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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

mares tail in pond ... anyone?

14 years ago

I can't seem to find a local source of duckweed (may be illegal to sell here for fear of getting in the river?) & what little I found on another pond plant grew but soon eaten by the fish ...yet I read that others find it intrusive!

I just bought a Mare's tail plant (hippurus vulgarus) plant & wonder how it will do (guess it will winter over here in zone 7 in the pond)& what the good/bad features of it might be?

How has everyone's pond been so far as for algae? Don't dare mention mine has been crystal clear so far ... but am waiting for the green scourge to come yet!

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Comments (6)

goodkarma_
14 years ago
Vieja,

Don't feel bad, duckweed has a lifespan of only days in my pond or filters. The algae situation in my pond is promising. I can see 2 feet down in my 4 foot pond. The most exciting thing so far, (dare I say it?) is no string algae. Good luck with your Mare's tail. I will be googling that now.

Regards,
Lisa
bluesunflower
14 years ago
When I first started the ponding life I just loved the way duck weed looked. When I looked for a source I was told that it "just comes on it's own." That is why they call it duck weed, comes in on duck feet supposedly. No one actually sold the stuff. I have a place that I buy my water lilies and floaters from and they always seem to have a bunch in the water. I just make sure to scoop up a good amount with my plants.
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squirelette
14 years ago
I find that most small floating plants- duckweed, azolla, frogbit disappear within days unless I get a huge amount. The fish gobble it up and think mommy loves them extra for giving them such treats
vieja_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Maybe if I ever (!) get any duckweed I shall have to keep a supply separate from what I put in the pond if the fish do luv the stuff!!
jalal
14 years ago
To address mare's tail question. Up here in the north it grows in ponds naturally so is very hardy. It can be planted in water up to 2ft deep and will reach the surface. Is an oxygenator. I had some on a plant shelf but with the pot rim only about 2" covered. The other pot was 12" over the rim of the pot and did much better. I've read it can be invasive in warmer zones so make sure planted in a pot and check the growth yearly. It overwinters in Zone 3 left on the plant shelf which gets frozen in solid ice so should overwinter where you are.
vieja_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
jalal:

Thanks for the info.! It looks like from your experience with the Mare's tail that it did better when the pot was sunk deeper into the pond water? I have mine now just with the pot rim barely under water so I will now go & sink it deeper. Good to know it will survive winters here in zone 7 where we do get freezing weather & rarely some below zero.

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