Hi Glenda, the roots do a good job as a filter, unless they're blocking up something.Watch for water wicking out if the watercress is growing over the sides of the filter. I just rip out handfuls to keep it under control.You're in a really warm zone so it must grow nutso.

Theresa

Only in the winter time. It's now probably going to slow down at least until I get my shade sails put up. If ever, maybe after Hubby gets that new Bionic Knee. I have everything for it but the manpower. Glenda

The root mass on my watercress is insanely thick, as well. I have to cull it out of my lower waterfall area every year. It's VERY heavy, and you may need a sharp knife to cut through the mass. It has now spread quite a good distance UPstream of the original planting, as well....:D

If you don't hear from me soon...it's been nice knowing you. *looking over my shoulder*

Brenda

I am surprised to hear you have any problems, Glenda. You are usually on top of any problem at all which is why I make sure to read everything you post.
If you have fish then it is just about impossible to use any insecticide. Most of them are deadly to fish and reptiles, especially the pyrethrins and Sevin and it's relatives. You could submerge the plant tops to get rid of any eggs or you could introduce an insect that is a predator like the lady bug. I will have to go looking for that beetle. The color isn't familiar at all. My first reaction until you hit color was a flea beetle or bean beetle. Maybe it is a local pest. Did you check with the Florida Extension service? It was my impression they had a great identification database but then I was looking mostly for plants.
It was my understanding that watercress likes cooler temmperatures.Sandy

Hey, I did see a Lady Bug a few days ago. I did spray the little metallac blue hard backed bugs (about the size of a grain of rice) with bug spray very lightly, but was very careful to spray away from the pond and was sure that none of the spray went into the skippy. That was the last of those until probably this summer. I picked the horn worms off and put them in a container in the house, then found myself going out everyday and picking them branches of the plant to eat anyway. So I just took them out and dumped them back on the plant. In a couple of days they were gone!! Them and all the leaves off the plant. I can't determine what is eating the watercress, yet. But it is inside the perimeter of the skippy, so no spraying there. I just figure maybe whatever is eating it is maybe feeding the frogs, the birds and the skinks. Appreciate your remarks. The only things I know, I've learned from the forum and researching others questions. And daring to try something different. I could never hold a candle to you, though. I don't know anything about mechanics; leave that up to DH. Glenda