Aquatic Lettuce and Bees?

[zeketheimpailer]

Hello. I'm a pretty new pond owner, and purchased some aquatic lettuce and a few other aquatic plants. (Including elephant ear & what the laady called aquatic celery.) to put in my small pond for my red-eared slider. However, within a few months the lettuce has died, along with all other plants, except for the elephant ear. Thich slimy 'algae' which appeared to actually be the rotted roots, formed over the surface of the pond. There were bees swarming on the lettuce while it was healthy, 'till when it was shriveling up and brown, 'till it completely died.
I live in the central valley.
Is it just too hot for the plants, and I need to give shade? Did the bees actually feed off the lettuce? Any other tips?

 

[sissy]

There are not enough nutrients in the pond to feed them .Just take them out once in awhile and soak them in a tub of water with miracle grow and water and wait for them to revive them selves and then put them back in the pond .You can trim the roots if need be on the plants

 

[Big Lou]

Welcome zek

 

[zeketheimpailer]

There are not enough nutrients in the pond to feed them .Just take them out once in awhile and soak them in a tub of water with miracle grow and water and wait for them to revive them selves and then put them back in the pond .You can trim the roots if need be on the plants

How often is once in a while? (ever other day?)

 

[sissy]

nope once every 2 or 3 weeks but the longer they stay in the miracle grow the better .I leave mine in for 5 days or more .Mine in the stock tanks and in my filters and in my waterfall pond.These are water hyacinth .I could not get water lettuce this year

 

[zeketheimpailer]

nope once every 2 or 3 weeks but the longer they stay in the miracle grow the better .I leave mine in for 5 days or more .Mine in the stock tanks and in my filters and in my waterfall pond.These are water hyacinth .I could not get water lettuce this year

thank you! I'll do that soon. Nice pond btw

 

[sissy]

Thank you I just rebuilt it last year after moles chewed through my liner .I also went bigger .

 

[addy1]

Did the bees actually feed off the lettuce?

They land on pond plants and algae to be able to drink water.

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