Hechtkraut, Pontederia cordata – care information

Each spike flower is composed of numerous simple cup flowers with a diameter of 5-8 millimeters. Consequently, the pike herb is considered an ideal pasture for bees and butterflies for the water in the natural garden.

location

If the bank of a pond or stream extends over both sunny and partially shaded areas, continuous planting with pike weed is possible without any problems. The decorative aquatic plant thrives in almost all lighting conditions, as long as it is not in deep shade. Pontederia cordata develops its optimum in a sun-drenched location, protected from the blazing midday sun.

soil conditions and water depth

Heart-leaved pikeweed thrives best in the shallow water zone of your pond with a depth of 10 to 30 cm. In a loamy-sandy and nutrient-rich soil, the rhizomes gain a foothold and over the years develop into dense clumps. If you want to keep the sprawling habit and the extent of spread under control, plant Pontederia cordata in the muddy soil using a plant basket.

Tip: During a dry summer, the water level sometimes drops so much that pike weed is no longer deep enough in the water. If the pond cannot be filled up quickly, cover the rhizomes with a thick layer of leaves and peat during the transition period.

Fertilize

The closer the substrate comes to the ideal conditions for the distinctive water hyacinth plant, the less effort is required to ensure adequate nutrient supply. In relation to the total plant and fish stocks in the body of water, there can still be signs of deficiency. Fertilize Pontederia cordata only when symptoms show an actual need. These include poor or absent flowering and yellowing leaves. How to fertilize the aquatic plant professionally:

• Ideally, fertilize the root feeder with sticks or cones that are pressed into the substrate
• Alternatively, apply a diluted concentration of a special liquid fertilizer for pond plants

When administering fertiliser, please bear in mind that an overdose is much more complicated to reverse than fertilizing again after an undermeasured quantity. As soon as the pike weed presents itself in its old beauty, the additional nutrient supply can be stopped.

To cut

Loving care not only elicits long-lasting, lush flowering from the magnificent freshwater plant, but also encourages the urge to spread. Thanks to the frugal tolerance to cutting, you can easily keep the growth of Pontederia cordata under control using scissors. How to do it:

• Cut off wilted flower stalks regularly during the summer
• Only cut retracted leaves close to the ground in late autumn or early spring
• Combine central pruning with careful thinning of the entire plant

If the fleshy rhizomes grow to an unwanted length, trim them off with scissors or a knife. It is an advantage if the aquatic plant is dormant at this time in order to keep the associated stress as low as possible. A wisely chosen date for this cut is therefore a mild day in spring.

hibernate

The heart-leaved pikeweed is endowed by mother nature with an extensive frost tolerance, which, however, does not necessarily apply in the shallow water zone. If in doubt, plant Pontederia cordata in a basket to overwinter them using one of the following methods:

• Before the first frost transplant pikeweed with a basket into the deep water area at a depth of at least 50 cm
• Optionally move the plant to the cold water aquarium in frost-free, bright winter quarters
• Plant out in the pond as soon as there is no longer any threat of intense ground frost in spring

It is also possible to cut off all above-ground parts of the plant in autumn and place the basket in a pot with bog soil. In the bright, frost-free location, keep the soil constantly moist during the winter with collected rainwater or decalcified tap water. If no peat soil is available, choose an alternative substrate that is loose, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and free of lime.

Tip: If heart-leaved pikeweed overwinters in the deep-water zone, any ice cover is kept as snow-free as possible. In this way, enough light falls on the aquatic plants so that they continue to produce vital oxygen.

multiply

In view of the numerous advantages that the colorful freshwater plant has to offer, the desire for more specimens is not surprising. How good that even this aspect of cultivation is so easy to handle. In particular, the following two methods are successful without extensive prior knowledge:

division of the rhizomes

Two time windows open during the year to propagate heart-leaved pikeweed by division. In the nutritious and soft substrate of the bank area, the rhizomes have such vital growth potential that they produce daughter plants. Knowledgeable hobby gardeners know how to use this natural mechanism for propagation. Follow these steps in autumn during the months of September and October and in spring during the months of March and April:

• Dig up the entire rootstock and place on a firm surface
• Using a sharp, disinfected knife, cut off a root strand with a sprouting daughter plant
• Place in the plant basket at the new location in the ground while maintaining the previous planting depth
• Alternatively, first root the rhizome in the pot with peat sand and then plant out the young plant

Although the flat zone plant thrives in nutrient-rich soil, a lean, slightly acidic substrate should be used for rooting. In this way, you animate the little daughter plant to a diligent root formation in order to get to the few nutrients. Only plant well-rooted aquatic plants in the usual soil quality for adult specimens.

sowing

The small fruits, each containing a seed, thrive in autumn. Since these seeds do not guarantee pure propagation, we recommend purchasing certified seeds from specialist retailers. Sowing is possible all year round and follows these steps:

• Line a deep plate with pulp, scatter the seeds and moisten with a fine shower
• Cover a plastic sheet and place in a partially shaded location at 22 to 25 degrees Celsius
• The seedlings prick out in a plastic tray filled with peat sand or pricking soil
• Place them in a larger container, which is filled with water so that the soil is 1-2 cm under water

When the plants grow out of the water, transfer them to individual pots. In slightly acidic bog bed soil, keep the young pike weeds constantly moist while they develop a strong root system. From April the young plants can be planted out in a basket in the shallow water zone. The top premise for a successful sowing of Pontederia cordata is that the soil must not dry out at any time.

pests

Irrespective of their wet location in the shallow water zone of ponds and streams, pike weeds are not immune to infestation by voracious pests. Here it is primarily aphids that attack the beautiful heart leaves, the juicy shoots and decorative spikes of flowers. In particular, keep an eye on the underside of the leaves to spot the tiny black or green lice in good time. Typical symptoms of the harmful sucking activity are light spots and ruffled leaf edges. Since the use of poisonous pesticides is taboo in densely populated ponds, take the following action against the plague:

• Rinse the infested plant daily with as hard a jet of water as possible
• Carry out this procedure continuously for at least a week in order to achieve lasting success
• Alternatively, treat pike weed with Neudorff horsetail extract every 5 days

Since the lice excrete honeydew as a waste product, an infestation is often accompanied by the spread of sooty mold fungi. If black, sticky spots develop on the leaves, cut them off immediately and dispose of them with household waste.

Diseases

If there are health problems with pike weed, two fungal infections are often responsible. Below is a brief overview of the symptoms and possible treatments:

Leaf spot disease
It is fungi of the species Colletotrichum or Phyllostica that make plant life difficult for Pontederia cordata. Point-like spots appear on the previously lush green heart leaves, initially yellowish-brown and later black. As the process progresses, these dots spread out, flow together, and the leaf dies. Weakened aquatic plants that suffer from a lack of light or water that is too hard are particularly susceptible to leaf spot disease. Cut off all diseased leaves and dispose of them with household waste. You then put the culture conditions to the test to eliminate any deficiencies.

Rhizome rot
The fungus species Gloeosporium also lies in wait for stressed pike weed and has its sights on the fleshy rhizomes. If the thick root strands soften, turn brown and give off an unpleasant odor, the suspicion of rhizome rot is obvious. If the leaves curl up and take on a yellowish color at the same time, there is an urgent need for action. Cut off the rotten rhizomes with a sharp knife and dust the cuts with charcoal ash. Take this opportunity to check the lighting conditions and the space available in the basket. If the roots are crowded together, the aquatic plant should be immediately transferred to a larger plant basket in a sun-drenched location.

Conclusion
Only the creative bank planting transforms the pond into a green oasis of well-being. The floral opulence is provided by the heart-leaved pikeweed with its blue spikes of flowers, which rise above the shapely foliage in summer and spoil the eye of the beholder. Planted in a basket, Hechtkraut spends the winter in the deep water zone, in the cold water aquarium or in a bright, frost-free room in a pot with moist, acidic substrate. If you want more blue-flowered specimens, you have the choice of dividing the rhizomes and sowing for propagation.