Azolla, Fairy moss, Azolla caroliniana

Fairy moss, Azolla (Azolla Caroliniana) A cup size portion of hundreds? thousands? supplied, Azolla is a pretty and unique tiny free floating moss ideal in small pools, where it is feasible to keep it under control Nicknamed 'Fairy moss' for its tiny size and quite stunning ability to adopt different colours through the season, from a soft ferny light green to a stunning orange and crimson colour as autumn arrives. This is a fast growing plant useful for its ability to shade water and for turning surplus water fertility into plant growth, easy to dispose of as a useful mulch when there is a surplus. Easy to control by netting or mist spraying surplus floating plants to one side of the pond. A useful feature of Azolla is its ability to cover a water butt or pond surface, reducing evaporation considerably. When it forms thick layers on the surface, mosquitoes will find it difficult to lay eggs in water. Surplus Azolla can be used as a source of mulch, to spread around plants that need drought protection, extracting nitrates from over fertile ponds. Although fish may appear to try to eat the plant out of curiosity, there is no value as a food for fish, except from algae attached to the azolla perhaps On a large or natural pool it can swamp all surface areas to a depth of several inches over Summer, clearing efforts can perpetuate the problem where spores are trampled to frost free mud levels. Severe winters can clear the species, the first flush of frost brings a stunning, strong crimson tint, quite an unusual sight. Regards, andy | http://swglist.wordpress.com/