2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Hydrokleis, also called water poppy, is widely used in landscape design to decorate coastal areas and various water bodies. This native of South America, when grown in warm waters, grows rather quickly, forming a luxurious solid carpet. However, in order for him to please with such beauty, he should be provided not only with warmth, but also with bright lighting
Getting to know the plant
This noteworthy rhizomatous aquatic plant of the Limnocharisaceae family takes root in the ground with ease in the nodules of its stalks. Long, slightly branched and brittle cylindrical stalks of hydrocleis are filled with milky sap. In addition, the breaking off stalks of a wonderful perennial continue to actively develop in free swimming.
Hydrocleis leaves are of two types: underwater and floating. All linear sessile underwater leaflets are actually expanded petioles that function as leaflets. And located on long petioles, smooth floating leaves are heart-shaped. Thanks to this, the beautiful hydrokleis received another name - the floating heart. Young leaves of this plant are yellowish in color with small purple dots, and old leaves are almost always dark green. Another characteristic feature of the leaves is a stunning paraffin shine.
Single large creamy yellow flowers of hydrocleis (their diameter is up to 7 cm), raised above the water surface, emerge from the axils of the leaves and have three petals. Each flower of a water beauty blooming in the middle of summer lives only one day.
Hydrocleis fruits are oblong, containing floating smooth seeds (on average up to 50 pieces), opening at the seams of many-leafed plants.
Of the five types of hydrokleis present in nature, only one is used in landscape design - this is water lily hydrokleis, which is the most decorative species of this plant, known for its beautiful large flowers.
How to grow
Water poppy is grown in submersible containers filled with fertile soil (preferably at least 10 cm deep), which are lowered into reservoirs to a depth of sixty centimeters. Ideal for growing it will be sunny and well-warmed areas of water bodies. The water temperature should ideally be in the range of 25 - 28 degrees. If it is lower, the hydrokleis may stop growing altogether. The acidity of the water is suitable in the range of 5, 5 - 7, 0, and the hardness is from 4 to 12.
The soil intended for the cultivation of excellent hydrokleis must be well silted.
Propagation of hydrocleis occurs by dividing shoots and rhizomes, as well as seeds. Floating smooth seeds can be spread both by water currents and by water birds and animals. Accordingly, seeds in nature can be carried away quite far from the locations of the mother bushes.
Since hydrokleis does not tolerate cold weather, it should not be left in water bodies for the winter. As soon as it starts to get colder, containers with water beauties should be removed from the water. Then the plants are quickly transplanted into flat vessels filled with clay soil and placed in a shallow, but large and, if possible, closed vessel filled with water. The room in which the hydrokleis will winter should be well lit, and the water temperature should be maintained at 8 - 12 degrees. The aquatic beauty also winters well in aquariums. You can also try to keep hydrokleis in pots filled with waterlogged soil in winter in excellent lighting conditions, but this method cannot be called reliable.
Hydrokleis is good because it is distinguished by enviable resistance to various pests and diseases. It can be grown in paludariums with humid conditions, but the result with such a content of hydrocleis is far from always positive.
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