Nicola B
April 6th 04, 12:22 PM
Hi all,
wonder if you can help solve a mystery -
My pot pond is a couple of months old, roughly. Full details of pond at
bottom of post. After I had my 'pot-pond' set up for about a month or so, a
tiny cluster of leaves appeared floating on the surface. Three tiny green
leaves. Then they started to multiply. After a few weeks (3-4), these little
clusters covered almost 100% of the pond's surface and I noticed the water
lily looking far less happy than it had. I scooped out almost half of the
weed but it grew back again within a week. (The goldfish seems to like
eating these small leaves however.) I did not introduce this plant! I don't
know where it came from. What *is* this weed? It seems to have little roots
floating under it in the water.
The water of the pond is clear now, (after the expected initial algae-fest)
the goldfish is happy and getting fatter, the other plants seem to be doing
well. But I am worried about the water lily. It has far fewer leaves than
before. Will this weed choke it? Hope someone can help.
Regards
Nicola
Pond specs:
I am in Sydney, Australia. It is early autumn here, very humid but otherwise
mild weather, not cold.
Pond is a large pot 50cm in diameter and maybe 40cm deep, shallowish but
basically half-spherical.
Gets around 5 hours full sun in the morning, then falls in the shadow of the
house.
Contains:
1 small goldfish
2 aquatic snails
1 miniature water lily planted (in a pot) a bit too shallowly for optimal
happiness. Was bought in Feb, has never flowered.
1 rainbow nardoo plant (potted)
2 small bunches underwater oxygenator planted straight into the river sand
on the bottom (flourishing)
1 potted oxygenator hanging on for dear life (almost completely eaten by the
fish)
wonder if you can help solve a mystery -
My pot pond is a couple of months old, roughly. Full details of pond at
bottom of post. After I had my 'pot-pond' set up for about a month or so, a
tiny cluster of leaves appeared floating on the surface. Three tiny green
leaves. Then they started to multiply. After a few weeks (3-4), these little
clusters covered almost 100% of the pond's surface and I noticed the water
lily looking far less happy than it had. I scooped out almost half of the
weed but it grew back again within a week. (The goldfish seems to like
eating these small leaves however.) I did not introduce this plant! I don't
know where it came from. What *is* this weed? It seems to have little roots
floating under it in the water.
The water of the pond is clear now, (after the expected initial algae-fest)
the goldfish is happy and getting fatter, the other plants seem to be doing
well. But I am worried about the water lily. It has far fewer leaves than
before. Will this weed choke it? Hope someone can help.
Regards
Nicola
Pond specs:
I am in Sydney, Australia. It is early autumn here, very humid but otherwise
mild weather, not cold.
Pond is a large pot 50cm in diameter and maybe 40cm deep, shallowish but
basically half-spherical.
Gets around 5 hours full sun in the morning, then falls in the shadow of the
house.
Contains:
1 small goldfish
2 aquatic snails
1 miniature water lily planted (in a pot) a bit too shallowly for optimal
happiness. Was bought in Feb, has never flowered.
1 rainbow nardoo plant (potted)
2 small bunches underwater oxygenator planted straight into the river sand
on the bottom (flourishing)
1 potted oxygenator hanging on for dear life (almost completely eaten by the
fish)