RE: habitat/ponds/plants

Water lettuce in my pond caused an outbreak of aphids... they seem to be
drawn to it, but of course get side tracked to the lilies.... lost a
bunch of lilies that year. I no longer use the lettuce and have not had
a problem with aphids. Not sure if it is due to my climate, but everyone
around here seems to have the same results.

Donna


 
> Eva should be able to get the plants fine in NY....a definite must, I
> think,
> in any watergarden.  Best natural filtration there is.  There are even
> towns
> that are using the water Hyacinths and Water lettuce as their main
> filtration
> in sewage treatment.
> 
> The hyacinth and water lettuce, as well as salvinia, etc.
unfortunately
> are
> illegal in southern gulf states, including Tx.  It has naturalized
though,
> so
> one sees it quite a bit in the bayous, etc. much to the discouragement
of
> the
> TPW dept.  Doesn't get cold enough to kill the plants, so they are not
> kept
> under control.  Even in private ponds, they have a tendency to get out
of
> hand
> quickly.  All floaters make excellent compost though.  Perhaps it is
our
> longer
> heat periods that it decomposes better.  Being floaters, and natural
> filters,
> the hyacinth and the lettuce roots absorb all the nutrients from the
fish
> poop, etc. and thus make an excellent addition to the bio filters AND
the
> compost
> pile.
> Note: I didn't say that I had any.
> 
> Noreen
> zone 9
> Texas Gulf Coast
> 
> 
> In a message dated 1/26/2004 11:02:41 PM Central Standard Time,
> gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:
> Nope- I don't use any chemical. I clean out my filters, sometimes
> replace some matting if it needs it, and turn it on... I do add water
> hyacinth to the top of the waterfall yearly, as it is not hardy here.
> Not sure if they are legal where you are, but here it is fine. I never
> let them escape, they die here. Unfortunately, they do not make good
> compost... take forever to decompose....
> 
> Donna
> 
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