If there is an easier pond plant to grow than Water Hyacinth(Eichornia crassipes), let me know, because nothing could be simpler than throwing a plant in the water and watching it grow, literally. Water Hyacinth does just that. It floats and it grows. And it grows and grows and grows. I’m talking horizontally not vertically. While these dazzlers can reach a height of one foot or more, the floaters spread so fast, they are listed as invasive in some areas of the South. (Be sure to check whether it is allowed in your state.) That’s why Hyacinth make great container plants, because all you need is simply a bowl of water. But plant can’t live on water alone. So if there are no nutrients in the H20, i.e. fish waste, you’ll need to supplement with aquatic fertilizer either in liquid or tablet form.
Here’s what you’ll need for your container garden:
- A Water Hyacinth plant with its roots trimmed(The roots grow very long and won’t fit in an average container)
- Aquatic fertilizer(liquid or tablet)
- An attractive bowl or container(the wider the better)
- Tap water on hand
- Mosquito Dunks(mosquito larvicide) or small bait shop minnows
Simply fill the bowl three quarters full and float the Hyacinth on top. Next, add the fertilizer tablet and some small fish or mosquito larvicide if you are growing this outside.
You can over-winter Water Hyacinth inside as long as you grow it in a sunny spot. Adding a grow light will help during those long winter months. Hyacinth are natives of the Amazon, so they are used to lots of sun. Known for its lush green foliage, Hyacinth sports a tall purple flower that only blooms for a couple days during mid to late summer. And if you find your floater is fast outgrowing the container, you can watch it take off in a pond. Water garden owners swear by Hyacinth’s ability to turn pond water from murky green to clear in no time. They absorb nutrients and spread fast, so algae doesn’t have a fighting chance against this foe.
You’ll be captivated by Water Hyacinth too, as long as you don’t let it get out of control. You’ll need to remove it from your container or pond, when it starts spreading too fast…usually about mid summer when the days are longest. There may be periods when you are removing Hyacinth almost daily. The excess plants make a great addition to your compost pile or someone else’s pond!
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