Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was in Indianalpolis today at a hydroponics store, (that was heaven), and in talking to the owner she mentioned that members of the MUM family should never be planted in a hydroponic system with other plants that were being eaten and thought they would also be detrimental to fish. She said they give off pyrethrum which is a natural insecticide and is not good for human uptake.

Plants in the mum family would include Marigolds, Chrysanthemums and others. According to Wiki there are culinary uses for them including teas. Has anyone had any negative experiences with these plants in an AP system? I have found nothing to support this ladies claim.

I don't have any Mum's but we have Cosmos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(flower)

I think we shall ALWAYS have Cosmos now

i'm no botanist, but i'd be surprised if marigolds had pyrethrum in them considering they are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Cabbage Moth, The Gothic, Large Yellow Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

besides pyrethrum containing plants are used as companion plants and pyrethrum is readily broken down by sunlight and is very degradeable.

It does seem to be toxic to fish, but we're not talking about mixing it with the fix water as such.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrum

I kinda wonder about other plants as well such as hydrangea (which contains cyanide). propagating hydrangeas via aquaponics would be easy and they should do very well with the regular watering. but cyanide? would it leach from plant to fish?

Not all members of the mum family have pyrethrum, only one specific member of the family. And as Steve mentions, pyrethrum breaks down easily. I wouldn't worry about it.

DRD, if you were composting large amounts of hydrangea and adding it to the system, or feeding nothing but hydrangea leaves to the fish, I might worry about the cyanide.

I think tomato leaves are toxic, but that doesn't mean I'm going to remove my tomato plants from the AP system.

dan, will do some reading on it, but i assume that when people say cyanide they mean that it contains the cyano radical? most people dont realise B12 is metablised in the body from cyanocobalamin.

here you go, don't stress

Cyanogenic glycosides

In this case, the aglycone contains a cyanide group, and the glycoside can release the poisonous hydrogen cyanide if acted upon by some enzyme. An example of these is amygdalin from almonds. Cyanogenic glycosides can be found in the fruits (and wilting leaves) of the rose family (including cherries, apples, plums, almonds, peaches, apricots, raspberries, and crabapples). Cassava, an important food plant in Africa and South America, contains cyanogenic glucosides and therefore has to be washed and ground under running water prior to consumption.

I've always used Marigolds as a companion plant for exactly the reason that they do produce a "natural" pyrethrum....

I was lead to believe as others have said that this was quick to break down and non-toxic to fish.

I thinl both Murray and VB, perhaps it may be AM, both have marigolds planted in their growbeds for taht purpose...

aren't tommies part of the nightshade family?

[quote="dthawk"]I was in Indianalpolis today at a hydroponics store,

Dave,

Could I get an address of this place in Indy? I am usually there at least once a week, maybe I can find some of those clay balls there.

Thanks - John

I have a member of the mum family planted in one bed now it has been for about a week and a half now. No loss of fish yet. Still not sure if it can work out- though it is flowering. Stevia Rebaudiana probably goes by the name of honeyleaf where you are. People eat it, still it is supposed to be a natural insect repellent. Stevia might be a good cash crop at some point in this country.

yep, tommies, spuds, belladonna, eggplant, capsicum, mandrake, petunia, datura, tobacco...

Now I know it's been a long time since I studied horticulture, but I've never heard of the mum family.. Chrysanthemums come from the Asteraceae family and there are many members of the Asteracae family that we use as food plants including lettuces and artichokes.

Jeeze... I will try to be more correct next time EB. Seems others understood.

Yeah the place in Indy was called Harvest moon. It is on the south side of Indy on 465. take the north East street exit. Next to Harbour Freight. Those two stores together you could spend a day there. Tons of Hydro stuff and helpful lady. Not sure where she got the part about the poisonous "mums". She gives away FREE SEEDS! If you make a purchase. I probably got 20 packets of seeds. phone: 317 870 1944

I would have gotten more but I have to fly back to El Salvador and have limited space.