Water Hyacynth Plants in a Garden Pond
QUESTION... During the summer, I was given two floating hyacinth plants, which have both flowered and produced around eight babies between them. As the water begins to cool down, I would like your advice on how to look after them, as I know that they cannot be left in the pond over the winter period.
T A Hackett, Halesowen
Eichornia crassipes or water hyacinth, the bane of the Florida swamps and the South African dams, half the world will say burn the d**** things, while the other half will make every effort to preserve them. If you have a frost-free light shed or greenhouse then you have no problem. Just float them in a shallow tray of water and they will grow all year. They can made a little more hardy if you plant them into a good friable loam, give them a good drenching and let them drain. Some people I have had news from had even left them out of doors with the pots sunk deep into the ground. This was in Canada and it gets cold up there and although the foliage went black and mushy, the plants recovered in spring. Straw over the top may have added a little more protection. Only try this if you have a lot of plants to spare!
I haven't tried it myself yet.