Reprinted from “The Pond GuY” newsletter, August, 2008

 

Q: I have a weed growing off the bottom of my pond.  After looking at your catalog I think it is naiad.  I treated my pond with WhiteCap and nothing seems to happen.  I have followed the instructions on the label.  What an I doing wrong?  - Barbara of Indiana

 

A:  This isn’t the first time I have had this question.  To answer this we must first be sure what you are treating is naiad.  After reviewing the pictures you have sent me I can see why the WhiteCap (algaecide) is not working.

 

The plant you are trying to treat is not naiad but actually Chara, which is an algae.  WhiteCap is excellent for pondweeds although it will not touch chara. To your defense, many people mistake naiad for chara.  The good news is chara is much less expensive to get rid of.  AlgaeDefense is very effective on chara or any species of algae.

 

For those of you identifying pondweeds and think you may have chara too, chara is sometimes referred to as musk grass due to its distinctive musky odor.  Chara also has a gritty feel and can become almost crispy due to calcium buildup, especially when growing in hard water.  Chara also does not have a true root system, allowing it to be removed fairly easily in clumps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor’s Note:

 

The Editor had this plant in a barrel and it covered the bottom, growing up to the top.  Pulling it out did NOT help and it DOES have a small root system.  Neither did AlgaeOff kill it.  The barrel was completely broken down and

everything disinfected with a MILD chlorine bath.  It apparently is rampant in Florida and comes to us via water plants from nurseries.