How to treat najas marina or najas pectinata?

How to treat the Najas marina (Sea Naiad) when it develops thoughtlessly in your pond? In this article we will discuss this species belonging to the genus of Najas and which can be very invasive.

Najas are monocotyledonous plants, bringing together a total of 38 species of the Najadaceae or Hydrocharitaceae family depending on the classification. Like other aquatic plants, the Najas marina can become very cumbersome, even preventing the pool from breathing.

After oxygenating plants and filtering plants , let's take a closer look at these so-called invasive plants.

Najas marina and Najas pectinata

La najas marina: what is it?

Among these different species of Najas, we find the Najas marina and its green and rigid tufts. With very discreet flowers, it is generally found in stagnant water rich in organic matter. The Najas marina can reach a size of 30 cm to 100 cm.

Initially, they were mainly sold for aquariums. In natural ponds, it can quickly become invasive. Najas marina is therefore an invasive plant, often introduced by accident. She is also known by other nicknames, such as the Great Naiad , the Rods of Christ or the Major Naiad .

Najas pectinata

Rarer in European climates but nevertheless present, the Najas pectinata is an endemic plant of tropical and subtropical Africa. It sports colors ranging from pale green to reddish brown, and often forms dense clumps.

With elongated, linear leaves, these aquatic plants are very susceptible to becoming invasive. And for good reason, in culture, the Najas pectinata is very easy to handle: each fragment can almost always be cut easily. This plant can reach between 20 cm to 30 cm in height.

Invasive aquatic plants

So-called “invasive” aquatic plants are often introduced carelessly or accidentally. This can happen mainly because of several factors:

• when emptying an aquarium or pond,
• when seeds or plant fragments are transported by an animal.
• by the wind,
• through a boat hull from one body of water to another

Invasive aquatic plants can very quickly develop and take over all the endogenous flora of the same body of water.

The phenomenon of eutrophication

The phenomenon described earlier contributes to the eutrophication process. These plants intercept light and reduce the oxygen level in the water. This can lead to eutrophication of the water body. Or more precisely at his death.

This phenomenon therefore has a negative impact on fish and invertebrates in the basin. This is explained in particular by the oxygen deprivation suffered by aquatic environments known as eutrophic.

List of invasive aquatic plants

There are a number of plants known to be invasive and invasive. We have gathered some of the best known in the list below:

• Cabomba of Carolina
• Pond Crassula
• water pennywort
• Large-flowered water primrose
• creeping water primrose
• Brazilian watermilfoil
• Heterophyllous watermilfoil
• Najas Marina

Do you know a plant that is not on this list? Contact a foudebassin expert via support@foudebassin.com . We will be happy to study this plant and add it to the list of plants to watch.

How to manage invasive aquatic plants in your body of water?

Wondering how to limit the proliferation of invasive plants in your pond? We support you in the elimination of these plants in your natural body of water with several solutions:

• Natural dye (Aquipond Blue Lake)
• Mechanical mowing (Mounting by boat)

Depending on the scale of the invasion, we recommend the most suitable procedure for your situation. We therefore take care of analyzing your body of water, managing the mechanical uprooting of aquatic plants in your body of water and treating the body of water after the uprooting.

Natural dye method

Sometimes, the use of a natural dye makes it possible to control the growth of invasive plants without having to weed manually.

This solution against invasive plants is highly appreciated for its ease of implementation. In this kind of situation, we often use the natural dye Aquipond Blue Lake.

This natural dye specific to ponds is very practical for controlling the development of aquatic vegetation. This acts in particular by blocking ultraviolet rays. This has the effect of blocking the photosynthesis of aquatic plants and algae.

Mechanical mowing (mowing by boat)

We also offer weeding of aquatic plants in wetlands. Weeding is the cutting, by mowing or otherwise, of submerged, floating or erect aquatic plants, and by extension of plants in wetlands.

Cut aquatic plants must be removed and placed on the banks of the body of water to prevent the fermentation and rotting of this plant mass at the bottom of the water. The proliferation leads to rapid siltation and a reduction in the water surface. It is the only non-chemical management method.