The mussel flower proves to be a valuable component in the finely balanced ecosystem of the pond and aquarium. The tropical floating plant filters the water, provides fish with shady retreats and decorates the appearance with its grey-green rosettes of leaves. Are unanswered questions about cultivating water lettuce giving you pause? Then read tried-and-tested answers to frequently asked questions here.
What should you pay attention to when caring for the shell flower?
The shell flower (Pistia stratiotes) is a tropical floating plant that filters water, provides shade for fish and beautifies ponds or aquariums. It should be exposed to water temperatures above 15°C and photographed regularly. In winter it should be overwintered in a warm water aquarium.
Planting shell flowers correctly
Do not release the tropical floating plant until the water in the pond has reached a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. If water lettuce moves from a warm environment to the open water zone, gradually accustom the plant to cooler water temperatures or only expose it to 20 degrees Celsius. Please note that a maximum of half of the water surface is occupied by shell flowers and other plants.
Care tips
Since water lettuce thrives as a floating plant, you won't have to worry about complex care. After all, there are a few precautions you need to take so that you can enjoy a green water lily:
- Lighten regularly during the growing season
- Remove as many runners so that a maximum of 30 to 50 percent of the water is covered with plants
- In case of deficiency symptoms, fertilize in a separate, waterproof container with a special preparation
If temperatures fall below 15 degrees Celsius, put away water lettuce. In a warm water aquarium, the tropical floating plant overwinters at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, a tub with a clayey bottom layer and warm fresh water with a pH of 6.5 to 7.2 acts as winter quarters. Since the mussel flower does not rest in growth, continue to thin the plant regularly.
Which location is suitable?
Water lettuce fulfills its diverse tasks as a floating plant brilliantly in the partially shaded spot in the open water zone of your garden pond. A sunny location is tolerated as long as the mussel flower does not come under the blazing midday sun. Please do not expose the plant to currents or the constant movement of water near a fountain.
Cut the shell flower correctly
Water lettuce does not receive a pruning in the actual sense. Instead, the vigorous floating plant is regularly thinned out so that it does not completely annex the pond and aquarium. The mussel flower tolerates cutting all year round. Use the landing net to bring the plant towards you and cut off suckers, excess leaves and runners with a sharp knife or scissors. Carry out this important early care regularly if more than half of the water surface is occupied by plants. Furthermore, cut off runners from fully formed adventitious plants if you plan to propagate them.
Fertilize mussel flowers properly
In a well-balanced pond, nutrient addition is usually not necessary. Water lettuce is only fertilized if there are clear deficiency symptoms, such as stunted growth or yellow leaves. Since not all creatures and plants in the pond react positively to fertilizers, the mussel flower moves to a separate container for some time. A layer of earth on the ground and sufficiently warm fresh water create the appropriate framework conditions. Now you can administer a special fertilizer for floating plants (€24.00 on Amazon) according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Wintering
The mussel flower, which is native to the tropics, cannot tolerate temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius. Since it still has vigor for several years, take the floating plant out of the water in autumn with a landing net. Overwinter water lettuce in a freshwater aquarium or a separate tub with a clay-covered bottom like this:
- Warm water temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
- Fresh water with a pH of 6.5 to 7.2
- No cover and without a heat source nearby
If adequate winter quarters are not available, you can still get water lettuce out of the pond. Otherwise, as the rotting progresses, all the nutrients stored during the summer will be released back into the water. Next year you will have to deal with a lush algae bloom.read more
Propagate shell flower
Water lettuce takes care of its offspring on its own. A vital mother plant produces numerous runners in the form of adventitious plants. To obtain additional specimens for your private water worlds, simply separate the fully developed daughter plants.
Is mussel flower poisonous?
The botanical classification of Pistia stratiotes to the arum family rightly suggests that the plant is not entirely harmless. Since there is currently a lack of sound scientific knowledge regarding toxicity, we recommend careful handling. Please don't let the name water lettuce mislead you into eating the green leaves. The substances it contains, such as potassium oxalate, cause nausea and vomiting even in small quantities.
Yellow leaves
Yellow leaves on a shell flower indicate a lack of nutrients. A pond or aquarium does not always fully cover the needs of this heavily consuming floating plant. Since adding fertilizer to the garden pond is always accompanied by the risk of an algae bloom, use the landing net to get the suffering water lettuce out of the water. Place the plant in a tub to add a special fertilizer for aquatic plants to the water in it. Once the green water lily has recovered, it moves to its original place.
How to care for water lettuce in the aquarium?
Water lettuce feels at home in an open warm water aquarium under the following conditions:
- Fresh water with temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
- A carbonate hardness of a maximum of 15 KH
- An ideal pH value of 6.5 to 7.2
- A partially shaded, airy location, far away from any source of heat
- Thin out the plant if undesirable spread occurs
An aquarium with a cover is unsuitable for the mussel flower. The increased heat and dripping condensation under a lid significantly affect the vitality and beauty of a green water lily. Within a short time, rot forms and the floating plant dies.read more
Why does the shell flower prevent algae blooms?
If crystal-clear pond water turns into a yellow-brown broth, algae found enough nutrients here for their growth. There is always an excess of nutrients behind the hated algae bloom. As a highly consuming floating plant, water lettuce prevents this shortcoming. The long thread roots remove phosphorus, nitrogen, nitrate and excess fish food from the water. The lurking algae are thus deprived of their livelihood. Therefore, do not cut off the thread roots, as they play a key role in keeping the water in the pond and aquarium clean and free of algae.read more
