I spent 3 hours yesterday trimming and collecting Anacharis from the cement pond. The plant has become a lush green mountain, however it eventually reachs the surface and becomes an unsightly mat. Though unpleasant to view this floating mass provides habitat for all kinds of larva, snails, dragonflies and topminnow spawnings. It also flowers which is subtle visual treat though the typical pollen and algae buildup on the floating mat provide a strong yuck factor.
Down in the shag carpet the expanding rooted portion has now begun encroaching on the shallow swimming area and the girls break much loose with their diving and thrashing about. These now floating pieces i collect, trim and provide the lush greentips and root structures to the local fishstore as an appreciative gift. Yesterday i started studying and considering how the plant grows and wondered how "farmers" raise it for resell.
Years ago when i first began to establish the cement pond with various plants, my Anachris attempts were not successful in the shallow gravel beds or various pots i tried. After giving up i dove deep down into the 8' end and there was a little Anacharis sprig with roots running into the shag carpet that lined the bottom. 5 or so years later from this single sprig i now have a green mountain. I am very happy with it as the Anacharis provides filtration, food, habitat, cover, oxygen, and seems to reflect summer heat cooling the water. The plant has many variations meaning that some strands are long, spindly and colored a dull whitish green while sometimes, not always, the tips are lush green bursts of new growth. Often long thin rootlets are coming out from areas mid strand. When a piece is dislodged from the carpet it will usually have a mass of roots. If i trim off a lush tip a new lush tip may or may not develop below that point.
I will be studying the internet over the next few weeks to see if i can find any information on "cultivating" Anacharis but im curious of any experiences forum members have had. I often see it in local goldfish ponds and in Florida near springs. It is often one of the first plants aquarium keepers will try. The fishstore fella tells me several schools use it for biological studies.
I dont want to start another career as an Anacharis Farmer but i would like to maximize the lush green tips. Experiences?
Casper
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