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Backyard Pond Plants Zone 4
Information
by Keely Laporte of Laporte's Garden Centre
4 Toronto Street, R.R. #5, North Bay, Ontario, P1B 8Z4
(705) 472-6414
The
four main types of water plants are:
* Marginal Plants (Shallow Water)
* Bog or Moisture Loving Plants (Out of Water)
* Oxygenating Plants
* Floating Plants
Marginal
Plants:
Roots in water
Foliage above surface
Mainly for looks
Do provide some shade which aids in control of algae and wind
Bog
and Moisture Plants:
Grow at sides, not directly in water
Particular about depth
Oxygenating
Plants:
Aid in algae overgrowth
Absorb carbon dioxide
Add oxygen
Clean water of toxins
Prefer depth of 18-24", but will grow in depth of 9-48"
Floating
Plants:
Provide shade
Do not need soil
HARDY
MARGINAL AND BOG PLANTS:
Acorus
(Sweet Flag)
3-5" deep
Tall green swordlike leaves resemble iris
Very hardy, 2-3' in height
Used for background planting
Aponogeton
Distachyus (Water Hawthorn)
Scented white flowers
Easy to grow, 6-30" deep
Most prominent in Spring and Fall. May disappear in the heat,
Strap like leaves on long floating stems
Azola
Cardliniana (Fairly Moss)
Mats of small, lacy fronds, pale green in Summer, turns red
in Fall, not hardy.
Floats on surface and spreads rapidly creating shade to control
algae
Butomus
Umbellatus (Flowering Rush)
Attractive and hardy
Plant 3-5" deep
Flat sided leaves
Caltha
(Marshmarigold)
Yellow flowers, early blooming, plant 0-3" deep
does not transplant well
Glyceria
Aquatica Variegata (Mana Grass)
3-5" deep, plant in pots - invasive
2' tall
Iris
3-5" deep, hardy
Sword like leaves, good colour
Invaluable in any pond
Lemma
Minor (Duckweed)
Fish love it, spreads very quickly, creates shade
For algae control, floating plant, tiny 1/8" leaves
Lobelia
Cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
2-5" deep, bright scarlet flowers, greenish bronze foliage
2' high, blooms late Summer, mulch in Winter
Nasturtium
Officinale (Watercress)
Prefers cool weather, grows in slow running, shallow water
Tiny white flower
Nuphar
(Pond Lily)
1-2' deep, better for large natural ponds
Large 2" leaves, yellow blooms
Peltandra
Virginica (Arrow Arum)
0-3" deep, arrowhead shaped foliage
Pontedera
Cordata (Pickerel Weed)
3-5" deep, 2-3' tall
Blue flower, late summer
Sagittaria
(Arrowhead)
3-5" deep, slow to spread
Arrowhead leaves, delicate white bloom, 2' high
Scirpus
(Rush) Bog
3-5" deep, grow in containers, invasive
Typha
(Cattail)
3-12" deep, grow in containers, invasive
4-6' tall
TROPICAL
BOG & MARGINAL PLANTS
Cyperus
(Umbrella Plant)
Winter as house plant, can not dry out
2-6' tall, 2-3" deep
Euchhornia
(Water Hyacinth)
Floats, roots filter water and provide shelter for fish
Lavender blue, orchid like flower
Fights algae, will bloom with little light
Pistia
Stratiotes (Water lettuce)
Great for shady pools, algae control and shade, will not thrive
in cold water
OXYGENATING
PLANTS
Cabomba
Caroliniana
Sensitive to heat, delicate looking, buy at pet store
Prefers warm still water, 12-18" long
Elodea
Canadiensis
Buy at pet store
Looks like seaweed, one of the best oxygenators
Plant in containers, invasive
Scavenger
Snails
Trapdoor, best snails for pools, Melantho, eat large amounts
of scum and algae
Things
to consider -
The
Pond
Should be visible and easy to reach, source of water for level
control, sunny location is preferable for plants, but to discourage
algae and make it better for fish some shade is advisable. Buildings
or structures are better for providing shade as falling leaves
will decompose and rob the water of its oxygen.
Depth is an important factor. A pond of 30" will support
many kinds of aquatic life, but it is too shallow to overwinter
frogs and fish. Winter cold can be a problem especially in shallow
ponds. A heating unit and air pump will keep the water in motion
and provide oxygen. You may also minimize freezing by lowering
the water level, allow it to refreeze and then lowering it again.
These layers provide needed insulation.
Deep
ponds can also be a problem for children.
Depending on the Municipality a fence may be required by law.
Although this is not an attractive solution it may save a life.
Depending on the pond's size you may be able to put a flat fence
a few inches below the water level. The openings must be wide
enough for plants and fish to come through and stop someone
from sinking deeper in the water.
The
last considerations are the plants.
Each of the three main categories of plant life should be represented
to maintain good pond ecology.
1) Bog and Marginal
2) Submerged and oxygenators
3) Shade providers
Overwintering
non hardy plants, such as water lilies and lotus, should be
in a cool dark place - crawl space, cold room.
Cut plants back
Place black plastic loosely over top of pot
Keep continually moist, do not allow them to dry out
place back in pond when water is warm
Ferns etc. - keep them growing indoors as a house plant over
winter. Place them back in the pond when soil and water are
sufficiently warm.
Pots
and Potting Mixtures
Any pot will do as long as it is a sufficient size to accommodate
the plant
Screen baskets are also available
A heavy nutrient rich potting soil is preferable, but it will
cloud the water until it has settled, kitty litter or coarse
stone can be used but it does not provide any nutrients.
Fertilizing
The bulk of water plants require no fertilizer. They will absorb
nutrients from the pond.
Water lily and lotus require fertilizer tabs to encourage bloom.
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