Bulk Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinths are a free-floating aquatic plant (or hydrophyte) native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. With broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, water hyacinth makes an attractive floating plant for your pond during our warmer months (mid-may to September).

Two Growth Types

"Tall" refers to the growth habit of the plant. "Tall" water hyacinths reach a height of up to twelve inches above water surface and have a more airy, open look compared to the tight, compact appearance of standard water hyacinths. Standard hyacinths typically grow 3" - 4" above the surface. Both bloom equally well and have the same positive effects on your pond.

How to Grow Water Hyacinth

Growing water hyacinth plants is easy. Once established, they require no special care except occasional thinning to keep them from choking out everything else in the pond. Under perfect conditions, a colony of water hyacinths can double its size every 8 to 12 days. Water hyacinths need full sun and hot summer temperatures. Introduce them to the garden by scattering bunches of plants over the surface of the water. They quickly take hold and begin to grow. Thin the plants when they cover more than 60 percent of the water surface.  The are treated as a annual in Canada because they are a zone 7 plant.

Planting & Sun / Shade

A half barrel is an ideal container for a water hyacinth. The plants need full sun in garden ponds, but in containers they do best if they have shade from mid to late afternoon. Cover the inside of the barrel with a heavy duty garbage bag and then place a layer of soil in the bottom of the container. Don’t use commercial potting soil, which contains fertilizers and other chemicals that may harm the plant and encourage the growth of algae.

Water Care

City water is usually treated with chlorine or chloramine, which is harmful to plants. Garden centers sell products that remove the chlorine and chloramine from the water and make it safe for plants. There is no need to treat the small amounts of water that you use to top off the container through the season. Rain water is best to use to grown them in.