Datasheet Floating Spurge
Botanical name:
Phyllanthus fluitans
Origin:
South America
growth height / size
2 cm high, 5 cm wide
leaf color:
green to red
flower color:
white to pink
behavior/stocking
Location at the pond:
water surface
heyday:
March to October
Light requirement:
high
Hardy:
no
For these and many other pond plants we recommend:
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Phyllanthus fluitans 2010-06-20 01, CC BY-SA 4.0
The up to two centimeters high aquatic plant Floating Spurgewhich in botany Phyllanthus fluitans is called is one floating leaf plant and thus grows the water surface.
She agrees high exposure through red leaves and small white flowers on which of March to October are to be admired. The plant five centimeters across comes from the tropical zones of South America and is due to origin not hardy.
Decorative surface vegetation for the home garden pond
Most pond plants prefer the shallow water zone or the bank area. However, the floating spurge is a floating leaf plant and therefore grows on the water surface. Many fish prefer this hiding place and feel more comfortable with the surface protection.
In addition, the red leaves and small flowers attract insects and dragonflies, which are interesting to observe due to their colorful splendor and make the pond appear livelier.
The purchase and care of the aquatic plant
The floating spurge is one of the classic floating leaf plants and is therefore in some hardware stores and garden centres available. When you buy the small plant, the leaves are often green, as it only develops the red color under high and long exposure.
It can also happen that the floating spurge appears red when you buy it, but turns green in your own pond because there is too little light. Therefore one is necessary sunny location to choose. In addition, the floating spurge prefers warm ones due to its origin Temperatures from 24 to 31 degrees Celsius.
In the winter may the Temperature not below 18 degrees Celsius sink, which is why the floating leaf plant not hardy is. In compliance with the optimal conditions for the aquatic plant, this is considered fast growing.
The requirement for the pond
Since the floating spurge a high light requirements has one, you should large expanse of water be commanded so that the plant not in the shade of the background plants swims.
This would reduce the incidence of light on the floating leaf plant, which would restrict the growth and color development of the red leaf color.
In optimal conditions, the plant has one high growth intensitywhich is why a large proportion of the water surface should be available for propagation.
The Reproduction of the Floating Spurge
The floating leaf plant forms runners after a short time, which are connected to the mother plant by a shoot axis. After a few days, full-fledged plants, which usually have two to three leaves, form on the foothills.
These new shoots can be severed, allowing the stolon to become a full plant in its own right. The small offshoots can be taken from the water and used in other ponds or even aquariums.
Due to the strong proliferation, there is often a large overgrowth of the water surface. To contain this, some plants can be removed from the water.
Overwintering of the floating leaf plant
The milkweed plant is due to its origin not hardy. Therefore the Temperature always above 18 degrees Celsius because the floating spurge would die off if it fell below the limit.
Because of this, the aquatic plant is recommended to take out of the water in autumn and overwinter in an aquarium. It should be noted that the floating leaf plant still has high light requirements, which must continue to be guaranteed.
Is the floating spurge poisonous?
The small plant is for people and animals non-toxic. Therefore, the gnawing of the roots, leaves as well as flowers safe for fish and other pond inhabitants.
For these and many other pond plants we recommend: