aquatic herbs?

[astrokaiju]

i see that you can't turn around in this forum without finding information about potted herbs and herb gardens. but what about water plants as used in magic/healing/cooking/etc.? does anyone have any information they'd like to share about the use of kelp, seaweed, algae or the like in any of these categories, and, possibly, if there's a way to grow them at home
(in an aquarium or something)?

personally, i like to put a little dried seaweed in the salt water that i use to represent the element of Water (to make it more like sea water), and i know that the Celts ate lots of sea vegetables.

[Lavender]

I use a lot of seaweed and kelp in my cooking but I buy that in a dried form from specialty ethnic stores or health food stores. I do go down to the beach in the summer & gather seaweed. I dried these & use them in my garden.

I would say that it's not impossible to grow such things in an aquarium. People use water plants to decorate their aquariums all the time. But these are much smaller in size. You would probably need a really big tank. Interesting thought. If you do try it, let us know. I would love to hear how you did with it.

As for the other info, I'll check through my books & papers & see if I can find anything.

[Old Witch]

You'd probably need an aquarium the size of Seaworld to grow Kelp and most of the other seaweeds, besides salt water aquariums are notoriusly ( ?) touchy. I've got 4 fish pools and lots of water gardening books........I'll look around and see what might be grown in them............. I know I wouldn't touch the algae in them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come to think of it, what with the Fish, turtles, Frogs, salamanders, ( yes I do have a couple of them that like to take a dip now and then ) in them I wouldn't eat any thing out of them. Then the coons and possums and squirrels drink out of them....... I think water herbs, even in pools without wildlife would be a big headache! I'm not sure you could get enough light in an aquarium to get them to grow. But, now, I'm intrigued, I'm gonna research it!!! Get back to you in a couple of days!!!!!

[Lavender]

Hmmm....good points, Old Witch. I was thinking of how would you maintain the temperature of the tank? It would have to be pretty cold. And how would you simulate the ebb & flow of the tide? I know quite a few of the sea plant life need that to circulate nutritient & oxygen. I guess a very large pump could take care of that problem.

[Old Witch]

Hehe. Just running the few pumps I have around here, Well, I don't want to think about it. Changing filters boggles the mind.... PH.... right salinity................buy the kelp, seeweed, veggies? from the specialty stores!! If you had enough money, room, time...like a few years... you might?? be able to do it!!!!!!