, will fade, become completely faded. In order to preserve all the favorable properties of the plant, it is necessary to carry out regular feeding, for this you can use granules and liquid fertilizers, which are just intended to fertilize aquatic crops. It is also worth noting that such feeding is completely safe for other living creatures that can live in aquariums or artificial reservoirs. In addition, other plants can receive additional support from mineral components, which means that the plants will demonstrate even greater decorativeness, become well-groomed, and begin to grow and develop much faster and more efficiently.

The frog plant reacts best to filtered water, when some foreign substances or impurities appear, the leaves may darken, begin to deform, spots will appear on the plates, which will lead to the plant losing its decorative effect. If the gardener does not replace the water in the container in time, the flower may finally die. In order to prevent risks or possible negative consequences, it is recommended to supplement the aquarium with a third of fresh water, and do this regularly, every day. If, nevertheless, it happened that the leaves of the plant darkened, then when replacing the water, the diseased or damaged petioles should be removed at the same time, but the healthy part should remain, since it will become the basis for further vodokras to reproduce and develop successfully. The plant, in principle, can grow very quickly, so even if you cut off almost all the roots and layers, the frog plant will reach its original size in a short time.Therefore, you don't even need to worry or worry about the plant, it recovers on its own and does not experience any colossal stress.

The plant perfectly tolerates any conditions in which it lives. But sometimes snails can settle in the leaves, which can cause irreparable harm to the plant. Also, the root part can be eaten by snails, which negatively affect the decorative features and characteristics of the plant. If the gardener does not pay attention to this in time and does not remove the snails from the leafy part and from the stems, this will lead to the fact that the flower will die very quickly. Watercolors can also be prone to putrefaction, and in order to solve this problem, it is best to remove the damaged parts and discard them so that they do not spread infection and harm healthy plants and their parts.

As for the chemical composition of the plant, it has not yet been fully studied. But on the other hand, gardeners have already managed to prove that the plant contains a huge amount of flavonoids. Flavonoids are substances that have a so-called sedative effect. In addition, the stems contain anthocyanins and leukoanthocyanins, which can have an antioxidant effect on the human body. Also, vodokras accumulates radioisotope substances, which are excellent for using this plant for some medical purposes. Collecting water paint should only be in clean areas, as far as possible from devices, from which a certain background radiation may emanate. It is also important to be aware that some toxic substances may be included in the flower, and therefore it is worth using the plant very carefully, taking into account all the side effects and limitations that are certainly present in the use of this plant for medicinal purposes.

In fact, no one recognized the paddling pool as a medicinal plant, however, in folk medicine you can find many recipes where this plant is one of the main characters in action. Basically, the plant has a calming effect, sedative effect, can act on the cerebral cortex, eliminating pain, as well as calming a person, eliminating his anxiety and neuroses. In folk medicine, the paddling pool is used for insomnia, nightmares at night, with neurasthenic manifestations, when a person worries too much for any reason, shows inappropriate behavior and the same inappropriate reactions to any events and actions. Thus, vodokras is not just a plant that takes an active part in landscapes and decorations, but also can be used as a medicine that has an excellent effect on the human body and its general condition. If the gardener is familiar with the information about water color, it will be easier for him to understand whether he wants to use this plant in horticulture or floriculture, or if it does not satisfy his needs.