Water Garden Plants and Care

Floating-leaved plants:
Water lilies (genus Nymphaea) are planted in pots and then submerged 6" below the surface of the water. While the roots are under water, their leaves and flowers will grow to float on the surface June through August. They need at least six hours of sun a day. In colder climates, where there is danger of freezing, remove to a warm greenhouse during cold season.

Planting instructions:
Choose only Hardy species. Use only regular garden soil with the crown of the plant positioned above the soil. Do not add compost or fertilizer. Cover soil with 1/2 inch pea gravel and slowly lower container into water. When you see new growth, lower to 12-18 inches below water surface. You can use bricks (not concrete) under your pots to alter the depth of the plant.

Marginal, emergent (bog) plants:
These are tall plants with foliage and flowers that extend upwards and are also planted below the surface of the water. Position against the side of your watergarden to provide interesting contrast to the lower varieties. Planting directions are the same as for the water lilies. Species include arrowheads, pickerel weed and yellow water iris. Lotus (Nelumbo) are beautiful large-leaved flowering water species that grow to 5 feet tall. However, unless your pond or watergarden is large in diameter,
these spectacular plants can be grown in separate tubs.

Oxygenating plants:
These plants can also be sown in pots or allowed to float submerged beneath the surface of the water. Anacharis (Elodea), cabomba and dwarf sagittaria are a few important plants belong to the family of oxygenating plants. They give off oxygen while using up carbon dioxide produced by fish, hide fish eggs and control algae.

Once or twice a season, fertilize these plants with pond plant pellets. Push one pellet down into the soil in each pot.

When cleaning out your pond, at least once a year, place plants into buckets filled with pond water. When fresh water has been declorinated, replace potted plants in pond.

Remove debris and dispose of old plant leaves and faded flowers.



		Water Garden Plants "The average person doesn't know about water gardens and how easy they are to maintain and how exciting and different they can be," says Larrie Sweet of The Royal Gardens. Technology has made it economically possible to create a pond with polyvinyl liners instead of concrete, which invariably cracks, and submersible pumps instead of natural springs. If your water garden is at least 18 inches deep, cold temperatures will not be a problem. At this depth, fish can winter safely. Some plants, however, need to be wintered indoors in a cool place or in a greenhouse. In colder climates, you can also winter the fish in an aquarium. Now that you've designed and established your water garden, it's time to add plants. Read on! Floating-leaved plants: Water lilies (genus Nymphaea) are planted in pots and then submerged 6" below the surface of the water. While the roots are under water, their leaves and flowers will grow to float on the surface June through August. They need at least six hours of sun a day. In colder climates, where there is danger of freezing, remove to a warm greenhouse during cold season. Planting instructions: Choose only Hardy species. Use only regular garden soil with the crown of the plant positioned above the soil. Do not add compost or fertilizer. Cover soil with 1/2 inch pea gravel and slowly lower container into water. When you see new growth, lower to 12-18 inches below water surface. You can use bricks (not concrete) under your pots to alter the depth of the plant. Marginal, emergent (bog) plants: These are tall plants with foliage and flowers that extend upwards and are also planted below the surface of the water. Position against the side of your watergarden to provide interesting contrast to the lower varieties. Planting directions are the same as for the water lilies. Species include arrowheads, pickerel weed and yellow water iris. Lotus (Nelumbo) are beautiful large-leaved flowering water species that grow to 5 feet tall. However, unless your pond or watergarden is large in diameter, these spectacular plants can be grown in separate tubs. Oxygenating plants: These plants can also be sown in pots or allowed to float submerged beneath the surface of the water. Anacharis (Elodea), cabomba and dwarf sagittaria are a few important plants belong to the family of oxygenating plants. They give off oxygen while using up carbon dioxide produced by fish, hide fish eggs and control algae. Once or twice a season, fertilize these plants with pond plant pellets. Push one pellet down into the soil in each pot. When cleaning out your pond, at least once a year, place plants into buckets filled with pond water. When fresh water has been declorinated, replace potted plants in pond. Remove debris and dispose of old plant leaves and faded flowers.		PLANTS FOR A WATER GARDEN Floating Plants Fairy Moss (Azolla caroliniana) Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) Floating fern (Ceratopteris pteridoides) Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) Marginal plants Sweet flag (Acorus calamus) Marsh marigold (C. alustris) Iris laevigata White arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) Deep-water plants Water Hawthorn (Aponogeton distachyos) Dwarf pond lily (N. minimum) Lotus Mrs. Perry D. Slocum Momo Botan Pygmaea Alba Submerged aquatics Autumnal starwort (Callitriche hermaphroditica) Willow moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) Water violet (H. palustris) Elodea crispa (Lagarosiphon major) Water lilies Nymphaea (Hybrids): Tropical (scented): Director Moore (Blue) Hardy: Gonnere (Snowball) James Brydon Tropical (scented): Director Moore (Blue) Blue Beauty (Carolina Blue) Night blooming: Mrs. George C. Hitchcock (Pale pink) Advertise Here AD RATES