If you are seeking another beautiful plant to place on your pond, mosaic plants are some of the best options for you. These plants float on the water and can add up to the attraction of your garden. But how do you grow this kind of plant?
Plant a mosaic plant using clay or silty loam in a basket with a 4 inches diameter. Put the plant on the pond with a water level of 4 to 8 inches deep. Make sure the water is consistently warm, no lower than 50°F.
In this article, we will discuss the mosaic plant profile, how to plant them, and how to take care of them.
Mosaic Plant Profile
As the name suggests, mosaic plants have the features of a mosaic but float on water. This kind of plant is both annual and tropical and mostly grows in warm temperatures. If you live in a country that has a tropical season, you may want to plant these on your pond to enhance the fresh atmosphere.
Mosaic plants are unique and will beautify your pond or garden. Although, before you decide to plant one, you should know its characteristics, so you’ll have an idea of how to care for it over time.
- Characteristics
Since they grow in warm climates, a temperature of 72°F is ideal for mosaic plants. A calm and still water is also preferred for this plant, so you can witness its mosaic beauty on the water surface. The only downside of this plant is its inability to resist cold weather, causing it to not live long in the winter.
Besides ponds, you can also put such plants in containers or terrariums as long as they are kept on the water surface. Several types of mosaic plants are easy to take care of, which may fit how you plan on planting them. Botanists deemed that this plant originated in Peru as it requires both hot and warm weather to grow.
- Size of Mosaic Plants
Mosaic plants grow on the water surface, which means there is no preferred height for them since they float. Mosaic plants are scientifically named Ludwigia Sedioides. They can grow about 1 ft. monthly but will generally grow slowly.
The growth or spread of the mosaic plant reaches up to 12 to 24 inches. These are invasive plants, which means they can spread fast if exposed to components that let them grow healthily. Although this sounds positive, letting them spread too much can lead to overpopulation in your pond.
- Growing mosaic plants
Growing mosaic plants requires constant attention to maintain their health. Another option is to hire an expert to plant and take care of them while they’re still developing. You should keep the compost of this plant moist and not overly watered to prevent it from dying.
If you live in a country that experiences a winter season, you can still grow mosaic plants then. Although, avoid watering it too much during this season and beware of the water you are using. Rainwater, distilled water, or any soft water are ideal.
Now, what if you accidentally overwatered the mosaic plant and the leaves are starting to wither? Mosaic plants require more humidity if this situation occurs. You can compress the stems of this plant to increase the vegetation.
You must leave 2 inches between each of the plants near the pond. Since mosaic plants develop in warm climates, the temperature shouldn’t drop to 50°F. As long as the temperature is warm, you can ensure they will grow healthily.
As previously stated, mosaic plants mainly grow with the help of warm temperatures. A minimum of 12 hours of sunlight a day is required to grow this plant. The blooming of this plant is not necessarily essential.
Advantages of Mosaic Plants
Mosaic plants also grow a yellow flower on top of the leaves floating on the water surface. These flowers attract butterflies and bees, which is good for pollination. Another amazing advantage of this plant is its ability to captivate the impurities in the water that results in pollution.
Besides, mosaic plants also minimize algae, providing water shade and protection from harmful animals. Note not to plant this plant in waterways as it can overpopulate the water.
Having this in your pond is a great deal. You can get an extra attraction to the pond while benefitting from protection from the natural elements. If you are looking for an alternative way to prevent the pollution of your pond, planting this plant is a smart choice.
Are Mosaic Plants Invasive and Poisonous?
Mosaic plants are generally invasive. Their leaves can spread and affect their surroundings by overpopulating them. They can continue growing even if they are cut or naturally pulled out from their stems.
You should be careful when growing mosaic plants as you might carelessly throw them on waterways, which can obstruct the water flow. Beware not to throw multiple plants somewhere near in the water as they can develop and spread hugely. This will result in many disadvantages that will impact the environment and people.
Mosaic plants, on the other hand, are not poisonous. These plants are also edible for fish, although not all fish will eat them since they are not appetizing for them. Koi are most likely to eat this kind of plant, which will damage the plant.
Even though mosaic plants won’t harm the fish in the pond, they can break down and die if their stems are eaten. Thus, you should place this plant in fish-less ponds.
How to Plant Mosaic Plants
Since mosaic plants are found floating on the water surface, you can let them grow by leaving them on the water alone. The most recommended way to keep this plant consistently healthy is with still and calm water. The ideal average depth of the water is estimated to be a maximum of three feet. Although, this plant requires the absence of movements.
Before you plant mosaic plants, make sure the temperature is warm and the water’s pH level is appropriate for this plant. If your yard fulfills these requirements, there are several methods for you to plant mosaic plants.
- Floating
Mosaic plants naturally grow by floating on the water surface. Thus, you can put this type of plant in the water and let it grow. Its stems and roots will grow underwater as it continuously develops.
Although letting it float may sound easy, you need to check whether the depth of the water is appropriate to grow mosaic plants. A minimum of 4 inches and a maximum of 18 inches of water depth is required for this plant. Don’t make the water too deep as it can hamper the roots’ development.
- Plant in soil
Aside from letting it float on the water, you can also grow mosaic plants using soil. The most recommended type of soil to use for this kind of plant is silty loam or clay. Use these types of soil to put the plant in an aquatic basket.
If you live in a country with tropical seasons, using soil to grow mosaic plants is ideal. Since there are no winter seasons to come, the growth of this plant is not limited and the basket will mitigate its spread. Although clay and silty loam are recommended, mosaic plants can also develop using an aquatic substrate, which is an advantage if you only have this.
How to Grow Mosaic Plant on Winter
The charm that a mosaic plant can bring to your pond is priceless. This attracts people who live in temperate countries wherein they have all of the four seasons. It only means that they also have winter, which is not ideal for mosaic plants.
But, you can still grow mosaic plants if your area experiences winters by using warm water. In this way, even though the atmosphere is cold, you can use an aquarium heater and place the mosaic plants in an aquarium to let them develop. With that in mind, you can either leave the plant die outside and purchase a new one when the season ends or preserve it.
Care Guide for Mosaic Plant
Once you’ve grown healthy mosaic plants in your pond, the next thing you should do is take care of them to prolong their lifespan. Some people might think that this plant is invasive, so it will just grow naturally if they leave it alone. It is a wrong assumption that you shouldn’t follow.
From the time you start growing mosaic plants onward, the temperature and pH level should fit in to develop them. Without the proper monitoring and care, this kind of plant won’t last long. It will result in its inability to grow healthily, or worse, in its death.
Here is how to take good care of your mosaic plants to maintain their healthy and long life.
- Trim the dead parts
First of all, a mosaic plant won’t take advantage of its dead parts. Aside from making the appearance of the plant awful, it can affect its health. Thus, to maintain its life, cut or trim those dead parts regularly.
You can guarantee the development of your mosaic plants by removing the wastes that surround them. These wastes may pollute the water of your pond and kill the plants over time. Keeping the pond clean daily is advisable to preserve your plants.
- Use fertilizer tablets
Using fertilizer tablets only applies if you place the mosaic plants on a basket or grow them using soil. If you’ve decided to follow the floating method, these won’t work since the plants will be on the water surface. Before you plant with soil, make sure to put a fertilizer tablet on the basket on its roots.
Fertilizer tablets are ideal, especially if you are going to transfer the plant to a different location once it has fully grown. This kind of fertilizer is filled with elements like phosphorus, nitrogen, and all of the nutrients needed for the plant to grow. These tablets are comparable to vitamin supplements that humans take to fill in the needed nutrients of the body.
- Properly dispose of the mosaic plant cuttings
Growing mosaic plants in a tropical place represents an advantage since you won’t have to deal with winter. Although, the downside of this situation is the possible overpopulation of the plant as it is exposed to elements that make it spread gradually. To prevent your plant from dominating the whole pond, you must cut the excess plants.
After trimming it, you should properly dispose of the cuttings. The reckless handling of the cuttings may lead to them developing again, but this time, to the waterways.
As we discussed, you should avoid throwing the cuttings into the waterways as it can clog the flow. Instead, make sure to place the mosaic plant cuttings in the trash. Remember that they are invasive plants that can grow even with just the cuttings.
Conclusion
Mosaic plants are refreshing elements to add to your pond. However, growing them requires attention and regular maintenance to prevent them from withering or overpopulating the pond. Although this plant is uniquely beautiful, there are drawbacks you should bear in mind if you decide to plant them. If you live in a tropical place, monitor it as it can overspread if you ignore their development.
