How do I Care for Water Hyacinth Plants?

For anyone looking to begin gardening who lives in a warm climate and has access to a pond or other still body of water, the water hyacinth could be a plant of choice. The water hyacinth is relatively low maintenance, proliferates quickly and requires little fertilizer, pruning or planting. The water hyacinth can also add aesthetic appeal to any pond, with its beautiful white petals and pink buds.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Pruning shears
• Cooler
• Spray bottle
• Water
• Aquatic plant fertilizer
• Rake
• Trash bag

1. Purchase water hyacinth plants from a local flower or plant seller. Check the water hyacinths to make sure they’re healthy and do not have excessive dead leaves, holes in the leaves, yellow or sickly looking leaves or broken stems. Check the water where the seller keeps the water hyacinths. Make sure that the water is clean, and that the plants have been in full sunlight.
2. Transport the water hyacinths home in a cooler to keep them damp. Try to avoid letting the plants get dry. For long transport times, you may wish to occasionally use a spray bottle to spritz the water hyacinths and keep them wet and cool.
3. Pull any dead or yellow leaves, debris and excess roots off the water hyacinths before placing them in the water. You can trim the plants with pruning shears, but it isn’t necessary.
4. Place the water hyacinths in a pond or other body of water that is outside and in full sun. Water hyacinths don’t need to be planted in the water, as they will automatically orient themselves in the water correctly, with roots down and leaves up.
5. Fertilize the water hyacinths with a quality aquatic plant fertilizer. Do this if the water hyacinths start to turn yellow.
6. Rake any dead or excess water hyacinths out of the water, then dispose of them in a trash bag. Water hyacinths proliferate quickly, so keeping dead and overgrown hyacinths out of the pond will keep the pond looking healthy and groomed.

Tips & Warnings

• Water hyacinths don’t need to be fertilized as often as other plants, since they soak up nutrients from the water and soil.

• Water hyacinths work best in warm climates, and may freeze or stop growing at temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Avoid algae treatment, as it can kill water hyacinths. Water hyacinths kill algae naturally, so a chemical algae treatment shouldn’t be necessary.