The Top 10 Plant FAQ’s, and Answers to Them

1. Q: Are plants a requirement in my backyard pond?
A: You must have plants if you want to have a naturally balanced ecosystem and a low maintenance pond in which Nature does the upkeep. Without aquatic plants, algae will have a field day on the nutrition in your pond, and you’ll be unable to see beneath the green surface all season long. It won’t smell very good either, so aquatic plants are an absolute must in the eyes of knowledgeable water gardening enthusiasts everywhere.

2. Q: Will my plants survive the winter?
A: Perennials will survive, and the annuals will die, unless you pull them (the annuals) out of the pond, place them in a bucket of water, and store them in a warm place. The perennials, on the other hand, are like the old Timex watch. They just keep on ticking season after season.

3. Q: Why do marginal plants work better than lilies when aiding in pond filtration?
A: Marginals are bare rooted into the pond and therefore they pull their nutrients directly from the water, which in turn competes with algae growth. Lilies have their own soil base, and therefore do not compete directly with the algae.

4. Q: How do plants filter a pond?
A: Plants use up nitrates and phosphates that would otherwise contribute to and feed algae growth. Generally speaking, the more plants the less the maintenance.

5. Q: How many plants should I have in my pond?
A: Forty to sixty percent of your pond should be covered by plants. The majority of these should be marginals and floaters, which will soak up available nutrition and minimize algae problems. Liles add shade and aesthetic value to your pond, but they do not have the filtering power of marginal plants.

6. Q: Where should I purchase aquatic plants?
A: A local nursery generally carries a mix of lilies and marginal plants for you to choose from. With the popularity of water gardening growing exponentially, the odds of finding a good selection of aquatic plants to choose from is getting better every season.

7. Q: Is it practical to grow lotus in a backyard pond?
A: Yes. They are both hardy, and beautiful plants.

8. Q: What role do terrestrial plants play in having a clear backyard pond?
A: They play an indirect role by helping to filter rainwater when it comes running down into your pond. On the other hand, terrestrials play a very direct role in beautifying and naturalizing the area surrounding your pond. This is where all the vibrant colors in the spring and the summer come from.

9. Q: The leaves on my water lilies are too small. What can I do about that?
A: That just requires a little monthly maintenance. Lilies are hungry plants that require lots of fertilizer to grow to their fullest potential. Most varieties will do best with a feeding (fertilizing) about every 30-45 days.

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10. Q: My pond gets too much sun/shade. What should I do?
A: For pond enthusiasts the sun is both friend and foe. The plants that we love to grow and watch bloom, require a certain amount of sun to thrive. However, algae loves the sun too. The trick is to build your pond where it best suits your landscape and viewing requirements, and then adjust your plantings to match the solar pattern. There are many varieties of plants that are shade tolerant and will provide a beautiful pondscape, while maintaining a healthy ecosystem. On the other hand, too much sun can be countered by adding additional plants to create shade.