How to Care for Egyptian Papyrus

Egyptians gathered the stalks of the plants to make papyrus paper.

The Egyptian papyrus plant, also known as the Egyptian paper plant or Cyperus papyrus, grows to heights of 5 to 10 feet and thrives in full to partial sun. During ancient times, water-loving Egyptian papyrus plants grew along the Nile River, where the Egyptians gathered the stalks of the plants to make papyrus paper. If left to grow, the green stalks will produce cream-colored blooms in the fall. If you live within USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, Egyptian papyrus will create an interesting focal point in your water garden.

Things You'll Need

• Egyptian papyrus seeds
• 4-inch pots
• Moist potting soil
• Larger pots
• Cinder block or brick
• Fertilizer
• Grow light
• Plant heating pad

Instructions

1. Sow Egyptian papyrus seeds in 4-inch pots filled with moist potting soil. Bury the seeds ¼ inch deep in the soil, and place the pots in a sunny location. Maintain a temperature of 75 degrees F or above during the germination process. Germination should take place within a month.

2. Maintain moist soil conditions, bright sunlight and the required temperature during the growth of the Egyptian papyrus plants. As the plants outgrow their pots, replant them in larger containers.

3. Transplant the papyrus plants, along with their pots, in your water garden in the spring. Simply submerge the pots in the water, keeping the top of the pot slightly below the waterline. Put the pot on top of a cinder block or brick to raise it, if necessary.

4. Feed the papyrus plant a diet of pond plant fertilizer. Pond fertilizer comes in granules and stick form. Follow the instructions on the package to determine amounts and times for fertilizing.

5. Remove the pots from the pond and bring them inside if the temperature drops below 20 degrees F in the winter. Unlike plants that grow in the ground, potted plants have no protection from frost or cold temperatures. Bringing the Egyptian papyrus indoors will protect it from temperature drops. You can take it back outside when the temperature rises again.

Tips & Warnings

• Egyptian papyrus plants also thrive as marginal plants along the shallow edge of a water garden. Simply dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball, place the Egyptian papyrus plant in the center of the hole and backfill. Feed the papyrus plants a pond plant fertilizer according to label instructions. Papyrus plants are only hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. If you live outside these zones, you will need to dig up the plants, repot them, and bring them indoors for the winter.

• If you do not have access to bright sunlight, set up a grow light for the plants. Place the pots on a plant heating pad if you cannot maintain temperatures of 75 degrees F or above.

• Do not deprive the Egyptian papyrus of water. The plant must have its feet wet at all times. Potted papyrus needs moist soil at all times, and transplanted Egyptian papyrus grows best in standing water.

References

• The Water Garden: Egyptian Papyrus
• FloriData: Cyperus Papyrus
• Plant-Biology: Guide to Growing Papyrus Cyperus

Resources

• Practical Water Garden Solutions: How To Select Aquatic or Water Plants For A Garden Pond ...
• Jungle Garden: Cyperus Papyrus
• Grow It: USDA Hardiness Maps