Pistia

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Pistia most commonly used as a plant for aquariums. Sometimes this plant is called kale, and water lettuce, and velvet rose, and water rose. Leaf rosettes are particularly attractive and graceful.

Description of the plant

Pistia should be classified as aroid family. This plant in nature can be found both in fresh tropical and subtropical water bodies of both hemispheres of our planet. It is worth noting that this plant not only has a particularly exotic appearance, but is also considered very whimsical to grow. Sometimes the plant is even called moody. In a particularly cool summer, this plant cannot survive, which equally applies to the possible death of the plant during frosts. In order for the plant to fully develop, it will be necessary to provide it with quite a lot of heat and nutrition.

The most commonly used pistia is body-like, which is also known as water lettuce.

In pistia, the leaves are collected in rosettes, and the leaves themselves are covered with dense pubescence of a white shade. These leaves will be spongy, thickened and folded, and the leaves can be either wedge-shaped or ovoid. In the most favorable conditions, the rosette of pistia leaves in height can reach about fifteen centimeters, and in diameter this value will range from twenty-five to forty centimeters. On the underside of the rosette of leaves there will be branched roots that will float in the water. Moreover, the length of such roots will be about twenty-five to thirty centimeters. Actually, these roots will be a wonderful natural filter. At that moment, when the diameter of the plant exceeds ten centimeters, the pistia will begin to bloom. The flowers themselves are quite small, they are white in color and have a special aroma. The flowers are collected in an inflorescence-cob, which will be located in the very center of the green leaf cover. It is also worth noting that the leaves and inflorescences themselves are of no interest to aquatic inhabitants.

Plant care

The optimal environment for pistia is solar reservoirs, the depth of which will fluctuate between ten and forty centimeters. Pistia is not only very fond of the sun, but also warmth. In fact, bright light is most necessary for the favorable cultivation of this plant, however, in addition to the light of the sun, artificial light may also be suitable. In addition, the pistia will also need to provide high air humidity.

Landing pistia

After warm temperatures are established, the plant should be lowered into the water. At the very beginning of summer, when the water temperatures exceed ten degrees, the rosettes of this plant can already be placed in the water. The most favorable conditions for pistia are those conditions when direct contact with the ground becomes possible at the roots, which will be at the very bottom of the reservoir.

This plant is able to withstand winter temperatures only if the thermometer does not drop below sixteen degrees. Therefore, it is recommended to transfer this plant from an open reservoir to the premises already around the end of August. Pistia can also spend the winter in a home aquarium.

Plants should be carefully inspected before being placed from open water into a home aquarium. No insects, fish parasites, snails, and fungal spores should remain on the leaves. For this reason, experts recommend first placing the pistia in a separate aquarium for about a month.

In winter, the plant will need not intense lighting, but it should be kept for at least twelve hours, because the plant may die from lack of light.