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winterizing pond plants

Pond Plants For Garden Ponds

by Mark

The look and appearance of garden ponds can be enhanced greatly by adding plants, which grow naturally. The intrinsic benefits of using plants in ponds include water filtration, prevention of algae, absorption of important minerals and a safe shelter for various organisms including fish.

The addition of plants largely depends upon the overall theme of a pond. While most people choose to embellish classical ponds using ornate plans, they adopt a minimalistic approach while decorating contemporary ponds.

With regard to traditional ponds, it is important to decorate even the edges using flowering plants. This not only lends an artistic feel to the pond, but also provides shade for the koi fish. There are certain water pond plants, which are placed under the waterline, which makes them invisible. However, their role in preserving the ecosystem must not be undermined as they provide the much-needed oxygen to the pond.

Aquatic plants aid in water filtration and also absorb important nutrients that are conducive to the preservation of the ecosystem. Furthermore, they also curb algae, which is usually an unwanted visitor, and do so by extracting essential nutrients out of water. There are many pond plants that can be added to beautify a water garden. Pond plants are available in many different sizes and colors. They are broadly classified into four groups:

Anchored Plants: These also called floating plants, and contain leaves which float on or above the water surface. The roots of anchored plants are naturally found under the water. Floating plants helps to beatify a pond significantly. They also hide the cords/hoses required to maintain the filters of a pond. Popular anchored plants include Water Hyacinth and Duckweed, which make good choices as koi pond plants.

Submerged Plants: Also referred to as oxygenators, these plants are arguably the most useful plants that can be added into a pond. They are totally submerged in water, which infuse oxygen into the pond. Oxygenators also provide adequate protection to the fish.

Surface Plants: These plants are slightly different from floating plants as their roots are anchored into the ground.

Marginal Plants: a range of plants represents marginal Plants. Such plants come in a range of sizes and shapes. The moisture-loving Bog plant is the most important member of this group. These plants also prevent the formation of algae.

If possible, aquatic plants must be added during early summer or during spring time. Barring anchored or free-floating plants, most pond plants require planting. Two specific methods are used to add deep-water plants. Under the first method, the pond is peppered with a liberal dose of compost in order to facilitate plant growth. The second method is an easier option as it merely requires plants to be placed into containers. The latter option is usually better to control placement of the plants and to limit any fertilizer going directly into the water which also can lead to unwanted plant growth.

Important Considerations:
Do remember that pond plants require proper maintenance like deadheading and pruning. You may also need to cut taller plants to maintain the quality of water. Always remove any dead or dying plants from the water as well to avoid any problems with water quality that could affect fish health.

Filed Under: Fish And Plants, Small Ponds Tagged With: garden pond plants, koi pond plants, pond plants, shade pond plants, water pond plants, winterizing pond plants

Beneficial Pond Plants For Small Ponds

by Mark

Despite the fact that many backyard water gardens are, in a sense, artificial and man-made, every one can be improved and made more natural and “wild” by adding pond plants. Plants provide a number of benefits to fish ponds and whether you live in California, Salt Lake City, Texas, or Orlando, there will be a pond plant that will fit your climate and local area.

Most folks are clearly aware of how much some well chosen plants can improve the look and appearance of a water garden. The eyes certainly don’t lie, and when a colorful selection of lilies, lotus, or iris are added, a pond can become a vibrant, living, breathing display of a nature. Plants however add more to a pond than just good looks.

Pond Plants For Shade

During the hot summer months, excessive heat and sunlight can take it’s toll on just about anything exposed to the elements, and your pond is no exception. Sun exposure in abundance can often lead to, or at least support green water problems in small ponds. This phenomenon is actually free floating, single cell algae of various species. In very small numbers you wouldn’t even notice them, but as they grow in number, their presence begins to tint the water with a greenish hue. As their density increases this tinting can become an outright solid green color much like pea soup.

Green water usually isn’t a problem for fish but most pond owners go crazy trying to fix the problem. In actuality this coloration may actually protect the fish because it does diffuse the light a bit. However floating pond plants are a better option because they provide protective shade for the fish but also limit some of the sun exposure that feeds single cell algae. A clearer pond and happier fish, all through the addition of plants!

Koi Pond Plants Provide Protection

Sun blocking is a pretty obvious benefit of pond plants but we can take their contribution to another level when we consider how they integrate naturally with fish and help in a process called the nitrogen cycle.

Fish must eat to survive but a byproduct of this of course is waste. In large waters, this waste is diluted so much that it isn’t a problem but in a small backyard pond, it can affect water quality dramatically. Normally as this excrement is broken down it will turn into ammonia. Naturally occurring or supplemented bacteria will break this down into nitrites, then to nitrates and these are consumed by plants for food. And fish will quite often feed on plants.

Ammonia and nitrites are actually toxic to fish and if they are not converted through the nitrogen cycle, levels can build up in the water and cause big problems. So, plants and fish have a symbiotic relationship where they can rely on one another for balance. Plants are natural cleansers of pond water and this is important. Poor water quality issues lead to a variety of problems that are best avoided and pond plants can help greatly.

Pond Plants And Algae Control

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Buying Pond Plants

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Caring For Pond Plants

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Filed Under: Fish And Plants, Seasonal Pond Tips, Small Ponds Tagged With: fish pond plants, floating pond plants, koi pond plants, plants garden fish pond, pond plants, shade pond plants, water pond plants, winterizing pond plants

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