Still Water Gardens-Live Life To The Fullest With A Natural Pond
STILL WATER GARDENS NEAR CHENEY & SPOKANE WASHINGTON. Water Garden Specialist.................................................. We raise Koi, Goldfish & aquatic plants. We can help you design your water feature & have contractor services available.
Home
About Us
Creating A Bog Filtration System
Liner Calculation
Bog & Koi Pond
Pond Cleaning
Pond Fish Feeding Chart
Pond Pumps
Pond Volume Calculation
Shade Tolerant Plants
Water Features
Water Garden Plants
Wintering Aquatic Plants
Calendar of Events
Helpful Links
Contact Us
Directions
Site Map
Spring Care Aquatic Plant
Garden Art
Microbe-Lift Product Line

Spring Care & Maintenance of Aquatic Plants

 

The harsh winter weather has taken it's tole on our beautiful water gardens and the wonderful  plants that have inhabited them.  So, hear are a few general tips for preparing your aquatic plants for the upcoming season.

 

Hardy Marginal Plant Care:

 

Hardy marginal plants include many water plants up to USDA Zone 5 or 6 (depending how protected your pond area may be). These hardy plants will survive our hard winters. Although they will go dormant soon after the first hard frost, these plants will come back in the spring. DEPTH: 1” to 6” below the surface of the water

 

SPRING CARE: Do not assume plants are dead if there is no growth. Some plants may not come out of dormancy until late Spring, others like the Marsh Marigold are very early bloomers. Bring any of the plants that you submerged for the winter back up to the surface and place them at their normal 1” to 6” below the surface.  Once new growth starts t appear, it is fine to fertilizing.

MAINTENANCE: Most marginal plants may need to be divided annually to prevent overcrowding. Fertilize as you divide your plants and anytime you notice yellowing foliage. You may choose to do a monthly maintenance on your plants, which includes trimming dead foliage and spent flowers. Be careful not to over fertilize, excess fertilizer can increase your chances of excess algae bloom.

 

Tropical Marginal Plant Care:

 

Tropical Plants are not hardy to our area, but are some of the most beautiful water garden plants. The foliage is full, with bright and colorful blooms. Tropical Plants will survive Zone 8 and higher. DEPTH: 1” to 6” below the surface of the water.

 

SPRING CARE: Once we are out of the danger of cold temperatures you can start hardening the plant off. Take it outside during the day and bring it in at night. Do not put it in direct sunlight to soon, or you will burn the foliage. Once temperatures remain above sixty degrees it can be placed back into the pond.

MAINTENANCE: Once the plant is established, you can divide it as needed and fertilize every 1 to 2 months as needed. Remove dead foliage and spent flowers.

 

 

Hardy Water Lilies:

 

Hardy water lilies come in different shades of white, yellow, orange, peach, pink, red, and even changeable (sunsets and salmons). Water Lilies thrive in warm, still or slow moving water, and should be fertilized approximately every 30 days to keep them blooming well.DEPTH: 12”-36” below the surface of the water.

 

SPRING CARE: Lift the water lilies back to the surface and check to make sure the tuber is still in the pot (as fish sometimes up-root the tuber during the winter). You should see some new growth. Lower the pot back down where you keep it for the summer. If your lilies are planted directly in your pond, the best time to work on them is when you have lowered the water level for your Spring cleanout. Start fertilizing water lilies when you see substantial growth.

MAINTENANCE: Fertilize monthly to keep the plant blooming. Remove dead foliage and spent flowers regularly throughout the summer, dead heading your lilies will also increase their blooming power.

 

Tropical Water Lilies:

 

Tropical Water lilies are not Winter hardy to our area. Although they require extra care, tropical water lilies are well worth having in the water garden. Tropical water lilies bloom more profusely, are much fragrant, and their colors are more brilliant. Tropical Water lilies come in bright shades of blue, pink, purple, red, sunset; white, and yellow. Tropical Water lilies bloom later in the season and have several night blooming varieties. The night bloomers open at dusk and close early in the morning. These are a great option for water gardeners who work from 9-5 as they can enjoy the fragrance and blooms of their tropical lilies. Tropical Water lilies may be over wintered, with proper care. DEPTH: 12”-36” below the surface of the water.

 

SPRING CARE: In the spring restart the lily in warm shallow water under good light. Wait until pond has warmed up to place outside. The biggest issue to over wintering Tropical Water lilies is that they cannot go back into your pond until the water temperature is at least 65º. In colder climates, that does not leave enough time for the plant to grow and bloom before it gets cold again. Many people treat Tropical water lilies as annuals and replace them yearly.

MAINTENANCE: Fertilize monthly to keep the plant blooming. Remove dead foliage and spent flowers regularly throughout the summer, dead heading your lilies will also increase their blooming power.

 

 

 

Floating Plants:

 

There are a few different types of floating the most common of these are hyacinths and water lettuce. These plants are unique and free float on the surface of the water. The long root systems aid in filtration, provide great surface coverage and allow coverage and media for spawning fish. They are a beneficial plant to the pond and should be replaced yearly.

 

 

Submerged oxygenating aquatic plants:

These are important to the pond. These plants help add oxygen to the water and are very beneficial for the fish and bacteria. This type of plant competes with algae for light and nutrition, and can be a food source and shelter for fish. The general rule for submerged oxygenators is one bunch per square foot of pond surface.