Pond Plants in Summer
1. Divide early flowering pond plants in Summer - like Caltha species.
2. Cut back the foliage of the Caltha family after flowering as it will turn grey with mildew or have brown spots. If you remove these leaves the plant will grow fresh leaves again this season. You may also get a second flush of flowers later on.
3. In early Summer reduce the height of some of Lythrum salicaria stems to give a shorter thicker plant. You will have more flower shoots over a longer time.
4. Repot the rooted nodes of rafting pond plants (Veronica beccabunga Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum Myosotis scorpioides Oenanthe javanica Flamingo Mentha aquatica) into new baskets or back into their starting basket to thicken up their growth.
5. Do not let Named varieties of Iris or other pond plants set seed as they will not come true to type. Unless you want to experiment and see what you get!
6. Divide large clumps of Iris after flowering. In hot weather cut down leaf height to 8 inches above water.
7. Give flowering plants Feed ball for Aquatic plants to boost flowering. One small feed ball per 11cm basket (or 1 litre of compost). Or for larger round waterlily baskets try one XL feed ball for aquatic plants.
8. Enjoy sitting near the flowers and see the bees and butterflies that visit them. And watch the other wildlife that visits your water as the dragonflies lay their eggs.