Sophia Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 In my 80 litre bugs pond there is a blanket weed that will not leave. I have tried using barley straw (real not extract) but it didn't seem to do anything, in fact after it had started to break down I found the blanket weed liked to grow through it instead :slfg: At the moment what I do to get rid of it is put my hands in every couple of weeks and pull it out which disturbs the bottom layer of mulm and clouds the water for a couple of days and is not ideal. I don't want to put any chemical additives in as I don't want to change the water chemistry in such a way as to kill the bugs. There are lots of daphnia, snails and mosquito larvae in there. There is no pond pump or such like. Will the addition of plants help it go away? What would be recommended? (A water lily would be too big.) There is a rather spindly oxygen weed of about 4 strands growing in a container of stones - should it be in soil? this is when I had first started it - now the inside edges are green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 You could try smothering it with duckweed and then harvest the duckweed for the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 Here is an interesting fact sheet on how much barley straw to use, and when it is most efficacious. http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0012.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 efficacious love that word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 So did Lily the Pink. I wonder if she could cure blanket weed? 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted March 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 You could try smothering it with duckweed and then harvest the duckweed for the fish. I like duckweed but it's presence will make harvesting bugs a labourious process. Here is an interesting fact sheet on how much barley straw to use, and when it is most efficacious. http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0012.html/quote:2o0abmzw Thanks, will check this tonight. This may have been the information I used to calculate the amount needed last time. so will any pond plants out-compete the blanket weed do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 you could try shading the tub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony law Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 :facepalm: :spop: :gigl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 you could try shading the tub I will install my 2nd fake lily pad :thup: the mozzies like to hide under it, they don't realise that it makes it easier to catch them instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 :facepalm: :spop: :gigl: does this mean you know something about my bug pond that you aren't sharing? Other than that I have algae? Tell me or quit your snickering :an!gry and There is a rather spindly oxygen weed of about 4 strands growing in a container of stones - should it be in soil? :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Blanket weed seems to come and go in my pond throughout the seasons. I don't think plants can ever out-compete it. As to the spindly oxygen weed, a bit of soil might help. Mine are planted in big planter containers with slits on all sides and the bottom. I am probably going to have to remove some soon as it has taken over the pond! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 cool, I will be nicer to mine and see if it rewards me with less spindle. :happy2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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