$3.00 each!
$3.00 each! |
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How to Select Pond Plants
The first set of questions to ask are, How does my pond look? Is it lacking plants that float on top of the water? Does it have murky water, or is the water clear? Does the edge of the pond look pleasing? You must get a clear picture of what you expect your pond to look like. It is estimated that 40-50% of your pond should be filled with plants.
Starting with the perimeter of your pond, work on choosing what bog (shelf) plants you're going to put in and around the perimeter of your pond. Don't forget to leave room for growth. If you are interested in tall perimeter plants then you are looking to use cattails, rushes, and reeds. If you have a small pond and your goal is to fill areas up quickly, we recommend flowering or low growing plants. These plants are not as invasive as grass-like plants. Iris plants are a good balance of color and the grass-like look. They average 2.5ft in height, which is an ideal height for most ponds.
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Floating pond plants will aid in clearing murky water by continuously absorbing nitrates and phosphates, the leading nutrients that cause algae growth. Preventing algae growth also requires shading the pond to prevent photosynthesis from occurring in algae spores. Floating plants will also help shade. The roots make great spawning media for both fish and frogs. Floating plants are also great for filling empty space. |
Water lilies are a fantastic pond plant. There are over 50 named varieties of water lilies, all varying in lily pad size, flower shape, flower color, pad variegation, and at what point during the day their bloom opens. Water lilies also provide great pond shade reducing algae growth. It also provides a hiding place for fish to escape from their top predators, blue herons and raccoons. Did I mention frogs love lilypads? If you have a question regarding water lilies, don't hesitate to ask us by email at pondplantsdirect@gmail.com. |
Submerged plants, also known as oxygenators, replenish the oxygen near the bottom of the pond. This is essential for keeping a balanced ecosystem. Fish love to eat submerged plants. They will even lay their eggs on them. We sell them in bundles with about 4-6 strands that are about 6" in length, but they can grow up to nearly ten feet long. |
The chemical-free way to control Algae
Is to use floating plants (which provide shade over the water, and absorb nitrates and phosphates, the leading nutrients that algae consumes) and submerged plants (submerged plants also consume nitrates and phosphates in the water, however if the sunlight is overwhelming, string algae will grow on your submerged plants). You can also use innovative ways to shade your pond.
Fish should only be fed once a week at most. Fish will eat algae, so there is no need to feed them a large quantity of food packed with nutrition that will turn directly into ammonia. Ammonia will case murky water.
The best chemical way to remove Algae
In my experience it's useful to use a chemical called Green Clean to remove algae. While this is not a preventative measure, it is safe for fish, frogs, tadpoles, and snails (as long as the powder is not applied directly on the frogs or tadpoles slimy skin). Green Clean kills algae instantly, however, this chemical is expensive compared to others and we do not sell it. The next recommended chemical is AlgaeFix. Although it takes a couple weeks to work, it's a third of the price of Green Clean. A product called Microbe-Lift is a good algae preventative, it's essentially a form of bacteria that eats algae spores; therefore all algae life must be dead in order for this product to be effective. The final recommended chemical product is Barely Straw. This product comes in straw, pellet, and liquid form. It releases enzymes to control the algae (we use enzymes in our body to break down food). This is a cost effective method and is similar to AlgaeFix as far as efficiency goes.
Clearing brown murky water the natural way is just a matter of having enough roots to hold the dirt together. For this method, use water lilies and shelf plants. If dealing with a liner-based pond that was murky water, use gravel to anchor the dirt in pots if possible. If the water is still murky, check the ammonia level as well as pH level (high ammonia levels gives the water a yellow tint, you might also notice bubbles on the water). The way to clear murky water chemically, use the product Acurel E. The water turns brown for a fews days then clears up. This is a coagulant, which means it's a sediment sinker. By bonding with floating particles it sinks them. I hope this article has helped you achieve your ideal pond.
Best of luck this season,
From the Staff of Pond Plants Direct