What problems can be encountered with floating plants?
Floating plant problems usually take two forms: • Very tiny floating plants can cover a pond, totally obscuring the water. These plants are duckweed, a lobe-leafed plant about the diameter of a pencil eraser with dangling rootlets, and watermeal, which has the appearance of grainy green cornmeal dusted over the surface of the pond. From a distance, a false impression may occur that an algae problem exists. Duckweed and watermeal frequently appear together. When these plants are present, they can quickly become a problem and may cause lack of light and oxygen depletion in the water beneath the dense layer they form. Control measures can include manual removal with nets or screens if the pond is small, triploid grass carp, and use of an herbicide. A PFBC Triploid Grass Carp Permit must precede introduction of these fish into your pond. A Triploid Grass Carp Permit Application may be obtained from: Triploid Grass Carp Coordinator Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission 450 Robinson Lane Bel
