coolrobby2003

Woo-hoo I Just Recieved My Papyrus Today! Unfortunately Thou I Do Not Believe My Original Idea Will Work! That Was Just Too Plant Them In The Bottom Of My 3-4 Foot Water Tank! So Now I Ask You What If I Take A Couple Like 12 Quart Pots-fill Them 1/2 Way With Sand/slate Mix And Then Plant Them? I Do Not Wish Too Use Actual Soil Because I Mite Hang These Into The H20 Tank, And I Do Not Wish Too Get The Water Dirty! Will They Grow Decent In Just Sand-thats What Is Primarily In Egypt!!!
Thanks 2 All
Robby

P.s. The Papyrus Plants Are About 1 Foot In Height!

Tog Tan

That's what a lot of people do Robby, put the plants in pots and into the water tank/pool/pond. This way it keeps the growth in check and you can rotate it with other plants when you are bored with it. DO IT!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Ueberwinden

Robby,

I am in a zone 6 and to overwinter my papyrus I keep them in gallon pots with coco coir as the medium. There are about 6 or 8 gallon pots in arubber maid container that allows the water level to be maintained right up to the rim. The container can be purchased from walmart or a local department store for about $7 or $8. As they multiply in the gallon pots I divide them into new gallons or they can be grown in patio pots, they don't have to remain in water, just water them frequently. I find if you are going to have them out of water it is better to use peat because of the water retaining properties. Peat can hold up to 600 times it's own weight!! Good luck and keep in touch.

Michael

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saltydad

Also remember that if you put the pot in water add a nice layer (1-2") of pea gravel on top to stop the soil from floating into the water. Good luck!

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Gardener972

Speaking of this plant. I was debating yesterday if I wanted to get one. I once went to a yardsale here in Dallas and they had them in the ground, no where near a water source. I've read they can be invasive. What do you think about planting them in a shady somewhat damp location? Would I regret it?

Tog Tan

If the area you are planting is not permanently wet and rich in nutrients, they hold well as a small clump. On the other hand, if you monitor its growth and trim it regularly, it will be ok.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Gardener972

The area is pretty much permanently damp since it's quite shady. If it did become invasive, would it be easy to get rid of?

Tog Tan

Invasiveness is when the clump is totally untended/neglected. So if you thin it down as it grows you should be ok.

Damp is not like wet as I have mentioned. In nature they grow along the fringes and into the shallow areas of permanent water bodies. I don't think dampness will trigger it to invade if you keep a watchful eye. Just don't go over feeding it cos once it starts to multiply, it multiplies!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

lorax

I've only ever found it to be invasive in full, permanent saturation with water. However, since I use it for bioremediation, it's contained in a cement tank so I don't worry overly about it.

Tog Tan

Oi Robby, where are you??? There you go again....post and run!

Say sumthing man! Like....

" I wuz asking about papyrus, not invasive..invasion? I thought the Iraqi war is settled? What's wrong wiv you blinks? Can't keep to the topic?" or, "Jeez guys, know any recipes with the papyrus?" or, "Will sharks be fine in my papyrus tank?"

Howzat???

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Gardener972

Can you put fish in the tank and not have them eat the roots?

lorax

Yup. I use bettas.

Bob

You have Paroon sharks(don't remember the latin) there that would do nicely!

lorax you've mentioned the Bettas several times before on different posts. Are you able to keep multiple(ragged finned) males in a pond? Maybe just a happy male and a bunch of females? Maybe you're keeping the short finned wild variety. Is the top of your pond constantly covered with gooey bubble nests? Inquiring minds want to know.

Robby come back , come baaaack!

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coolrobby2003

Hey guys thanks for all the info-actually i just have papyrus dangling in water for now-and what id really love too put in mi tank are those big louisana crayfish-kno where i can get some anyone?

lorax

Louisiana is the obvious answer to that question....

I keep one ragged finned male and a harem in each pond; they eat mosquito and blackfly larvae for me. The gooey bubble nests tend to accrete to the stems of the papyrus (in the papyrus tank) and underneath the Amazon water lilies (in the lily tank). The ones that live in my rice paddies cohabit with tilapia. Given the size of the ponds, it's possible to have one male and a harem. Given the size of the paddies, it's possible to keep 5 or 6 males and their respective harems. Of course, occasionally the tilapia will eat them, but they seem to do ok.

I have naturally-occurring tetras in one of the streams, too. I tend to just let those little guys be.