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Cascade problem

InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
in Problem solving
This year our cascade is being taken over by a light green growth.  I've tried several branded products but nothing shifts it:


Anyone know what this is, and how to get rid of it?
At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I get it to a lesser extent on my slate waterfall where it attaches itself very securely.
    It's basically algae (filamentous algae).
    It's happening because the water has enough nutrients in it to feed it.

    Lots of oxygenating plants in the pond will help - the type you just throw into the water.
    If you have a header pool chuck in a bunch of watercress (from a supermarket), that will use plenty of nutrients and help to starve the algae. I also use the watercress - cutting it above the water level it's really peppery.
    It also seeds, so will return the following year.

    I scrape the algae off with my fingernails and try and not let bits go back into the pond.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    I guess it depends if you have a pond
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    It's happening because the water has enough nutrients in it to feed it.


    Thanks Pete.  That makes sense as i'm using tap water in the absence of rain.  Apparently tap water is a lot richer.  The cascade runs into a small pond so I'll put something in there.



    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes tap water (especially hard tap water) can contain nutrients that encourage the growth.
    Once bunched oxygenating plants start growing quickly they'll starve the algae so most of it will die off.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited June 2023
    Tapwater, including hard has very little nutrient.  You know how pure a chalk stream looks.The nutients will come from leached soil, decaying organic matter,  added fish food, or animal urine (quite common on moorlands).

    It will grow faster and be more apparent in sunny weather when is is swelled with oxygen bubbles.

    The active ingedient in algae suppressing barley straw is hydrogen peroxide.  I have never used this, except in my surfing days, but perhaps worth a test starting with very dilute. (say 1%).  It degrades to water, so no long term problems.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I understood it is dangerous to eat watercress grown in standing water. It should only be eaten when grown in running streams.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    My understating (from a long time ago - so may be incorrect) is that it shouldn't be eaten from natural running streams as there is a danger of flukes being in the water which can come from animals drinking the water upstream.

    My pond has a bio-filter and the cress is in the header pool that's fed by the bio-filter.
    I've been eating it for years and I'm still here :)
    I've also given it to neighbours - and they're still there.
    It grows quite straggly and I make sure not to use any that have been below the water, just cutting the tops off that are above the water.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I've not noticed any problems and I have used my watercress ( from a "still" pond) for the last 5 years or so.  I've also grown water cress in buckets of water - again, no ill effects.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Regarding Hydrogen Peroxide.  I just googled it for variuos reasns,  A lot of hits for H2O2 in gardening.  Worth doing your own research.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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