Plant Care

Water Plants are multi-purpose and multi-rewarding

When you think of water plants for your pond the first thing that most likely comes to mind would be the wonderful benefits they offer.  Water plants offer height and texture contrast as well as brilliant colors to enjoy.  Plants in the pond also supply shade and cover for our fish.

Just as important as shade, cover and visual enjoyment would be the work plants perform in the pond.  Aquatic plants will naturally remove nitrogen, ammonia and nitrates from the water, giving our plants the nourishment they need while keeping the pond water clear and healthy. Mother Nature was the first to use biological filtration to create a balanced ecosystem.  With proper filtration a goal would be about 40% of the pond covered with plants.

In General Water Plants are divided into 3 groups; submerged, floating and marginal’s.

Submerged plants are often referred to oxygenators as well. However all water plants supply oxygen to the pond.  This group by enlarge are grass like plants which stay below the surface of the water.  Water lilies are in the submerged group even though their pads and flowers will float on the surface.

Floating plants are free to move around the pond as they are not anchored.  Water lettuce and hyacinths are the most popular in this group.  Floaters grow quickly and provide excellent shade for the fish.

Marginal plants offer the greatest diversity to the pond.  Marginal’s prefer having several inches of water over their crown to just having their roots wet.  Colors, shapes and sizes are truly endless.  Marginal’s will help soften the ponds edge.  Many forms of the same marginal plant group will grow equally as well inside the pond and just on the outside of the pond.  This transition point allows you to be creative and diversified.

Hardy or Tropical?

Plants are divided into either a hardy plant, meaning you can leave it in the pond during the winter or tropical which must be taken out of the pond during the winter.  In general tropical plants will bloom much more and offer many more color choices.  Hardy plants have the benefit of not needing to be purchase each spring.  Most pond owners will learn that a mix of hardy and tropical plants generates the best display.

Routine care of water plants simply is pruning as needed.  Annual thinning maybe needed on the hardy plants.  To achieve maximum blooms, fertilizer tabs should be added during the growing season.