These tips will help you keep your water garden plants healthy and beautiful.
Water garden care starts with good assembly.
Add a fountain pump, water, and your choice of pond plants to the water compartment.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Weigh the pots down with rocks if needed (taller plants tend to be top-heavy in a breeze).
Fill the garden compartment with potting mix and your choice of plants.
Use easygoing plants likepentas,gomphrena, andlicorice plant.
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After finalizing the water garden design, the rest of the work is upkeep and maintenance.
Others float directly on the surface.
Yet others grow in moist soil around the edge of the pond.
Credit: Jennifer L. Peterson
A well-designed water garden uses a combination of these types of plants.
Grow them in submerged containers.
Place the water lily container so that it is submerged 6 to 36 inches below the water level.
Credit:Better Homes and Gardens
Avoid using regular potting soilit will float out of the container.
Instead, use a good water garden potting mix.
Lotus needs a large container because its rhizomes spread rapidly.
Floating Plant Types
Floating plants are the ultimate in easy-care gardening.
There’s no potting necessaryjust set them in the water, and they’ll float on the surface.
Water lettuce andduckweedare common picks for water gardens.
fire off the fountain regularly to prevent stagnant water that invites mosquito breeding.
Or use mosquito-repellent dunks.
Algae buildup can become a problem in water gardens.
Barley straw or pellets placed in a pond or stream in spring prevents algae growth.
A good filter or clarifier also prevents the development of algae.
Use a fountain or waterfall to keep the water aerated and ward-off foul-smelling bacteria.
Several types of commercial water garden fertilizer pellets are available.
Place these directly into the potting soil of container plants.
Refill your water feature before the water level drops several inches.
Most of these plants can be overwintered outdoors in moist soil in Zones 5 or higher.
Air-dry canna tubers and store them in peat moss or sawdust in a cool but not freezing location.
