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Pond lettuce

Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
in Plants
My OH has just come home with 3 pond (water) lettuce plants from the local aquatic shop.  Can anyone tell me something about them - are they hardy, over winter/freezing conditions, evergreen, do they flower and will they return next year.  How invasive are they?

Posts

  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Yes, that is it, thanks for the link pansy- I have read that it can be invasive in other, warmer countries, but with the colder winters here it shouldn't be a problem. It is a pity it isn't native though - as I am trying to refrain from planting non-native plants as much as possible now.
  • ZenjeffZenjeff Posts: 652
    Does not survive any frosts as per
    Eichornia Crassipes (Water Hyacinths), and Pistia Stratiotes (Water Lettuce), should NEVER be sold in the UK during the months of April.  In fact, in some colder areas of the UK, these lovely plants will not survive outside until at least June.  I would very much like to hear from any of you that have been advised to buy these plants at this time of year, as they won’t survive and the supplier will be aware of it!
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    They certainly didn’t survive a Scottish winter!!
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    It was suggested in the article or perhaps I read it in a book that you can keep Pistia in a heated conservatory during the winter, we don't have heat in ours.  It may survive if the winter isn't too cold here, but time will tell.  In the meantime as with most of our gardening projects it is an experiment that may or may not prove successful.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I did try keeping some Fairy Moss in the greenhouse over the winter but that was not a success either. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I tried over wintering water lettuce in an unheated double glazed conservatory down here in Cornwall and it died so I guess it should be treated as an annual. I didn't bother as it is quite expensive but lovely.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Not much hope for us then Joyce - did you keep it in a bucket of pond water?  I will try - nothing ventured.....
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    ooh! Who wants fairy moss? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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