Keep soil wet: Bog or aquatic plant - Plant Encyclopedia Results (Page 11)

Urospatha friedrichsthalii is a large shrub, indicating as high as 5 to 10 feet tall with lush, green foliage. It is native to Central America and is grown in USDA Zone 9-11. Urospatha friedrichsthalii adapts best to wetter soils and often is grown in full sun or semi-shade. It is naturally found growing in a bog or aquatic environment and it is best to keep the soil moist to mimic these conditions when growing this species.

When growing Urospatha friedrichsthalii in a pot, especially in cold regions, it is important to bring the shrub indoors before it starts to freeze, or to provide a winter shelter with mulch to protect the roots from the cold temperatures. Planting in a moist, well-draining soil with partial shade will help to manage the risk of damaging cold exposure. Additionally, if kept in a pot, supplemental feeding will be necessary. For best results, opt for an organic liquid fertilizer applied roughly every month. Re-potting is also recommended every other year, which will provide a fresh soil with more nutrients to support the plant.

When bringing Urospatha friedrichsthalii indoors, it is important to provide indirect, bright light - whether through a large window or artificial. Additionally, it is important to keep the humidity high to recreate the conditions from its natural environment. To do so, mist the leaves regularly and provide humidity trays with stones, with water just reaching the surface to create steam. Urospatha friedrichsthalii is an eye-catching houseplant and by keeping it healthy, it will provide a burst of captivating colors for years to come.

Utricularia is the largest genus of carnivorous plants with more than 220 species that occur throughout the world. They are found on every continent except for Antarctica. Some are terrestrial species found in moist-to-wet, often acid soils, and in sphagnum moss, while others are aquatic, preferring to be floating freely in quiet waters in ponds and ditches. Many terrestrial species in the tropics are epiphytic.The bladderworts present a rather unique morphology. First of all, the plants are entirely rootless -- completely giving up the normal plant way of obtaining nutrients from the root system. Also, the distinction between stem and leaf is often vague, especially in the aquatic species. The trapping mechanism, the bladder, is a modified leaf or a leaf division morphologically, in general conformity with all trapping structures found in carnivorous plants of other genera. The flowers are generally quite colorful and showy for both terrestrial and aquatic species, especially when seen in masses. Some of these flowers compete with those of orchids in their beauty.

The pink, fragrant flowers of this aquatic plant attract both butterflies and hummingbirds, some visiting as far away as South America and then wintering in North America.

Victoria amazonica is a popular ornamental plant in gardening and water garden displays, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions, as it requires a warm climate. These elegant blooms can range in color from white to off-white, or even light pink depending on the night they are opened. This is the largest known waterlily, with leaves reaching to 6ft across. Whilst Victoria amazonica loves full sun, it can also grow in semi-shade. The waterlily can be planted in a wide range of aquatic habitats including lakes, marshes, ponds, seasonal pools and slow-moving rivers, as well as in a bog garden.

In order to thrive, the Amazon Waterlily needs neutral or acidic, still water with a high nutrient content. The plants should be planted in soil within containers, and then placed in the water. In colder regions, it may be necessary to bring the Amazon Waterlily potted container indoors during wintertime. The container should be placed in shallow water in a warm spot out of direct sunlight, such as an empty bathtub. Allowing water to evaporate will leave the roots out of the water. The water depth should never get lower than 6 inches though. A balanced fertilizer specifically designed for waterlilies should be applied every two weeks. If the waterlily is grown in a pond, no additional fertilization is required as the fish, frogs, etc. in the pond will help keep natural nutrients levels optimal.

This exotic waterlily can be grown in USDA Zones 9-11, but if planted in colder regions, growers should be aware that the plant may not survive the winter months.

Overall, Victoria amazonica is an elegant and showy plant that offers an array of benefits and makes an excellent feature for any water garden.

Victoria cruziana can be grown in cooler waters than its sister within the genus, the more familiar giant waterlily Victoria amazonica.

Xanthosoma belongs to the aroid family and is a large shrub in the wild, growing between 5-10 ft tall and having very effective ornamental foliage. It is a plant native to South America, usually found in such countries as Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

This plant requires full or semi-shade and moist soil or wetlands for growing. Because of its moisture requirements and ornamental foliage, this plant is popular among gardeners and landscapers. Especially if it is grown in the pots in cold regions, Xanthosoma needs regular watering and the soil should be kept consistently moist.

In terms of climate, it prefers a constant warm and humid environment; it is suggested a minimum temperature between 50 - 70°F which means that it can survive in USDA Zone 9-11. With that being said, Xanthosoma is perfect for bog or aquatic gardens and this plant really enjoys direct sunlight, especially in the early morning or late afternoon.

In order to guarantee its successful growth, there are a couple of requirements that need to be met. Make sure that the plants are watered regularly, soil is moist and matches the alkaline pH levels of 6 to 8 and also, this plant is not very frost-tolerant and extra attention should be given if temperatures drop.

Xanthosoma is a very low-maintenance plant and it does not require a lot of fertilizer or pruning. It does, however, need to be monitored for pests, including fungal infections which can be through over-watering. Despite this, it is a very popular plant due to its ornamental foliage and low maintenance features.

This is an old fashioned, but very rewarding garden plant. Zantedeschia is named after Professor Zantedeschi, probably Giovanni Zantedeschi, 1773-1846, an Italian physician and botanist. The flowers are faintly scented and this attracts various crawling insects and bees which are responsible for pollinating the flowers. The spathe turns green after flowering and covers the ripening berries. It rots away when these are ripe and the succulent yellow berries attract birds, which are responsible for seed dispersal. The rhizome is large and eaten by wild pigs and porcupines and the ripe fruit enjoyed by birds. Raw plant material causes swelling of the throat because of microscopic, sharp calcium oxalate crystals. The leaves are used as a poultice and a treatment for headaches. May be used as a marginal plant along streams, or on the edge of a pond. Plant in partial shade if there is no permanent water. It can be planted as a foliage plant in deep shade under trees but will not flower well in this position. It is fast growing and likes very rich, well-drained conditions. It is an excellent cutflower and lasts a long time in water. Nowadays there are other forms of this species which will enliven an old theme. There is also an attractive form with leaves spotted white. Requires consistently moist soil.

See Zantedeschia aethiopica.