Azolla

Family. Salviniaceae.

Origin. Distributed from Africa to India, Southeast Asia and Australia.

What does look like?  A small, herbaceous, free-floating aquatic fern, branched, up to 5 cm long. Each branch consists of many rounded leaves that are covered with tiny hairs on the upper surface. Azolla is a bright green plant, but exposure to strong sunlight and ambient temperatures can result in a reddish hue. Some species are initially red-brown, purple-orange, or red at the edges. An adult plant is approximately 25 - 35 mm long.

Height. Individual branches of azolla can reach from 1.5 to 2.5 cm in length.

Home care

Content temperature

The optimal temperature range is considered to be from 20 to 28 ° C. Some species tolerate short frosts down to - 5 ° C.

Lighting

Partial shade or direct sunlight. Heavily shaded areas should be avoided when growing. 

Care

Azolla will grow well at temperatures between 20 and 28°C.

Soil

Fresh water or wet mud, ferns die within hours if they dry out. Azolla can be grown in ponds or specially dug holes; it spreads quickly. Strong water flow can cause damage to plant leaves, so it is better to choose a standing pond with a pH between 4 and 7. Plant roots should not come into contact with the soil at the bottom of the pond or pool, as this can lead to nutrient deficiency.

Feeding

Not required

Purpose

Azolla floats on the surface, so it is used exclusively for decorating small ponds or pools. With sufficient lighting, it quickly grows and covers the entire surface of the reservoir. For practical purposes, it is grown for animal feed, used in rice crops to retain nitrogen and suppress weeds. Currently, targeted selection of the fern is underway to obtain more frost-resistant species with a high reproduction rate.

Flowering time

Doesn't bloom.

Air humidity

High, at the slightest overdrying the azolla dies.

Watering

In its natural environment, fern grows on the surface of water bodies or in heavily swampy areas, so this plant is not afraid of floods and it is worth keeping the soil constantly moist.

Transfer

The plants are placed in a swampy area or pond in the spring, and after a week it is worth completely collecting the fern, as it very quickly covers the entire surface of the pond and the fish begin to suffocate from lack of oxygen.

Reproduction

Vegetatively with various plant fragments. Azolla reproduces with extraordinary speed. Even a small shoot thrown into water, under good conditions, can cover an area of ​​up to 1 square meter in 2 - 3 weeks.

The fern can completely cover the surface of a pond or lake within a few weeks or months. Under favorable environmental conditions, it reproduces by spores and is carried through the air in the feathers of waterfowl.

Pests and diseases

Neither harmful insects nor diseases bother this fern.