Crab claw data sheet
Botanical name:
Stratiotes aloides
Origin:
Central Europe and Central Asia
growth height / size
up to 40 centimeters
leaf color:
Green
flower color:
White
behavior/stocking
Location at the pond:
deeper areas
heyday:
May to July
Light requirement:
partial shade to sun
Hardy:
Yes
For these and many other pond plants we recommend:
Petr Filippov, Stratiotes aloides2, CC BY 3.0
General introduction
The crab claw is a popular pond plant and belongs to the frogbit family. Unfortunately, she is now under natural reserve, but it is still commercially available. Crab claws are best known for their unique shape, which is where they get their name from.
The elongated and thin leaves are arranged in a rose shape and thus have similarities to the claws of crabs. These protrude from the water in summer, along with small white flowers. An alternative name for the aquatic plant is water aloe, given the appearance.
Acquisition and maintenance / care
purchase
The crab claws can be bought commercially and placed individually in the pond. First, the plant should be placed in shallower water to form the first shoots.
The plant should later in a deeper area of the pond, either free-floating or anchored in the ground. This can be up to a meter deep. A separate plant basket is not necessary, the plant simply floats in the water.
Underwater then forms a branched network of roots and runners. In the In summer, the leaves and flowers stretch outwards, across the surface of the water. And do not be alarmed, because in winter the plant retires. See the wintering section for more information.
Crab claws should be on one sunny place be planted, but partial shade is also fine. However, sunlight is essential for the growth of the plant. Without enough light, it will be smaller. A muddy ground is also recommended. There the plant can anchor itself with the roots.
attitude and care
Nutrient-rich pond water is good for the growth of crab claws. However, no fertilizer is necessary for this, the pond will balance itself out in most cases.
So the plant is not very demandingwhen it comes to actual keeping and grooming. As long as the pond water is sufficiently cared for, the crab claw can simply survive.
requirements for the pond
Crab claws are excellent for keeping the pond balanced. The filtering of nutrients and the relative longevity is ideal for a pond.
It cleans the water and is harmless to other plants in the area. So for the home pond you can only win by planting crab claws.
propagation
If too many runners form and they crowd each other, individual plants can be cut back or divided. crab claws multiplies by itself and forms many daughter plants.
However, these should not be arbitrarily suspended again, but only in places where you really want to spread crab claws.
wintering
As already mentioned, the crab claw only emerges from the water in summer. The rest of the time the plant is dormant underwater and does not show itself. temperatures up to -30 degrees are not a problem, as the crab claws are also native to areas such as Siberia.
The old leaves die off and it a winter bud forms (Turionen), in which the plant overwinters. The next spring she shows up again with a new robe of leaves.
For these and many other pond plants we recommend: