How can pondweed be grown?

It is with aeration, nutrients, and sunlight in clear, roomy water that pondweed can be grown.

Specifically, the term in question generally designates aquatic plants in the families Aponogetonaceae, Characeae, Hydrocharitaceae and Potamogetonaceae. The exact cultivation procedures can vary. But pondweed typically has to have access to:

• Aeration, through association with flowing streams and regular currents;

• Depths of 2 feet (0.61 meters) around the edges, with a gradual sloping downward to 4 feet (1.22 meters);
• Nutrients, through soil- and water-based organic matter;

• Space, for asexual reproduction -- through detached stalks, runners tubers -- and sexual reproduction -- through pollen flotation and seed dispersal;
• Sunlight, through waters whose bottom is visible from the surface.

Oxygenated water keeps food chains -- especially involving bacteria -- from becoming unbalanced. Proper organic content may be achieved by controlled fertilization, whose levels must not cloud water and thereby encourage algal blooms. Sunlight needs to penetrate waters all the way to the bottom in order to ensure proper photosynthesis by the pondweed in question.