Five Tips for Proper Papyrus Plant Care

Ancient Egyptians used to use the Papyrus plant as a writing medium. If you have a backyard pond, this shallow water plant would make a great addition. This article will give you a few tips on caring for a papyrus plant.

Water

It's very important that you provide your Papyrus plant with plenty of water. The plant will grow best if it's placed in standing water. If growing it in a pot, the soil should be moist at all times.

Sun

A Papyrus plant should be given plenty of bright sunlight. However, it can also be grown in the shade if you chose. If you live anywhere other than in the USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11, then you will need to bring the plant inside during the winter months. They can't withstand temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Planting

Papyrus plants can grow anywhere between five and ten feet tall. As mentioned earlier, the soil should be very moist at all times if you aren't planting the plant in standing water. If the plant is placed in standing water, then the top of the pot should be no more than six inches below the surface.

Germination

For germination, you will need to prepare the seeds at least two months before transplanting them outside. During this process, you will need to place the pots in a brightly lit location that has a constant temperature above 75 degrees. The seeds takes about one months to germinate under these conditions.

Pruning

You can prune your Papyrus plant whenever the stems start to look ugly. Don't worry about replacements. These plants quickly grow new stems to replace any that are cut away.

These are a few tips for taking care of a Papyrus plant. If you don't put the plant in standing water, then you will need to ensure that the soil is moist at all times. Although it can be grown in the shade, it's best that you put it in a location that receives plenty of bright sunlight.