Waterweed is an interesting plant that became indigenous to the area more than a century ago and colonizes numerous natural water bodies. Hardly any garden pond or aquarium can do without them. But how well do we know them?
Waterweed thrives in both natural bodies of water and aquariums
name and family
The waterweed, scientifically Elodea, is a genus of the frogbite family and originally comes from North and South America. It includes 12 species, three of which are now native to Central Europe:
- Canadian waterweed - Elodea canadensis
- Narrow-leaved Waterweed - Elodea nuttallii
- Argentine waterweed - Elodea callitrichoides
growth and appearance
The plant grows herbaceously and is perennial, in itself also evergreen. In winter, the shoots outdoors turn brown and sink to the ground, but new shoots reliably follow in spring.
- grows free-floating or rooted to the ground
- individual tendrils can grow up to 3 m long
- the elongated, approx. 3 cm long leaves are arranged in threes in what are known as whorls
- white flowers from May to September
- however, rarely blooms in this country
habitats
Waterweed occurs in natural still waters. It tolerates temperatures between 4 and 26 °C, likes light to semi-shady places and needs a nutrient-rich environment for its growth. It keeps the water clean and enriches it with oxygen. It is also an ideal hiding place and spawning ground. These useful properties have brought them into artificial habitats such as garden ponds and aquariums.
tips
The Argentine waterweed is more sensitive to cold. It really only overwinters in an aquarium in this country. It is sufficient if only a small piece is "stored". In summer it will turn into a large plant.
propagation
Female plants were introduced into Europe, which is why propagation is vegetative. An independent plant can develop from every small, even rootless, part of the waterweed. This explains, among other things, the extent to which it spreads and how difficult it is to combat it.
You can reproduce waterweed at home by planting a head cutting or a section at least 2 cm long or by letting it swim in the water.