Planting in water is different:
- a pond has different depths of water - each depth grows a different type of water plant
- depth of water for each plant group is vital
- use of aquatic compost
- use of mesh baskets
- pond plants send their roots out into the water through the mesh holes in the baskets.
1. Submerged water plants:
- Drop oxygenating plants into the pond either with or without a lead strip to bunch them dependent on the species of the plant. (Drop into water just as they are sent out by us)
- Float totally submerged below the water surface in deep water.
- Have few support cells in their stems or leaves as they float in the water.
- If removed from water they will hang limply and will wilt very quickly - all stem and leaf surfaces need to be kept damp or wet.
- Leaves are highly divided and able to absorb water, nutrients and dissolved gases.
- Do not plant in a basket as they float freely in the water, moving up and down according to the water temperature.
- Each variety can be out of stock at times due to the seasons.
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- Myriophyllum spicatum – Spiked Milfoil deep water pond plants
2. Floating leaved plants:
- Place waterlilies & Water Hawthorn deep in the pond and the leaves will grow to float on the surface.
- Waterlilies and Water Hawthorn 'breathe' through the pores on the top surface of the leaf. Do not place under constantly splashing water (it blocks their noses!).
- Waterlilies grow from the deep water and hold the leaf on the surface via stems with hollow tubes enabling air transfer necessary for the roots of the plant.
- Frogbit & Water Soldier are free floating.
- Cover 50% surface water with leaf growth so that the water temperature remains cool for fish and wildlife.
- Shade created by these leaves also helps reduce algae growth.
- Flowers are an added bonus.
3. Marginal Shelf plants:
- Grow from below water level with stem, leaves and flowers showing on or above the water.
- Place the rooted baskets on a shelf of a pond with a man-made liner or plant in the edge of a clay pond.
- Shelf plants use nutrients to put on growth and flower at different times of the season
- Create a visual interest and the wildlife habitat of the pond.
2 types of shelf plants:
- Emergent or upright plants - stems and flowers growing up and out of water. Sent in 11cm baskets.
- Rafting plants - horizontal growth that grows away from the basket & rafts across the water surface. Sent in 9cm baskets.
- Planting in water - each type of water plant likes a certain depth of water above their basket and getting this right for each species will be crucial for their survival and success.