The water hyacinth is native to South America. There it thrives with lots of light, warmth and high humidity. Since the aquatic plant is not hardy, it must be cared for indoors over the winter. What you can do to protect water hyacinths from frost.
Is the water hyacinth hardy?
The water hyacinth is not hardy and must be overwintered indoors at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius. A warm water aquarium, a wide water bowl or a paludarium with appropriate lighting and constantly warm temperatures are suitable for this.
High temperatures preferred
As a child of the south, the water hyacinth likes sun, light and warmth. She prefers water temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees. If the air temperatures fall below 15 degrees Celsius, the aquatic plant stops growing.
That's why the water hyacinth is so susceptible to frost
The dark green leaves of water hyacinths grow on a stem that inflates like a balloon. It contains chambers that are filled with air so that the plant floats on the surface of the water.
If the temperatures fall too much, the leaves freeze, resulting in the plant dying.
Get water hyacinths out of the water in good time in autumn for overwintering.
Wintering indoors
Wintering is not easy. You need either
- a warm water aquarium,
- a wide water bowl
- a 30 – 40 centimeter high vessel or
- a paludarium (swamp aquarium)
The location is also important. It must be as consistently warm as possible, so there should be no temperature fluctuations. A warm winter garden is well suited.
Light is also very important. The aquarium or water bowl must be illuminated for at least twelve hours, preferably more.
Overwintering water hyacinths
The bottom of the container for overwintering is covered with a layer of soil. It should be loamy and humic to ensure nutrient supply.
Warm the water to at least 15 degrees before placing the water hyacinth on the water.
Set up additional lighting near water vessels. Special plant lamps (€79.00 on Amazon) are well suited. In aquariums, the aquarium lighting is adjusted accordingly.
Don’t forget to fertilize
Water hyacinths, like all non-hardy aquatic plants, continue to grow in an aquarium or a water bowl. They must be additionally fertilized, otherwise the plants will suffer and eventually die.
Tips & Tricks
Even short frosts cause the water hyacinth to freeze. Even at the beginning of May, temperatures can occasionally drop below zero. Therefore, never put water hyacinths in the garden pond before the end of May.