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Old 07-02-2006, 12:28 AM posted to rec.ponds
Bill Stock
 
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Default Any dis/advantage to cutting the runners on the Water Hyacinths

I put a bunch of WH in the indoor pond when I brought the fish in from the
cold. I started out with about half a pond full of WH. A few weeks into the
experiment I checked the nutrients and everything was reading zero (N02,
N03, P04, etc.) The WH were doing OK,but not thriving. So I started dosing
N03, P04 and Iron every week. Now I've got more WH than pond, I have to pull
out a few WH each day to make a feeding hole. The WH are definitely
multiplying, although the roots could look a little better, proably the mid
60s water temps.

I've been dead heading the decaying leaves, trying to reduce the DOCs and
giving me a bit more room. I've also been breaking off the established
runners, allowing me to squeeze in a few more plants. So I was wondering
what purpose the runners serve, other than reproduction? Although it will be
a moot point very soon, as I will be forced to cull the herd.