The snowflake is a pretty plant that has a deep green leaf and can float only in water or can be planted like a water lily in a mix of sand and fertilizer. When planted in soil their leaves become almost as large as a water lily. The flowers bloom white and have a dainty filigree look as if someone has croqueted them from threads. They need the sun to bloom well and close at night. They also need regular fertilizer around once a month. They do attract a number of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and wasps. I have often seen bees nestled in each flower swinging slowly as they feed on the nectar. In peak summer in the UAE or elsewhere where temperatures and humidity are very high over 45 degrees centigrade, it would be good to put them under some shade. Each leaf has roots growing on the underside and they can be easily propagated from that. Just lift a leaf out and place it in water and once the roots pick up you can plant in soil like water lilies.
The main issues I have found are snails and string algae both of which can really trouble your snowflake. For string algae, you can either clear out manually every day or use anti-algal drops which are unfortunately unavailable in the UAE. Some people also recommend a drop of Clorox to get rid of that I, however, am very wary about using bleach in my water plants but it has been very successful for a number of people. For snails, either manually clear them regularly or use Potassium Permanganate to get rid of them. Snails, if controlled don’t really harm your plants as they feed on dead matter and algae but they can quickly get out of control and then may damage your plants.
A final tip – remember to clear out the dead and yellow leaves regularly and keep the water topped up in the pot in the summer and you will enjoy beautiful delicate flowers.
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