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The Water Garden Gal

by Marc Hess | May 23, 2011

Pond Plants

 

Plants are an important part of the ecological system in your water garden or koi pond. Pond plants are also an essential part of pond upkeep. If you do not have plants in your pond, you will have an abundance of algae. Plants and algae compete for the nutrients in the water. Pond plants are very nice to look at and they will actually help you in several ways. You will want a good selection and variety of aquatic plants for your ornamental fish pond or water garden. Plants help filter your water by converting fish waste into plant food. Pond Plants use koi waste as a fertilizer. Plants also provide oxygen for your koi and protect them from predators with surface coverage. Aquatic plants will also assist in providing your koi with good spawning habitat. There are many plants available for water gardens and ponds. We offer a huge selection of aquatic water plants to choose from. All water plants perform a necessary function while beautifying your pond. All water plants add real value to their environment.During the day water garden pond plants breathe in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. In the evening, pond plants breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Water garden pond plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Plants use this carbon dioxide to produce energy or photosynthesis. All pond plants consume nitrogen chemicals, such as, nitrates and phosphates that build up in the water. Let your water garden plants work for you to balance your pond environment. Plant foliage will absorb carbon dioxide and minerals from the water which will in turn, starve the algae. Pond plants are needed to prevent your pond water from looking green and murky, as algae will grow out of control without them. Removing nitrates can reduce weeds and algae so that they are less of a problem. Pond plants are necessary to achieve a quality water balance and provide surface coverage in your garden pond.

Pond plants fall into four basic groups: oxygenators, floaters, deep water aquatics, and bog plants. The health of your pond relies on the importance of each of these groups. Aquatic Plants provide a wide range of options for your growing habitat. 

1) Submersed or Oxygenating Plants grow totally submerged and perform the important functions of competing with algae for nutrients in the pond and providing cover for protection and spawning grounds for pond fish. Submersed pond water plants are particularly good at oxygenating the pond water. Bubbles of oxygen can be observed coming from the leaves of these plants.

2) Floating plants just float on the surface of the pond and don’t need to be rooted in a planter. A variety of these plants are important to the natural balance of your garden pond. Floating Plants such as Water Hyacinths and Water Lettuce provide shade and cover for your pond. Floating aquatic plant foliage should cover approximately 60% of the pond surface area in order to achieve a good balance. Pond plants will keep the water cool in the summer and help keep algae away.

3) Deep Water Plants include Lotus and Water Lilies. These pond plants will bloom incredibly when fertilized with adequate amounts of fish safe aquatic plant fertilizer. Water Lilies are available in hardy and tropical varieties. These are also good plants for adding color and variety to your pond.

4) Bog Plants or marginals include well known species such as cattails, cannas, grasses and reeds. Bog plants grow well in the shallower areas of your pond or water garden from two to twelve inches of water depending on size and type. Bog Plants do well in the moist conditions and boggy areas around the rim of the pond. Choose plants for around the pond to blend in with the garden pond and surroundings.  Pond plants will help create a beautiful pond appearance and give your water feature the finished look that you are striving for.

8 Comments

  1. 1 SAWS 07 Sep

    San Antonio is still managing with Once-per-Week Watering Restrictions:As the state endures its most severe one-year drought ever, San Antonio continues to work together to hold off Stage Three watering restrictions. Outdoor watering restrictions combined with additional supplies from San Antonio's Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) facility have helped the city maintain Stage Two watering restrictions for three months, during one of the driest periods in history. - SAWS
  2. 2 Diane Fey 27 Aug

    Question.  Have had a pondless waterfall for 7 years.  Recently, the recirculating pump is "sucking"  the vinyl liner in the reservoir pit, into the intake vents causing the pump to labor.

     Any suggestions on how to solve this problem?

     

    @diane: I suggest putting a mesh netting over the pump wich will hender the liner from getting sucked up but still allowing the water to pass through freely.

  3. 3 Gwyn 27 Jul
    San Antonio is in STAGE 2 WATER RESTRICTION.
    That means that you can NOT run your water fountain nor can you use a hose to refil your water pont to compensate for evaporation. You have to let your water go low. You can let the standing water stay in the pond but you can NOT refill it.
    The EXCEPTION is if you have fish. Your fish would die if the water is not getting new air so when you have fish in your pond you can run your fountain.  GWYN
  4. 4 @mMilt Branford 27 Jul

    The surface size of my new pond is 18x7. These past two weeks have been very sunny, and warm. I have three water falls of small to medium size. From what I've read after searching this site the falls will contribue to evaporation. My question is to those more experienced than I i am how much evaporation can I expect? I haven't added water for almost three weeks and as I mentioned it has been sunny, dry and warm and the level has gone down almost 4 inches. I thought there was a leak but the installer insits it is normal evaporation. Would appreciate any insights. Thanks - Milt

     

    @Milt

    We loose a couple of inches every day in our ponds here at the nursery. I have to put water every couple of days, so it's definitely expected especially in full sun areas.

  5. 5 water features melbourne 19 Jul

    Hi,

     this is so pretty and this is the way to bring nature into your house and have peaceful environment...

     enjoy the true beauty of nature ..

    Thanks

  6. 6 WATER GARDEN GAL 19 Jun
    Is your pond turning a really "pretty green"? Algae unfortunately is a problem all over from spring green up to winter. There are many things that can cause algae problems to, not enough pond plants, feeding fish to much, overstock, full sun ponds to no filtration or not enough etc. There are different ways of controlling algae, beneficial bacteria you can use along with enzymes or just as simple as adding more plants. We have everything you need here at Milberger's to help you through even the greenest of ponds!
  7. 7 Water garden gal 09 Jun
    You can put as many plants as you want, that's the beauty in water gardening. They say at least 60% of your surface water should be covered. It helps with keeping algae down while also filtering the water and keeping it cool for your fish.
  8. 8 Dude in the Dirt 27 May
    How many plants should you put in your water garden? Me - I go by the look that I am trying to achieve and I put in as many plants as I like. Plants thrive around the water and can get really bushy. I think the plants only when my koi start to get tangled up in them.