How to Divide Water Hyacinths

Water hyacinth may be native to South America and varieties of the plant are found on most continents. It grows rapidly and spreads easily, which makes it a pest of many waterways around the globe. The plant grows together and produces plantlets that form rafts. These rafts float over rice paddies, block water routes and choke and clog out other important native species. However, in cooler climates and controlled situations, water hyacinth is an easy plant to grow. The plant is suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 8 to 11. It has thick, fleshy leaves and produces lavender blue flowers on 6-inch stems. Water hyacinth may be divided to propagate additional plants.

Pots
Pruners
Sharp knife
Shovel
Trough

Instructions

- 1
  Divide the water hyacinth at the end of June or when the plant is overgrown. Fill pots with the water from the pond so you have somewhere to store the extra plants, whether you plan to give them away or keep them.
- 2
  Locate the ends of the surface stems that connect to the plantlets. Follow the parent plant to the next smaller plant. The stem connected to the small plant is where division will take place.
- 3
  Use pruners or a sharp knife to cut 1/4 inch before the small plantlet. This severs it from the parent. Cut off the runner stem at the parent end as well to prevent it from quickly growing a new plantlet. Water hyacinth can double its surface area in 14 days.
- 4
  Remove the plantlet using a shovel. The water hyacinth roots in the shallows of water and the body of the plant floats. Dig out the roots and either place the plant in the pot of water to preserve or compost the plant if you are just dividing to control size.
- 5
  Bring a selection of the plantlets indoors in a trough of water to preserve them over winter. Most of our zones are not suitable for the tropical plant to overwinter unless they are inside. When spring temperatures warm, place the plants back into the water garden.

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