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article: Aquatic plants II
Aquatic plants II
Aquatic plants are a part of the balancing of your water garden, the balancing
of the environment for clean and clear water when you are raising fish or when
your water garden has only plants. Some types of aquatic plants will be placed
in the water and will float, while other plants will be put into containers and
spread out along the waters edge but somewhat submerged in the water. Other
types of aquatic plants will sink and grow under water, rooting in the dirt and
cleaning the water while living in the water.
We had talked early about some types of aquatic plants, and what you can choose
from when stocking your water garden with plants. Here are a few more aquatic
plants for your choosing.
Eleocharis acicularis is an aquatic plant that has small thin leaves. The small
thin leaves on this plant look like grass but forming in a very dense, thick
fashion. The stems of the plant are thread like and give the plant a very
different look from other aquatic plants. This plant does not grow to be very
tall, usually just over half a foot high. If you are growing this plant in a bog
area instead of in the water, it will be smaller. This plant will grow in a
clump like fashion and is slow to spread.
Fontinalis antipyretica is a moss like plant that is deep dark green. This plant
is one that will grow in a stream or moving water; it does not thrive well in
the water garden that does not include some type of moving water. Not many water
gardeners are successful in growing this plant, but if you have some type of
moving water in your garden, this plant is a lovely addition.
Hottonia palustris is also known as a water violet. The water violet has flowers
that will bloom about a foot above the water. The flowers on this plant are
white, to shades of purple. The water violet grows under the water, so you do
not see much of the purple leaves on this plant until late spring when the water
clears. This is an easy to grow aquatic plant that you can take a cutting from,
put into your water garden, and watch is take hold and then to produce flowers.
It is not a fast spreading plant, but a slow spreading plant.
Lemna is a duckweed that will take over your entire water garden is you allow
it. Lemna is a fast growing plant, that is easy to grow but can deprive other
plants living in the water garden and fish from getting as much sunlight as
needed to thrive. If you have a small water garden, you are not going to want to
introduce Lemna into your water garden. Lemna is a plant that should only be
used in the water gardens that are considered huge.

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