Detailed Guide to Growing and Caring for Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a very beautiful name; in fact, it is the common water hyacinth we all know. Its flowers are very pretty, light purple in color, and each flower center bears a pattern that closely resembles the shape of an eye, which is why it is called water hyacinth. Although water hyacinth is fairly common, few people understand how to grow it. Below, the editor will introduce the cultivation techniques for water hyacinth in detail!

How to Grow Water Hyacinth

1. Selection of seedlings. Choose new, strong plants, remove diseased and rotten leaves, and keep them as seedlings, with a stocking rate of 5 kg per m.

2. Keep the temperature low to inhibit seedling growth. During the preservation stage, the suitable water temperature is 13°C-15°C, and the day-night temperature difference must not exceed 2°C. Growth stops below 10°C, survival can be maintained at 4-5°C, and death occurs below 0°C. Therefore, during the preservation stage, indoor temperatures should be prevented from getting too high; low-temperature storage is best, keeping the seedlings in a dormant state.

3. Ventilation and air exchange. Ventilation must be maintained every day to keep the indoor air fresh. By late April, all doors and windows can be opened during the day and closed again at 4-5 in the afternoon; 10 days before planting out, they should all be opened day and night for hardening off, so that the seedlings gradually adapt to the natural environment and are prepared for planting.

4. Maintain light. Water hyacinth has high light requirements; the longer the light duration, the more vigorous the photosynthesis. Regardless of whether the weather is cold or warm, it must receive 4-5 hours of light every day, especially in spring. If it cannot receive light or be exposed to light for 2-3 days because the covering is too tight, water hyacinth will rot at the roots or even die. Therefore, the covering curtain in the preservation room should be opened every day to increase indoor light and raise the room temperature.

5. Changing water and fertilizing. The relative humidity in the water hyacinth preservation room should preferably be 70%-80%. In spring, as temperatures rise and winds are strong, water evaporates quickly. At this time, pond water should be sprayed frequently and the water changed regularly, generally once every two months, and the water temperature difference should not be too large. When low-temperature seedling preservation is used, the water does not need to be changed. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer before preserving the seedlings, topdressing should also be done frequently during the preservation period, preferably with decomposed human manure and urine diluted at a concentration of 1:20. When topdressing, do not sprinkle it directly on the seedlings.

Water Hyacinth Cultivation Methods and Precautions

1. Temperature

Water hyacinth prefers a warm environment. The suitable growing water temperature is 18°C—23°C. It can still grow above 35°C, but below 10°C it will stop growing. It has a certain degree of cold tolerance.

2. Light

Water hyacinth has high light requirements; the longer the light duration, the more vigorous the photosynthesis.

Therefore, it must receive 4—5 hours of light every day, especially in spring. If it is placed in too shady a spot, water hyacinth cannot receive light or be exposed to light, and it will rot at the roots and die.

3. Watering

Maintain relatively stable air humidity, preferably between 70%—80%. In spring, temperatures gradually rise and water evaporation begins to speed up, so water should be sprayed on water hyacinth frequently to increase air humidity.

Generally, change the water once every two months, and the water temperature difference should not be too large.

4. Precautions

During the cultivation of water hyacinth, maintain a suitable temperature, and the day-night temperature difference should not exceed 2°C. At 4°C—5°C, water hyacinth can maintain survival, but it must not go below 0°C; generally, the water temperature is required to be above 5°C.

Ventilation and air exchange must be maintained every day to keep indoor air fresh. By late April, doors and windows can all be opened during the day and closed again in the afternoon.

Is Water Hyacinth Toxic?

Actually, it is not toxic. Water hyacinth, also called water hyacinth, produces very beautiful flowers that are truly eye-catching. And because its root system is very well developed, it is often used to purify sewage. But at the same time, because its reproduction speed is astonishing, it has already become a disaster in waters in many places, thus bringing great harm.

Origin of Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is native to Brazil. Due to control by natural enemies, it was only scattered in water bodies as an ornamental population. In 1844, at an expo in the United States, it was described as the “light purple flower crown that beautifies the world.” Since then, water hyacinth has been introduced and cultivated as an ornamental plant.

It is widely distributed in China's Yangtze River and Yellow River basins and in the provinces of South China. It grows in ponds, ditches and rice fields at elevations of 200—1500 m, and has also spread widely in tropical regions of Asia.

Through the above content, I believe everyone has gained some understanding of water hyacinth care techniques. Although the flowers of water hyacinth are beautiful and have high ornamental value, its harm is also very great. Its reproductive capacity is extremely strong, and it can multiply in large numbers in water, leading to overgrowth,