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AQUATIC PLANT LIFE

Plants, water and animal life must all co-exist, creating a balanced ecosystem.  One cannot exist in a healthy state, without the right balance of the other elements.  Nature does a very good job all on her own, without intervention, but when we create our own little ecosystem, it is up to us to provide the essential elements in order to establish a clean & healthy environment.

Aquatic plants range from the exotic, frost-tender tropicals, to the winter hardy varieties.  Some go dormant part of the year, others flower all season long.  Make sure you choose plants suited to your area.  We recommend placing plants in the water garden in June, definitely not any earlier with our unpredictable springs, and the risk of frost.  Many tropical water plants can be overwintered indoors, with the proper care, however it is best left for experienced gardeners to do this. Click here for detailed instructions on overwintering.  For the most part, water plants should be treated as annuals.

A simple rule of thumb for choosing plants to follow:  for every 9 square feet of surface, add 2 bunches of oxygenating grasses, floating leaved plants to cover 60-75% of the surface, and 12 water snails, plus 2 small goldfish.  Click here for more about animal life in your pond.

NOTES REGARDING CONTAINERS:

A variety of containers are suitable for planting water plants in, from wooden crates to plastic buckets or clay pots.  Planting the plants in containers and then placing in the pond is an ideal solution to the ease of moving your plants when necessary, for winter cleanup, regular maintenance or replacement.

Don't use potting mixes or peat moss as the base for your plants, use soil or clay straight from the garden.  Potting mixes can contain harmful additives which will kill your plants & fish.  When potting your plant make sure the soil level is below the crown of the plant.

OXYGENATING GRASSES & PLANTS:

Fairy MossThese plants grow submerged, using carbon dioxide & nitrogen from the water, animal waste, and decayed matter.  They release oxygen into the water, which is essential for fish to survive.  They also help control algae, and provide an environment for spawning fish, as well as a hiding place for the little ones.  Essentially, they keep the water clean and at the desired pH level.

Plant at least 2 bunches of oxygenating grasses per container, and place at the bottom ledge of your pond, no deeper than 2 feet.  These items are ideal for the 18" ledge in your pond.  Use sand to place in the container for weight, making sure it is a shallow container.  To protect your grasses from hungry fish, cover each cluster with about a 6" dome of 1/2" plastic mesh.  Fish will eat any stems sticking out of the mesh, but at least your root system will be protected, and will continue to show new growth.

Some examples of oxygenators to use are:  Elodea, Cabomba, Eel grass, Hornwort, Coontail, Jungle Vallisneria, Pond Weed

Click here for detailed descriptions of many plants in this group.

FLOATING LEAVED PLANTS:

Water Lily 'WOW'This type of aquatic plant floats on the water surface.  Some have roots submerged in soil, others have roots that just dangle in the water.  It is necessary for at least 60% of the water surface to be covered with floating leaved plants in order to control algae growth, and also provide shelter for animal life.  The surface area covered by plants is also necessary to keep the water temperature cool, especially if your pond is small & shallow.  If the water is continually warmer than necessary, excess algae begins to form.

Water lilies, the star of every water garden, belong to this group.  They are available in a vast array of colors, grow fast, and may bloom during the first month, continuing until early autumn.  Hardy types can begin blooming in March, while tropical water lilies wait until the water temperature rises to 70 degrees to begin the bloom cycle.

Some examples of floating leaved plants:  Water Lilies, Water Clover, Duckweed, Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Salvinia, Azolla, Frog Bit.

Click here for detailed descriptions of many plants in this group.

UPRIGHT BOG PLANTS & MARGINALS:

Imperial TaroThis group includes a broad range, from grasses to Cardinal Flowers.  They like to grow in very damp conditions, in water up to 6" deep, usually at the edge of the water garden.  They are also ideal for growing in that really wet spot of your garden, where nothing else will grow.  They provide wonderful accents to the pond, and should be planted in freestanding containers or in soil pockets, with the soil surface 2-6" below the water level.   You might be surprised to learn that there are a number of plants included in this group that are found growing as houseplants indoors, maybe you even have a few already, and can move them outdoors for the summer!

The containers used for this group should be large and heavy, to support the top & root system.  Clay pots are a good choice, as they are heavy and porous.

Some examples of bog plants:  Gray Sedge Grass, Water Iris, Perennial Lobelia (Cardinal Flower), Papyrus, Umbrella Plant.

Some examples of other marginal or shallow water plants:  Floating Heart, Rush, Marsh Marigold, Primrose, Horsetail, Taro

Some examples of plants ideal for the 18" ledge:  Arrowhead, Pickeral Weed, Rush

Click here for detailed descriptions of many plants in this group.

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