Indoor plants

Eichhornia

Eichornia

Family Pontederiaceae. Native to Brazil. This plant is especially beautiful during flowering, which not everyone manages to achieve under household conditions. The stems of Eichhornia are short, and it has threadlike dark-lilac pubescent roots. There are rosettes of oval leaves on the stem.

The leaf petioles are vesicularly swollen, filled with air, and provide the plant with free flotation on the water surface (they are often mistaken for bulbs). Flowers appear in summer on an inflorescence arising from the center of the leaf rosette. The flowers themselves are pink-lilac in color, and one of the petals has a dark spot. The flowers last only one day. Then the flower stalk goes under the water.

Temperature: Eichhornia is warmth-loving; it needs about 25-27°C, not below 22°C, and during flowering 28-29°C. Eichhornia does not tolerate drafts and sharp temperature fluctuations, so the glass covering the aquarium should fit tightly to protect against drafts if the room is ventilated. But at other times access to fresh air is essential. For many, this plant dies in aquaria precisely because a lid lies on top and ventilation is too small.

Lighting: The photosynthetic intensity of Eichhornia is higher than that of submerged plants; it is light-loving and does not require shading. In autumn and winter artificial lighting may be needed; it is best to use fluorescent lamps, as in a regular fish aquarium. However, a day length of more than 14 hours will lead to vigorous plant growth and you will have to thin out the planting more often.

Propagation: Vegetatively, producing new plants on lateral shoots. In its native range Eichhornia also reproduces by seeds.

Эйхорния

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