Any Tricks For Wintering Water Hyacinths and Water Lettuce Inside?

[Mud]

I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside my
house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week, pinching
off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far although not
seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to winter over
inside...thanks!

I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.

[Michael Shaffer]

Mud wrote:
> I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside my
> house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week, pinching
> off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far although not
> seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to winter over
> inside...thanks!
>
> I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.
>
>

If you put a fluorescent light over them with some tinfoil on the sides
they will grow very well. I did that last summer and I had to throw a
lot of them away.

[Mud]

"Michael Shaffer" > wrote in message
news:D2_mf.8618$fz5.6774@dukeread04...
> Mud wrote:
>> I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside
>> my house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week,
>> pinching off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far
>> although not seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to
>> winter over inside...thanks!
>>
>> I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.
>
> If you put a fluorescent light over them with some tinfoil on the sides
> they will grow very well. I did that last summer and I had to throw a lot
> of them away.

Thanks for the tip... I don't have a fluorescent lamp handy but I do have a
"grow lamp"... do you think that would work about as good?

[Koi-lo]

"Mud" > wrote in message
m...
>I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside my
>house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week, pinching
>off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far although not
>seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to winter over
>inside...thanks!
>
> I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.
==============================
I'm in zone 6 TN and keep water lettuce over easily. I keep them in pans of
water or an old fishtank by south facing windows (or in a fishtank with my
goldfish). They must be FERTILIZED every few weeks or they'll die out (or
they do for me). Water hyacinths are a bit harder to keep alive. Make sure
they don't have "mites or aphids" before you bring them in. They also need
a sunny window, fertilizer regularly and do better with moving water. You
can achieve that with a cheap airpump and airstone.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Bill Stock]

"Mud" > wrote in message
m...
>I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside my
>house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week, pinching
>off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far although not
>seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to winter over
>inside...thanks!
>
> I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.

Sunlight is the best thing for them, rather than your growlight. Add some
Miracle Grow (or other plant fertilizer) to the bucket.

[Mud]

"Koi-lo" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Mud" > wrote in message
> m...
>>I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside
>>my house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week,
>>pinching off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far
>>although not seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to winter
>>over inside...thanks!
>>
>> I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.
> ==============================
> I'm in zone 6 TN and keep water lettuce over easily. I keep them in pans
> of water or an old fishtank by south facing windows (or in a fishtank with
> my goldfish). They must be FERTILIZED every few weeks or they'll die out
> (or they do for me). Water hyacinths are a bit harder to keep alive.
> Make sure they don't have "mites or aphids" before you bring them in.
> They also need a sunny window, fertilizer regularly and do better with
> moving water. You can achieve that with a cheap airpump and airstone.
> --
> Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
> ~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
>

Thanks, I've got them next to an afternoon sunny window but the windows are
energy efficient, heat mirror windows, so I don't know how much good that's
doing them. I am adding a small amount of Schultz liquid plant fertilizer,
along with a beer cap full of muriate of potash, mixed up with 1 gallon of
water, divided equally among the small buckets. They are doing good so far,
although small in size. I'm using three buckets so I don't want to buy 3
air stones but then again, I'll check into it. Thanks so much for helping.

[Mud]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Mud" > wrote in message
> m...
>>I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside
>>my house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week,
>>pinching off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far
>>although not seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to winter
>>over inside...thanks!
>>
>> I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.
>
> Sunlight is the best thing for them, rather than your growlight. Add some
> Miracle Grow (or other plant fertilizer) to the bucket.
>

Thanks, Bill. Please see my other post... you seem to be right on the
money!

[kc]

I've decided since my one or two water hyacinths and lettuce soon turn into
one hundred every summer I'm just going to start again next year!
Kirsten
"Mud" > wrote in message
om...
>
> "Koi-lo" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Mud" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>>I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside
>>>my house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week,
>>>pinching off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far
>>>although not seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to
>>>winter over inside...thanks!
>>>
>>> I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.
>> ==============================
>> I'm in zone 6 TN and keep water lettuce over easily. I keep them in pans
>> of water or an old fishtank by south facing windows (or in a fishtank
>> with my goldfish). They must be FERTILIZED every few weeks or they'll
>> die out (or they do for me). Water hyacinths are a bit harder to keep
>> alive. Make sure they don't have "mites or aphids" before you bring them
>> in. They also need a sunny window, fertilizer regularly and do better
>> with moving water. You can achieve that with a cheap airpump and
>> airstone.
>> --
>> Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
>> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
>> http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
>> ~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
>>
>
> Thanks, I've got them next to an afternoon sunny window but the windows
> are energy efficient, heat mirror windows, so I don't know how much good
> that's doing them. I am adding a small amount of Schultz liquid plant
> fertilizer, along with a beer cap full of muriate of potash, mixed up with
> 1 gallon of water, divided equally among the small buckets. They are
> doing good so far, although small in size. I'm using three buckets so I
> don't want to buy 3 air stones but then again, I'll check into it. Thanks
> so much for helping.
>

[Koi-lo]

"kc" > wrote in message
...
> I've decided since my one or two water hyacinths and lettuce soon turn
> into one hundred every summer I'm just going to start again next year!
=================
Since attractive healthy ones are hard to find here some years, and the
prices have gone up to $3.50 to $4.50 each, it pays for me to keep some
over. It gives me a good head start in the spring.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Paul]

Mud wrote:
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>"Mud" > wrote in message
m...
>>
>>>I am trying to save a few of my water hyacinths and water lettuce inside
>>>my house in buckets of water. I am changing the water out each week,
>>>pinching off any dead leaves/pieces and they're staying alive so far
>>>although not seeming to grow any. Do they need anything special to winter
>>>over inside...thanks!
>>>
>>>I live in Zone 7A, North Carolina.
>>
>>Sunlight is the best thing for them, rather than your growlight. Add some
>>Miracle Grow (or other plant fertilizer) to the bucket.
>>
>
>
> Thanks, Bill. Please see my other post... you seem to be right on the
> money!
>
>
I was told to overwinter them with their roots in mud. 1 month in and
still looking healty.

Paul

[Koi-lo]

"Paul" > wrote in message
...
> I was told to overwinter them with their roots in mud. 1 month in and
> still looking healty.
====================
Mine hyacinths are in water about 6" deep and are still looking good. I
hope at least 2 survive until spring. I'm using diluted houseplant
fertilizer on mine. I've also sprayed them several times with a safe
vegetable insecticide to keep the mites away. Mites can kill them quickly
(in my experience). The water lettuce always lives over now.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>