Plant, care for, cut, propagate & more

Plant cattails correctly

The planting time of Cattails extends from spring to autumn. So that the strong-growing ornamental plant does not conquer your water world, we recommend using separate plant baskets. Fill this in with a fine silty mixture humus and sand to plant the rhizome in. To keep the substrate from being washed away or dug up by curious fish, spread a thin layer of pebbles over it. Then place the lamp cleaners on the swampy bank up to a water depth of 60 cm.
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care tips

In order to professionally care for lamp cleaners, the care program includes the following measures:

• Cut out wilted leaves periodically to keep them from floating in the water
• Cut inflorescences for use as dry decoration in summer, well before full bloom
• In the event of deficiency symptoms, administer a special fertilizer for aquatic plants
• Before the first frost, tie the stalks loosely together with sisal

In early spring, cut back cattails to the ground so that the fresh leaves can sprout unhindered.

Which location is suitable?

A cattail feels in good hands on the sunny edge of still or gently flowing water. Half-shade locations are tolerated, but detract from the beauty of the impressive flower heads. Place a broad-leaved or narrow-leaved bulrush on a swampy bank or in 20 to 60 cm of water. The dwarf cattail should not be deeper than 40 cm in the water.

What soil does the plant need?

In order to elicit the best side of a lamp cleaner, it is important to have a balanced combination of soil and water quality. The ornamental plant prefers to spread its mighty rhizomes in nutrient-rich, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil that is bathed in water with a medium to soft degree of hardness.

When is flowering time?

Lampbrush blooms from July to August. After a mild winter, the dwarf cattail unfolds its conspicuous fruit ears in a sunny location as early as June and lasts well into August.

Cut cattails properly

Only cut back a lamp cleaner in early spring to make room for fresh shoots. Throughout the winter, the aquatic plant adorns the otherwise empty pond with its stiffly upright leaves and decorative, brown inflorescences. Hobby gardeners who want to while away the lazy winter months with private floristry should cut off the distinctive cobs in good time in summer before they fully bloom. Dried in an airy place over a period of 2 weeks, they have become indispensable as part of creative arrangements or magnificent drying arrangements.

Fertilize cattails properly

In view of its considerable urge to spread, a supplementary supply of nutrients for lamp cleaners only comes into consideration in exceptional cases. Fertilizer is only applied when symptoms of deficiency become apparent, such as stunted flower spikes or yellowed leaves. Specialist shops have special preparations available in liquid form or as sticks, which you can administer precisely to the affected aquatic plant.

pests

The starchy, fleshy rhizomes are high on the menu for ravenous voles. Therefore, lay out the plant basket with a close-meshed wire mesh to keep the pests at a distance.

hibernate

While the winter calm settles in the pond, lamp cleaners remain active. Since the aquatic plant thrives both hardy and wintergreen, it makes an important contribution to maintaining gas exchange in the water during the cold season. Therefore, only cut back cattails at the end of winter. In the fall, tie the stems together loosely to keep dried leaves from floating around in the water.

Breeding cattails

First a cattail colonizes the pond or stream, you can save yourself the financial expense of purchasing additional copies. These methods of propagation are available:

• Division of the root ball in spring
• Separation of rhizome cuttings in order to plant them in the swampy soil at the new location
• Harvest the seeds in autumn to sow the cold germs directly at the edge of the pond

Alternatively, fill a waterproof seed tray with mud soil to plant the seeds 1-2cm deep. Filled with lime-free water up to a height of 1 cm, place the vessel on the partially shaded, warm window sill at 20 degrees Celsius. The seed then receives a cold stimulus for 4-6 weeks on the wintry balcony or in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator, whereby the water must not freeze through. Germination then begins at the warm window seat. The young lamp cleaners are pricked with 2 pairs of leaves. Of course, cattails propagated by seedling take 2 to 3 years before the first cob blossom.

Which lamp cleaner types are recommended?

In order to spice up the private water world with lamp cleaners, the following 3 types are the focus of interest:

• Broad-leaved bulrush: Majestic lamp cleaner with a height of 200 cm and a width of 100 cm; keeps the water clean
• Narrow-leaved cattail: The more delicate counterpart with a slim silhouette and leaves that are half as narrow; Growth height 150 cm
• Dwarf cattails: Thanks to their graceful stature with a height of 60 cm and a width of 40 cm, they are the ideal species for the small pond

All three types not only stage an opulent appearance, but also act as effective water purifiers. As heavy consumers, lamp cleaners filter the nutrients out of the water and deprive annoying algae of their livelihood.

Are cattails under nature protection?

Contrary to popular belief, cattails are not protected. In fact, volunteers from the nature conservation association NABU are working to stop lamp cleaners from spreading. Under the influence of its powerful rhizomes, ponds and lakes are at risk of silting up. Consequently, there is more of a need to protect nature from cattails.
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trivia

Long forgotten is another amazing attribute of cattails. Their massive rhizomes are rich in natural strength. As archaeological finds have shown, people processed the rhizomes into flour more than 30,000 years ago. If one hectare of swampland is planted with lamp cleaner, the amount income to a whopping 8 tons of flour.