Hi, been reading the ongoing discussions about water hyacinth and lettuce, i have only put 2 hyacinth in the pond, i have never used it before so wasn't to sure if it was the right thing to buy and you are all talking about them multiplying fast, have i done something wrong they aren't doing a god dam thing just floating been in about 2 months now and they have just started to get new shoots on them, have had a lot of rain lately could that be the problem the fish seen to like them though lots of eggs :D

Water hyacinth can be picky. They like really warm weather and lots of nutrients. That may just be starting with your pond. I've had mine a few months two, and they've only maybe doubled in the amount. In my case, I think the water celery in my waterfalls was using almost all of the nutrients. It's now dying back, and the floaters are growing. Some Septembers, my pond is completely covered in water hyacinth and water lettuce and some years not. The fish may nibble on and harm the weaker water hyacinth plants.

In addition to just giving it some time, you may want to add some FloraFin to your pond. It is a floating plant fertilizer with potassium which is usually the limiting element in pond water for good plant ground. Most pond stores sell it. It shouldn't cause problems with algae. Lots of rain may dilute out the nutrients that plants need to grow.

It may also help to confine the water hyacinth to a floating plant protector ring or a ring of old garden hose stuck together in a ring. When confined and better protected, water hyacinth is more likely to bloom. As it multiplies, set it free until there's enough not to need confinement anymore.

Anyway, don't feel bad since my water hyacinth are not doing much yet either. They're getting a slow start even though it was in the 90's for highs all last week.

Fraserm, I wish I could give you some of mine. Started off early as I could this year with floaters; 10 lettuce, and 10 hyacinth. Currently, if I didn't remove the excess every day I'd have 100% coverage. I have to toss it out just to see/feed my fish.

I'm in the same boat with mine. I bought 4, one died within the week. One gave me 2 flowers and now it's kaput. The third is finally starting to stretch out. With my ph being so high my lettuce is turning yellow, the pickeral has black tips on it's leaves. errrrr. :angry: I'm now looking into a UV light.

Glad to see that I'm not alone, Sadiemay I have just purchased a UV clarifier fantastic thing, Its been in the pond now for 6 days and already the pond is 50% clearer, Money well spent and my pond has no shade you were lucky to see the fish it was that green, (I bought the hozelock UV clarifier 5500) good bye green hello fish :lol:

My gosh, what planting zones are you guys in? I'm on the boarder between zone 4 and 5, NE Iowa. I wish I could slow down the lettuce production. Again this morning pulled out enough to fill a box the size of a 24pk case of beer.

Hyacinth doing good too. It's packed so tight in my biofalls that its' pushing out of the water, going over the sides. But still NO FLOWER!!!

We've had temps pushing 95-100. My water surface temp running 76 or so with good circulation. I've heard floaters don't like fast moving water; but this year I've wedged them in my stream and they're doing great.

I am having the same issues with the Hyacinth. I am taking some out almost on a daily basis. I live in Souther New Jersey and the weather has been real warm the past few weeks and I am sure that it aids the plant growth explosion.

My question here is.

Is there any way to "winter over" some of these plants. I have thought of putting some in a small kiddy pool in my basement over the winter. Has anyone tried this or am I just nuts trying to save $3 per plant in the spring??

Thanks,
Rob :wacko:

I heard it's possible, but I tried lettuce with no luck. Of course I didn't have an elaborate set up, recirculating water, filters, or anything. I just put them in rubermaid tubs filled with water, along with the other plants I used to over-winter successfully. Needless to say the rotting stink from the lettuce was terrible. I don't believe I tried hyacinth.

I say I "used" to over winter plants, only because I don't over winter anything anymore. If it required over wintering I tossed it and replaced with hardy, just so I wouldn't have to mess with it anymore.

I've tried overwintering both water lettuce and water hyacinth, and it never worked. I've read that you need metal halides or natural sunlight. I just had fluorescent plant lights. They say to also fertilize and have some dirt in the bottom for nutrients. The water also has to be heated.

From my web site:

"Floating tropical marginals like water hyacinth, water lettuce, and salvinia can be overwintered if they have bright natural sunlight or intense artificial light (multiple fluorescent grow lights or metal halides). Water hyacinth seems to like a thin layer of soil in the bottom of its indoor "pond." Liquid fertilizer should be added as needed to keep the floating plants healthy. I have never successfully overwintered these tropical floating plants. They all turn to mush after a few weeks. The lighting has not been strong enough. Some people say that a heated greenhouse is absolutely required to overwinter water hyacinth. I have overwintered salvinia and frogbit in my aquariums under intense fluorescent lights."