Abstract: A floating wetland raft comprising a floating raft body onto which is attached a biodegradable mat. The floating raft body is preferably made of closed cell polyethylene foam, and the mat may be woven of coir fiber. The mat covers the raft body and nests into an open area therein. The mat serves as a surface on which aquatic plants are grown for consuming nutrients from the water beneath. The biodegradable mat and associated plant biomass can be removed and subsequently replanted elsewhere or composted. The nutrients contained in the removed biomass represent a permanent reduction of nutrients in the water from whence they came. The floating raft body is durable and can be used repeatedly by attaching a freshly planted mat and repeating the nutrient removal process, which helps alleviate the problem of nutrient overloading in bodies of water.

Abstract: A device and method for use in growing, transporting and transplanting aquatic plants. The device includes an open web fibrous strip of water resistant material. When utilized in conjunction with a juvenile water lily or marginal plant, the material is configured as a coil around the roots of a single plant. When utilized in conjunction with “oxygenator” stems or bare root cuttings, the material is configured as a strip folded to enclose multiple cuttings/plants spaced at periodic intervals. Using the present invention, aquatic plant(s) are grown in a soil-less environment, making them lightweight for economically shipping via parcel post and exportable to all states and many foreign countries because they do not contain potentially contaminated soil. A plant grown in the present invention is fully developed and will quickly resume growing once planted in an end user's pond.