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How to Control Watermeal

Watermeal --- the smallest flowering plant known to science --- is 1/16-inch wide. The plant looks like nothing more than a seed floating on the water. These unassuming plants can cover a pond; this blocks sun from reaching the lower parts of the pond. The lack of sunlight prevents algae and other aquatic vegetation from producing oxygen, which in turn suffocates the fish that inhabit the pond. Controlling the spread of the watermeal is vital to preserving a healthy environment in your pond.

Instructions

- 1
  Wait for a windy day to push all the watermeal to one side of the pond. Scoop as much watermeal from the surface of the pond as you can. A long handled net, such as those used to clean swimming pools, may be effective for this task. Dispose of the watermeal away from the pond so that it does not wash back in.
- 2
  Stock the pond with Koi. Koi is a species of fish that eats watermeal. Koi alone will not eliminate the watermeal, but they will help control the spread of the watermeal.
- 3
  Use chemical treatments to kill the watermeal. Herbicides such as diquat and flouridone will kill the watermeal, but will disappear from the water table within 30 days. This minimizes risk to other plant life.

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