The Easy Way To Choose Floating Aquatic Pond Water Plants
How To Use Floating Pond Plants To Remove Excess Nutrients From Pond Water
All water garden plants have their preferences and
will grow better if they are situated in a place that suits their
requirements. Floating aquatic pond plants are
usually either small or medium sized plants that move with the wind
or current. They do not have strong roots to anchor themselves
with but instead have roots that resemble tiny hairs, floating behind them.
Floating water garden plants are an excellent way to remove excess nitrate and phosphorous from ponds. The hair like roots absorb the nutrients directly from the pond water, helping to keep the suspended algae and blanket weed algae under control by competing for the nutrients and by keeping the sun's UV rays off the pond surface. Floating aquatics are also a good way of naturally adding oxygen to the pond system.
Floating pond plants do not require planting but are simply placed onto the surface of the pool. Some floating pond plant varieties can be somewhat invasive and will need to be kept under control.
Aquatic floating plants provide a safe hiding place for Koi, goldfish and other pond fish from herons, egrets, king fishers and other fish eating predatory birds. In full bloom floating water plants add an array of color to any fish pond or water garden. The water hyacinth, the poser amongst floating pond plants produces beautiful lilac / purple colored flowers that looks truly amazing on a hot summers day.
The Water Hyacinth, Duck Weed and Water Soldier are common floating plant types and grow rapidly. They need to be kept under control.
Popular Summer Flowering Floating Aquatic Plants ...
The floating moss (Azolla filiculoides) is an attractive plant that changes color midway through the growing season from pale green to red.
The floating water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes'Major'), resembles the garden variety hyacinth and has pale blue flowers carried on spikes above the spongy, bright green leaf stalks that keep the plant afloat. It is not winter hardy and will need to be kept indoors in a green house. Available from May onwards.
The Frogbit (Hydrocharitaceae) is a small water plant with lily-like leaves about 15 mm across. It is attractive, with white petals. the Frogbit floating plant produces buds which sink to the bottom of the during autumn but rise the following spring to produce a new plantlet.
The Pistia stratiotes has rosettes of pale green velvety leaves and fine trailing roots. This floating plant is not winter hardy and needs to be over wintered in warmth.
The Salvinia natans has velvet like leaves, measuring 12 cm long, covered with fine silky hairs. This is not a winter hardly floating variety and will need to be kept indoors for the winter.
Popular Winter And Spring Flowering Floating Pond Plants
The Duck Weed (Lemna minor) has small ovate fronds, that are light green above and dark green beneath. One rootlet hangs down into the water from each frond.
The Lemna gibba is a larger form of Lemna minor with reddish tinged leaves.
The Ivy Tusked Duck Weed (Lemna trisulca) has light green transparent fronds that are oval in shape. The young fronds grow at right angles to the old ones.
The Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides) is an unusual plant that resembles the top of a pineapple as the long, narrow serrated leaves grow in rosettes. The young plants are very attractive as the foliage is a reddish bronze color.
The Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) has large rosettes of olive-green creeping foliage that have developed from a nut, formed from last season's flower.
The Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) is a submersed floating insectivorous plant that has yellow flowers showing above the water.
Sometimes it can be difficult to find the exact plant species that you are looking for. By clicking the following link you will be able to see a comprehensive list of water garden plants showing both their English and Latin plant names to help you find exactly what you are looking for.
Click here for unbeatable money saving offers on USA Pond Supplies and Pond Keeping Equipment in the UK, Guaranteed.