Aquatic pond plants marginals oxygenators and water lilies
Pond plants assist in removing toxic chemical build up in garden ponds.
Plants In The Pond
A pond can look really beautiful when planted. You only have to look at a couple of the many books on water gardening to see the effect that can be obtained. There are many types of plants for ponds and it is always best to get local advice on availability and suitability. Be aware that introducing plants from the wild can introduce disease into your pond. The different categories can be broken up as follows:
Marginal plants such as Iris, and Arum Lily which like to stand in water up to about 15cm (6). Some can grow quite tall and be blown over by the wind so you may have to weight the pot or crate down with stones.
Shallow water or bog plants like Marsh Marigold, Iris, and Water Mint. These plants like water about 5 cm (2) deep.
Deep-water plants the best known of which is the Water Lily.
Floating plants with their hair-like roots that protrude into the water and need no soil at all. These plants certainly assist in keeping water clear since they absorb nutrients from the water and do a good job of oxygenating the water. Water Hyacinth is an example or the Water Soldier plant.
Oxygenators assist in keeping plant water clean and clear by absorbing nutrients. Potted oxygenators include Water Crowfoot, and Water Violet
The picture below shows an ideal layout for a garden pond designed to incorporate all types of plants:
Plants behave as follows in a pond and are thus able to add real value to that environment:
Conversion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to oxygen in the water.
Consumption of nitrogen chemicals that build up in the water. Water Cress is often used for this purpose.
A limited filtering effect
Bear in mind that plants do get bigger so dont over-plant your pond. Lilies do not like splashing water or rapidly moving water.
When you plant use specially designed baskets into which specially formulated aquatic compost has been used low in phosphorous and nitrogen. Alternatives to baskets are normal plastic planting pots. Cover the top of the pot with pebbles or gravel to prevent fish disturbing the soil and roots of the plants especially if you keep koi.
For marginal planting areas use coco mats or coir as a means to hold the plant in position. You can also place a bit of special compost together with the coir. Place pebbles on the mat to keep it submerged.
Here is a clever trick if you already have a pond and it is fairly deep and you want to place a largish plant in the pond. Get a second person to help and between you hold two ropes in parallel stretching across the pond. Allow the ropes to be placed beneath the ridge of the plant pot as if the pot was in a sling or hammock and then gently lower it into the pond.
This web page is an extract from Tony Roocroft's "The Complete Pond Solver" ... you can read more about it at http://www.really-useful-books.com ... when you buy the book you get 12 Excel pond calculators free as well as "Water Lilies and Pond Aquatics" ebook also free
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