pond creatures

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by dampflippers

Hi Red Robin,
I'm afraid it is Austrailian swamp stonecrop/ NZ pygmyweed/Crassula helmsii/ Tillea recurva- an invasive alien.
Google them, and also do image search to see ponds that are completely covered with it.
Unfortunately people still sell it.
To remove (if you want to) better wait until late summer and early autumn.
As it's a small pond, either gently hand weed trying not to break it because it will regrow from a tiny fragment, or take out basket and replant minus the crassula. Don't disturb your newts now though.

....Thanks yet again

As you say, as mine is a small pond it's very easy for me to control and the long strands are easy to pull out including the root. It seems to help retain the Duckweed's spread and certainly hasn't interfered with the growth of Water-forget-me-not or Watercress. The tadpoles enjoyed it (before they got hit by the newts) and something has laid an egg strip on a strand too.

So, for now at least, I'm happy to let it live. As can be seen from my photos it helps create a useful carpet and shelter. The water snails spend time amongst it too.

It was already vigorous in the basket which my friend gifted me and he didn't know what it was either.

[tom00_uk]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

....Thanks yet again

As you say, as mine is a small pond it's very easy for me to control and the long strands are easy to pull out including the root. It seems to help retain the Duckweed's spread and certainly hasn't interfered with the growth of Water-forget-me-not or Watercress. The tadpoles enjoyed it (before they got hit by the newts) and something has laid an egg strip on a strand too.

So, for now at least, I'm happy to let it live. As can be seen from my photos it helps create a useful carpet and shelter. The water snails spend time amongst it too.

It was already vigorous in the basket which my friend gifted me and he didn't know what it was either.

does the river at the end of your garden ever flood to the level of your water body?

if yes than keeping an invasive with the potential for release would be unwise

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

does the river at the end of your garden ever flood to the level of your water body?

if yes than keeping an invasive with the potential for release would be unwise

....No, not unless there's a tsunami, and in those circumstances I'd be more worried than I would be about any invasive releases! It would be a case of invasive arrivals.

There's a big levee between my garden and the little river ["When The Levee Breaks" great song by Led Zeppelin].

[King Edward]

Red Robin,

Given its status as one of the most serious invasive aquatic species, I think it would be wise to think about how you might eradicate the Swamp Stonecrop. Not necessarily immediately, especially seeing that it's providing a good habitat for other pondlife, but in the not too distant future.

You could perhaps look for some equivalent native plants that would provide similarly good habitat, e.g. Water Starwort, and the Watercress you have already. It would probably be necessary to remove all the plants together from that end of the pond, then wash and very carefully check the ones you were going to put back. Trying to remove it bit by bit would probably just fragment it and spread it all over the pond - it has the potential to regenerate from even tiny pieces of stem, which is one reason why it's so invasive.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by King Edward

Red Robin,

Given its status as one of the most serious invasive aquatic species, I think it would be wise to think about how you might eradicate the Swamp Stonecrop. Not necessarily immediately, especially seeing that it's providing a good habitat for other pondlife, but in the not too distant future.

You could perhaps look for some equivalent native plants that would provide similarly good habitat, e.g. Water Starwort, and the Watercress you have already. It would probably be necessary to remove all the plants together from that end of the pond, then wash and very carefully check the ones you were going to put back. Trying to remove it bit by bit would probably just fragment it and spread it all over the pond - it has the potential to regenerate from even tiny pieces of stem, which is one reason why it's so invasive.

....Due to the small size of my pond, it's totally practical and easy to keep under control. Knowing that it is currently providing an important role in the breeding season, I have no intention of even extensively trimming it until autumn. I can see that Water Starwort would be an effective substitute at some stage in the future IF I have to do any serious maintenance work on the Iris's at that end of the pond. Thanks, I'll bear Water Starwort in mind, but..

[King Edward]

The point is, as long as it remains in the pond it has the potential to spread elsewhere and cause problems. Also, it is important that you don't pass plants on to anyone else's pond, which is the way you acquired it originally. If your friend has it in his pond as well, you should at least draw his attention to the problem. Otherwise, he could continue to spread it unknowingly. There is a short information sheet about it here: pdf

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by King Edward

The point is, as long as it remains in the pond it has the potential to spread elsewhere and cause problems. Also, it is important that you don't pass plants on to anyone else's pond, which is the way you acquired it originally. If your friend has it in his pond as well, you should at least draw his attention to the problem. Otherwise, he could continue to spread it unknowingly. There is a short information sheet about it here: pdf

....It's extremely unlikely that I'd be passing on any pond plants to anyone but point taken. My friend sourced my whole basket of iris's, stonecrop, and duckweed from a pond which was being converted to tarmac, so not from any of his fish ponds. I'll mention it to him but I know what he'll say!

I'm not going to be going through the chemical processes recommended in that pdf - Far too complicated. But thanks . I'll simply uproot bit by bit and keep at it. Any that grows back can quite simply be removed. I do the same with duckweed except that I like it and keep a certain amount. Same with oxygenator plants... Same with everything in my pond... Just a matter of daily/weekly management, I'm around my pond every day I'm at home and it's the beauty of it being small and all of it accessible. But I appreciate your helpful information.