Re: habitat/ponds/plants/now water lettuce

Donna,

I tried water lettuce a few times and had the same experience with aphids.
They then travel to the lilies and lotus and soon are on everything. Water
plantain (Alisma?) attracts them too.

Dan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna " <justme@prairieinet.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 9:27 PM
Subject: RE: [CHAT] 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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