Water hyacinth is a perennial, free-floating aquatic plant native to tropical regions of South America, and now present on all continents except Antarctica. Plants rapidly increase biomass and form dense mats, reproducing from stolons (i.e., vegetative runners).
Water hyacinths are perennials in tropical climates and bloom all year long. In temperate and subtropical climates, however, they are annual plants and bloom during the hottest months of the year, mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Why is Water Hyacinth harmful? Water hyacinth is considered invasive throughout the world because it grows rapidly and can form thick layers over the water. These mats shade out the other aquatic plants. Eventually these shaded plants die and decay.
Natural Filtration
They are natural oxygenators and are the filter workhorse of the water. Water hyacinths float on top of the water and even have little purple blooms that are about 6 inches high. Their roots hang down below, filtering excess nutrients from the water.
Water hyacinth do best in full sun and warm temperatures. Be advised that they're invasive and will need to be thinned from time to time. Since they're floating plants, all you need to do is remove a batch from your pond. The roots can get thick so you might need scissors to cut the plants apart.
Water-hyacinth blocks waterways and limits boat traffic, recreation, flood control and wildlife use. By producing a dense canopy at the water surface, this exotic pest plant shades out native submersed plant species and can uproot native emergent species that are important to wildlife.
Nutritional supplementation with a potash fertilizer may be necessary, especially in small ponds with limited animal life. Neutral or near neutral water is preferred. Though free-floating, adding a little soil to the container is good for them.
How it is spread: The plant frequently reproduces by fragmentation of stolons and through an adventitious root system and to a lesser extent via seeds. A cool/unusual fact: Water hyacinth plants reproduce quickly and can double in just two weeks. This means 10 initial plants can multiply to over 600 within 3 months!
The water hyacinth is an invasive, freshwater plant that is toxic to your dog if he ingests it. If you believe your dog ingested a part of this plant, contact your veterinarian.
The fibrous roots of water hyacinth provide a sheltered habitat for many aquatic invertebrates and small fish, while the leaves and seeds are eaten by several species of wetland birds and waterfowl.
These plant mats block sunlight from reaching submergent plants below, and create stagnant water conditions that attract mosquitoes. Water hyacinth is problematic for wildlife as it impairs animals from moving across the surface of the water.
These thick layers can shade out other aquatic plants and can negatively impact the dissolved oxygen levels, affecting other plant life and the fish population. The USFWS said that these thick layers of hyacinth could also interfere with boat navigation and recreational activities.
4) Water hyacinth is native to South America, the only continent where natural predators such as weevils and moths keep it at bay.
The water hyacinth that is collected can be used to feed animals, or processed to improve the soil, as compost or biochar. Removing all water hyacinth without addressing the causes of nutrient loading in the water may have unintended side-effects (harmful algal blooms).
If you want to try keep hyacinths over winter they need a warm spot that is brightly lit. A South window is best, but artificial lighting may still be necessary. Fluorescent shop lights 6 above the plants is about right.
Water hyacinth mats also degrade water quality by blocking the air-water interface and greatly reducing oxygen levels in the water, eliminating underwater animals such as fish.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has a distinctive, light, and fresh scent that is often described as reminiscent of green apples or cucumbers. The scent is most noticeable when the plant is in bloom and the flowers are open.
Hyacinths are not typically grown as a perennial houseplant, but they are easy to grow indoors provided you can tolerate their intense fragrance, which some people find overpowering. After flowering, the foliage is nondescript, and most gardeners treat hyacinths as seasonal annuals.
The water hyacinth has a lovely, tatami-like scent as well.
It is difficult to get rid of water hyacinth because they can vegetatively multiply at a remarkable rate and cover all the water bodies in a shorter amount of time. The broad and wide leaves of the water hyacinth can extend up to one meter above the surface of the water.
Water Hyacinths bloom from late summer to early fall and each plant will produce about 20 flower stalks that reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. The flowers are pale purple and one petal on each flower has a yellow spot.
After the flowers have wilted, allow the foliage to turn yellow and wither. Let the foliage dry completely while maintaining water level. The leaves will continue to gather sunlight and store energy for next year's blooms. When you take out the bulbs from the vase, leave the roots, they will dry off on their own.
Enjoy Glorious Color and Fragrance In The Winter By Growing Hyacinths Indoors. hyacinths: plant them in pots to brighten your home through the dark winter days. Hyacinths are one of the most popular spring flower bulbs for growing indoors.
The Common Water Hyacinth can be easily propagated through offshoots. Fruit and seeds only form in the tropics and do not work in our climatic conditions. To propagate, simply cut off an offshoot and then place it in the desired location. An independent plant will quickly grow from this and create new offshoots.
Water hyacinth is an aquatic species found in temperate climates worldwide, in a variety of freshwater habitats including lakes, rivers, canals, ponds, ditches, etc. Originally from Brazil, water hyacinth is now naturalized in areas around the world, including parts of Africa, Australia, India and North America.