In the finely balanced ecosystem of the pond and aquarium, the mussel flower proves to be a valuable component. The tropical floating plant filters the water, provides fish with shady places to retreat and adorns the appearance with its grey-green rosettes of leaves. Do unanswered questions about the cultivation of water lettuce make you ponder? Then read the practical answers to frequently asked questions here.

Seashell flowers are not only beautiful to look at, they are also useful!

Plant mussel flowers correctly

Do not release the tropical floating plant until the water in the pond has reached a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. If water lettuce moves from a warm environment to the open water zone, gradually get the plant used to cooler water temperatures or only put them out at 20 degrees Celsius. Please note that no more than half of the water surface is covered with mussel flowers and other plants.

care tips

Since water lettuce thrives as a floating plant, you won't have to think about extensive care. After all, there are a few precautions to be taken so that you can enjoy a green water lily:

  • Thin out regularly during the growing season
  • Remove so many runners that a maximum of 30 to 50 percent of the water is covered with plants
  • In the event of deficiency symptoms, fertilize in a separate, watertight container with a special preparation

If the temperature falls below 15 degrees Celsius, add water lettuce. In a warm water aquarium, the tropical floating plant overwinters at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, a vat with a loamy soil layer and warm fresh water with a pH of 6.5 to 7.2 will act as winter quarters. Since the mussel flower does not stop growing, continue to thin out the plant regularly.

Which location is suitable?

Water lettuce fulfills its various tasks as a floating plant with flying colors in the semi-shady place in the open water zone of your garden pond. A sunny position is tolerated as long as the mussel flower is not exposed to the blazing midday sun. Please do not expose the plant to currents or the constant movement of water near a fountain.

Cut mussel flower correctly

Water lettuce does not get a pruning in the actual sense. Instead, the vigorous floating plant is regularly thinned out so that it does not completely annex the pond and aquarium. The mussel flower tolerates a cut all year round. Use the net to draw the plant towards you to snip off stolons, excess leaves and stolons with a sharp knife or scissors. Carry out this important care regularly when more than half of the water surface is occupied by plants. In addition, cut off foothills with fully developed adventitious plants if you plan to propagate.

Fertilize mussel flowers properly

In a well-balanced pond, a nutrient supply is usually not necessary. Water lettuce is only fertilized if there are clear signs of deficiency, such as stunted growth or yellow leaves. Since not all creatures and plants in the pond react positively to fertilizers, the mussel flower moves to a separate container for some time. A layer of earth on the ground and sufficiently warm fresh water create the appropriate framework conditions. Now you can administer a special fertilizer for floating plants according to the manufacturer's instructions.

hibernate

The mussel flower, which is native to the tropics, does not tolerate temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius. Since it nevertheless has a life force of several years, get the floating plant out of the water with a landing net in autumn. In a freshwater aquarium or a separate tub with a clay-covered bottom, overwinter water lettuce like this:

  • Warm water temperatures from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
  • Fresh water with a pH of 6.5 to 7.2
  • No cover and no nearby heat source

If no adequate winter quarters are available, get water lettuce out of the pond anyway. Otherwise, as the rotting progresses, all the nutrients stored during the summer will get back into the water. Next year you can then deal with a lush bloom of algae.
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Propagating mussel flower

Wassersalat takes care of his offspring on his own. A vital mother plant produces numerous offshoots in the form of adventitious plants. To gain more specimens for your private water world, simply separate the fully developed daughter plants.

Is seashell flower poisonous?

The botanical assignment of Pistia stratiotes to the aroid family rightly suggests that the plant is not entirely harmless. Since there is still a lack of sound scientific knowledge regarding toxicity, we recommend careful handling. Please don't let the name water lettuce tempt you into eating the green leaves. The substances it contains, such as potassium oxalate, trigger nausea and vomiting even in small amounts.

Yellow leaves

Yellow leaves indicate a lack of nutrients on a mussel flower. A pond or aquarium does not always fully meet the needs of this heavily consuming floating plant. Since the addition of fertilizer in the garden pond is always associated with the risk of algae blooms, use the net to get the suffering water lettuce out of the water. Place the plant in a tub to add a special fertilizer for aquatic plants to the water in it. Once the green water lily has recovered, it moves to its original place.

How is water lettuce cared for in the aquarium?

Water lettuce feels in good hands in an open warm-water aquarium under the following conditions:

  • Fresh water with temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
  • A maximum carbonate hardness of 15 KH
  • An ideal pH of 6.5 to 7.2
  • A partially shaded, airy spot away from any heat source
  • Thin out the plant if unwanted spreading occurs

An aquarium with a cover is unsuitable for the mussel flower. The increased heat and dripping condensation under a lid significantly impair the vitality and beauty of a green water lily. Within a short time rot forms and the floating plant dies.
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Why does the mussel flower prevent an algal bloom?

If crystal-clear pond water turns into a yellow-brown broth, algae found enough nutrients here for their growth. There is always a nutrient surplus behind the hated algae bloom. As a heavily consuming floating plant, water lettuce prevents this shortcoming. The long filamentous roots remove phosphorus, nitrogen, nitrate and excess fish food from the water. The lurking algae are thus deprived of their livelihood. Therefore, do not cut off the filamentous roots, because they make a significant contribution to keeping the water in the pond and aquarium clean and free of algae.
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Vegetable garden