Is water hyacinth an elegant plant or an aggressor?

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Water hyacinth: plant photo

For some, water hyacinth is a beautiful pet in a garden pond, but for some it is a real global problem. Why is this happening?

Water hyacinth: plant photo

The plant, which will be discussed in this article, comes from the warm countries of South America. At home, in a favorable warm climate, water hyacinth grows extensively, covering the entire surface of water bodies. Therefore, the locals gave him the nickname "Water Plague".

In cooler climatic zones, the water hyacinth plant cannot be found in the primary element. It grows in man-made pools

Water hyacinth in its appearance resembles the usual garden hyacinths, but is it really so? Eichornia is one hundred percent aquatic, loves quiet warm waters. On the water surface it is kept by means of round thickenings on the stalks. If you cut the lower part of the stem, you can see an air-filled structure that resembles a honeycomb. The roots of the plant reach a length of one and a half meters. At home, the perennial practically does not stop blooming. Hyacinth has round, dense leaves with veined arcs. Flowers of snow-white, sky-blue, and even lilac color flaunt on a substrate of juicy green leaves. But, unfortunately, the inflorescences do not live long - about one day. As soon as the plant fades, the peduncle hides under a layer of water.

Features of growing water hyacinth in a pond

Despite its exotic origin, water hyacinth is a very unpretentious crop. The main point is to create living conditions for the Water Hyacinth (Eichornia) that are as close as possible to the usual natural ones. If you are raising your pet in a pond, make sure that the water is saturated with organic matter. Top dressing for aquarium plants or natural compost is perfect. The more nutrients the plant receives, the richer its rosettes will be.

Water hyacinth works well with slightly alkaline water. In addition, this handsome man is not afraid of even harmful impurities of phosphates, phenols and metal oxides. Therefore, eichornia is often used for wastewater treatment. The powerful roots of the plant under water, like a pump, absorb all the harmful substances. In addition to the chemical and biological component, it is necessary to ensure the optimal temperature of water and air, close to the subtropical one.

When does water hyacinth bloom in nature?

In the related climate of the Amazon, hyacinths exist at an air temperature of about twenty-six degrees. The middle lane cannot boast of the frequency of such periods. The culture begins to bloom at twenty-eight degrees, and at twenty-two it stops. Therefore, water hyacinth will delight with flowering more often in the southern part of the country. In cold summers, water hyacinth covers the water surface with lush caps of dark green leaves. The most favorable time for disembarkation is May or June, when the risk of a sudden cold snap is minimal and the water temperature is high enough.

Reproduction of the water hyacinth Eichornia in the pond

This plant is propagated in the pond, separating fresh outlets from the mother ones. The plant gains mass while reducing the length of daylight hours, this moment is optimal for collecting planting material.
Another breeding option is seeds.It should only be borne in mind that for their maturation, it is necessary that the air warms up to thirty-five degrees, which is typical only for the southern regions.
If the water hyacinth is not the only inhabitant of the reservoir and other plants, fish or molluscs are present in addition to it, the extreme reproduction of the former can lead to the death of flora and fauna due to a change in the amount of oxygen and light in the water.

How to store water hyacinth in winter

As the ambient temperature decreases, water hyacinth needs to be transferred to a warm room with good lighting. An aquarium filled with water, in which the plant was in the summer, can be used as a temporary home for Eichornia.

For the hyacinth to take root, it is allowed to add silt. For the wintering of a water hyacinth, it is enough for a pet to maintain a temperature of about twenty degrees in the room. Provide a similar water temperature. Correct backlighting is equally important. Given the sensitivity of the plant outlets, it may be necessary to illuminate for fourteen hours a day. Drafts are unacceptable for the culture, but oxygen should be sufficient. Also, during the cold period, you need to monitor the level of moisture, since its excessive evaporation will adversely affect the outlets.
The pet also needs feeding, which is perfect for any fertilizer for aquarium varieties.

How Eichornia is used in landscape design

As mentioned earlier, water hyacinth does not belong to the capricious species, but practically does not tolerate drafts. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to take care of the protection of the landing. To do this, it is enough to arrange vertically growing groups along the water line, for example, marsh irises. It is important to know that water lilies are categorically unsuitable for this purpose, since they can suffer from the proximity of a fairly growing hyacinth, which, among other things, reduces the level of oxygen in the water. Therefore, so that other inhabitants do not feel a deficit, it is necessary to create additional aeration of the water. Thus, knowing the basic simple rules for growing and caring for a water hyacinth, you will get a wonderful decoration for your garden pond.