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Plants:
Aquatic plants are generally divided into the following categories:
- Hardy Waterlilies
- Tropical Waterlilies
- Lotus
- Marginals
- Waterlily-like Plants
- Floating Water Plants
- Submerged Water Plants
While each category contains many species and/or varieties which would enhance any pond, consideration should be given to what each plant may or may not contribute to the ecological balance of a pond. Of prime importance in any size pond is the addition of Submerged Water Plants which, not only aid in controlling the nutrient balance of the pond, but also directly add oxygen to the water column. They
also provide a spawning place for fish and a hiding place for the hatchlings.
Next in the order of importance are those plants that have water surface foliage such as the Waterlilies, Waterlily-like plants and Floating Water Plants. One should ideally strive to have 40% of the water surface covered with foliage to provide necessary shade for the pond inhabitants. This is especially critical in our southern climate where summer sun can quickly heat the water to a critical level. If your pond is located in all day sun 60% coverage or more may be required.
A balanced selection of plants from all the categories is recommended as this will not only add to the overall appearance of the pond, but each category serves a purpose in the biological balance of the pond.
It is not necessary to initially add a sufficient number of plants to achieve the coverage that your pond requires. Aquatic plants can grow a phenomenal rate, some faster than others, depending of the nutrient level in the pond. Fish waste will directly influence the growth rate of aquatic plants. (More on this is covered on the Fish Page.)
You can expect to find it necessary to periodically thin out overgrowth, much as you would in a terrestrial garden , to maintain your pond's visual appeal.
Fertilization of aquatic plants may or may not be required. This is dependent on several factors such as
pond size, number of fish and number of plants. Generally in a well balanced pond (appropriate number of fish and plants to pond size) fertilization is not required.
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