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.