How to Use Water Hyacinths

Water hyacinth, known botanically as Eichhoria crassipes, is a free-floating, partially submerged, flowering aquatic plant. It is prized for its foliage and bloom spikes that rise above the surface of the water. The plant is kept in an upright position by a swollen petiole that acts as a buoy. Because the plants are free-floating and don't require anchoring in submerged nursery pots, mud or stony soil, there is great flexibility in how they are used in aquatic landscapes, including small container gardens where space is at a premium.

Instructions

- 1
  Float a single water hyacinth plant or a pair of plants in a large, decorative, sealed pot filled with water as an aquatic accent in the garden or on a patio. Allow a minimum depth to cover the root mass, typically at least a foot of water. Use a pot wide enough so the plant can float around freely and there is water surface visible between multiple plants. Add water as needed to maintain the proper level.
- 2
  Set water hyacinth plants to float in your fish pond or waterfall pool to act as a decorative accent when in bloom and green surface cover when out of bloom.
- 3
  Introduce water hyacinth into a large pond or small lake environments where you will still be able to thin out the rapid-growing plants as needed to maintain a healthy and balanced aquatic environment.

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