This is the first year for our pond and everything is going well. I
purchased 2 lilies, 1 lotus, 2 water hyacinth and 2 water lettuce. My lilies
have thrown 5 flowers and the leaves are fine. The lotus has two large buds
but the leaves are showing brown patches at the edges.
Over a 2 month period the water lettuce has almost taken over the pond. I
would like to know how much is too much. Do I need to compost the babies or
the big parent plants?
Thanks

Hi Martha,
I
would like to know how much is too much. Do I need to compost the babies or
the big parent plants?
Usually you want 60% of your pond shaded by plants. More or less, it's a fluid
number and depends on how much sun you get overall during the day. Lots of sun,
more shade, shady area means less coverage.
I'd compost whatever water lettuce is easiest for you to net out. (I'm from the
less work school of pond keeping.)
And come fall, when it gets cold and *before* the first frost, don't wait too
long to get them all out as they get mushy when nipped by cold and fall to
pieces while trying to net them out - a real mess, believe me! ;-)
Water hyacinths hold theirselves together longer so in the fall get the lettuce
out first, then the water hyacinth. From your email I'm thinking you live in
Canada and you know cold winters. I live in WA state but was born and raised
north of the border.


kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 11:58:27 -0400, "Martha Gillier"
wrote:

This is the first year for our pond and everything is going well. I
purchased 2 lilies, 1 lotus, 2 water hyacinth and 2 water lettuce. My lilies
have thrown 5 flowers and the leaves are fine. The lotus has two large buds
but the leaves are showing brown patches at the edges.
Over a 2 month period the water lettuce has almost taken over the pond. I
would like to know how much is too much. Do I need to compost the babies or
the big parent plants?
Thanks


I think the small ones are more attractive, so I'd throw out the big
ones. Actually, I don't care that much for it and I gave away all I
had, but if you like it...

--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

would like to know how much is too much. Do I need to compost the babies or
the big parent plants?

Mail the babies to me!

In article , "Martha Gillier"
writes:

Do I need to compost the babies or
the big parent plants?

I'll be more than glad to take some off your hands. It's way to expensive here
to buy. I'll pay s/h to OH.

Karen



Zone 5
Ashland, OH
http://hometown.aol.com/kmam1/MyPond/MyPond.html
My Art Studio at
http://members.aol.com/kmmstudios/K....M.Studios.html
for email remove the extra extention

In article , "Martha Gillier"
writes:

Do I need to compost the babies or
the big parent plants?

I remove all those that was old periodically because:
1. This will help to remove nutrient from the pond, and discourage
algea grow.
2. Sludge attach on old plant root will remove at the same time.
3. Give more space for young plant to grow and take up nutrient from
water.
4. Old plant tend to give problem like starting disease due to
metabolism slow down.

Regards,
Wong

--
Latitude: 06.10N Longitude: 102.17E Altitude: 5m

Hi Martha,
I
would like to know how much is too much. Do I need to compost the babies or
the big parent plants?
Usually you want 60% of your pond shaded by plants. More or less, it's a fluid
number and depends on how much sun you get overall during the day. Lots of sun,
more shade, shady area means less coverage.
I'd compost whatever water lettuce is easiest for you to net out. (I'm from the
less work school of pond keeping.)
And come fall, when it gets cold and *before* the first frost, don't wait too
long to get them all out as they get mushy when nipped by cold and fall to
pieces while trying to net them out - a real mess, believe me! ;-)
Water hyacinths hold theirselves together longer so in the fall get the lettuce
out first, then the water hyacinth. From your email I'm thinking you live in
Canada and you know cold winters. I live in WA state but was born and raised
north of the border.


kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html