Pond Supply Blog

Because planting a floating plant involves nothing more than placing it in the water, the main concern is keeping their reproduction under control. Too many floating plants can lead to depletion of oxygen levels in no time. In shallow ponds, especially during summer, the plants can actually trap heat within the pond which will lead to the water temperature rising to dangerous levels. On the other hand, too much coverage during a rainy day or abrupt change in temperature can result in the upper layer of water which is also warmer and more oxygenated to mix with the lower layer of cooler and less oxygenated water. This is called turning and will prevent sufficient oxygen exchange and will stress out any fish that are present.

To avoid this, excess plants should be removed. Duckweed multiplies at an incredibly fast rate in early spring. Even though the surface coverage will discourage the growth of algae, it can easily overrun your pond. The common type of Duckweed, Lemna minor, is usually kept under control by the stomachs of your fish. However, larger Duckweed doesn’t seem to interest fish and should be kept or pulled out of the pond. You will notice less of this plant in the hot summer months but if it is still a nuisance to you, removing excess or all of this plant in the spring and fall will be in your best interest.

Another floating plant, Water Meal, is a tiny plant that looks like fine grit that hangs out in clumps along the pond’s surface. Like Duckweed, Water Meal can overtake your pond in the blink of an eye. If your fish are not up to the challenge of eating the Meal to keep it under control, a copper or simazine treatment may be necessary to get rid of the problem.

Frogbit reproduces by growing side-plantlets that break off to multiply on their own. Frogbit roots in shallow pots of marginal plants and will create matting around the pot. Luckily, excess plants can easily be pulled out by hand. Frogbit doesn’t generally make it through winter. You can attempt to bring in some Frogbit before the first frost and keep it alive indoors, but people who have done this have found that they don’t grow back as nice in the spring.

Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth are both tropical floating plants. They multiply through plantlets that are sent out off of the sides. Hyacinths bloom a pretty purple flower that lasts only a day. Water Lettuce is a favorite among fish for a snack. These plants make great additions to the compost pile because they absorb minerals from the water. Any excess plants are easily removed by hands and can be grown indoors during the winter but success at this is dependant on how well they’re kept and can be expensive. Tossing them out at the first frost and purchasing new ones the following year may be your best bet.

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As if planning and building a pond isn’t difficult enough, actually making it natural or as close to natural as possible can be even tougher. The best way to erect a believable copy-cat of nature is to do just that, imitate nature. Keep the following facts in mind when planning your backyard water garden to keep things simpler and more efficient.

Water, in rivers for example, flows constantly. Of course your stream will not be as big and as powerful as a river but you can still give the effect of water running in from one end and out from the other. Water could rise from a cluster of rocks for example or from under a large boulder or slab. This will give the impression of a buried stream and it will appear to run out of the garden in the same fashion.

Water streams generally cut into hillsides. Water won’t run over the top of soil. For a believable look, dig a channel into the landscape for the water to run through.

Waterfall cascades will equal the slope of the slopes surrounding it. If you have a minor slope with a major Niagara sized fall, the effect will be uneven looking and unbelievable. Consider a series of smaller falls that will be proportionate to the surrounding slopes. The cluster of falls will create enough water movement and noise to be a focal point.

Watercourses follow the lowest points of the land. Water naturally flows downhill, cutting a channel into the earth. To avoid the collection of leaves and pollution at the lowest point of your streams, position your streams in low spots but not at the lowest. Bog plants will be the most suitable in the lowest point of your garden.

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Spring Spawning

With spring coming around the corner, it’s good to know a bit about the activities that may be happening in your pond. Spring is the ideal time for spawning because the conditions are most comfortable for your fish. Ponds in the temperate zones are just beginning to awaken from the winter months. Although to some pond owners, this is a difficult period due to blanket algae and green water, but to fish it’s the perfect scenario because the extra algae attracts microscopic bugs to eat on the algae which in turn creates food for the fish which makes it a great time for breeding because the little critters feeding on the algae are a perfect meal for newly hatched fish. The green water and blanket algae is unsightly of course, but you should be careful to use products to clear the algae or flush the pond because this will disrupt the natural cycle of breeding.

Fish are classified as either egglayers or livebearers when it comes to breeding. Just as it sounds, egglayers lay eggs while livebearers give birth to live young. Most fish that are kept in ponds are egglayers. These fish will scatter their eggs among plants and then basically be done with it. The remaining eggs and surviving fry will be left to fend for themselves from that point on.

Spring Cleaning

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