Choosing an Aquatic Pond Plant

There are so many different options when it comes to an aquatic pond plant, that it is not surprising people find it so difficult to decide on just one. If you want to make sure that you select the right aquatic pond plant, here are a few of the most popular choices, and choose from these, at least to get started.

Shallow Water Plants

These are certainly some of the most popular when it comes to the aquatic pond plant selection. These are often called marginal plants, and they are typically place in more shallow areas of the pond. Keep in mind that most ponds are already built with a plant shelf at around 12" deep, specifically for the purpose of placing shallow water plants in.

This is one aquatic pond plant that would be great for starting off your water garden with. Just make sure that you look at sun requirements and growing heights here, depending on the size and location of your water garden so you can make sure that you are choosing the right plants.

Floating Plant

Another great aquatic pond plant and one that you will definitely want to consider here is the floating plant. This should not be the main focus in your water garden, but instead is a plant that does not need to be anchored down and which looks just lovely sitting on the top of the water as it is.

They are probably the easiest of all aquatic plants to take care of, so it does not get much easier than a floating plant. Floaters are generally very prolific, and responsible water gardening includes keeping plants contained within the water garden.

Underwater Plant

There is also the underwater plant, which is the perfect plant to complete your water garden. The underwater grasses are the staple of the backyard pond, and these plants grow completely submerged although the growth of most will probably end up reaching the surface.

No matter which aquatic pond plant you decide on, the most important thing is that you are going to be willing and able to provide it with the right pond plant care. Without proper maintenance, the plants are not going to strive and will end up dying off and leaving your water garden in despair.

Pond plants are very easy to take care of and do not require a lot of time or effort, so you should be able to help them strive and have a beautiful, healthy water garden that you can be proud to show off.

Food And Shelter

Some aquatic pond plants serve as shelter for the fish and animals that live in and around the pond. The aquatic pond plant can shield the fish and other animals from the strident rays of the sun and help to keep the water cool. These kinds of plants are usually the floating varieties that stay on the surface of the water, keeping the rays of the sun off it. As a form of shelter, these floating plants can actually cover and entire plant if left uninhibited.

Some insects and snails live on and live off, as in eat, the plants in the pond. The fish in the pond also eat some varieties of aquatic pond plants. Some pond plants are good for some varieties of fish while others are not. It may be best to consult about which plants are great for whatever variety of fish because some aquatic pond plants may be hazardous for some species of fish.

Air

The presence of aquatic pond plants can also help because these aid in adding to the oxygen content of the water which the fish need to breathe. A growing pond plant should be allowed to grow a little before it is trimmed or picked to inhibit its growth. Some pond owners do not like to have too much of the aquatic pond plants in the body of water since these can run amok and grow limitlessly and choke the other plants and living things in the pond. Air is a necessity for fish and the presence of the plants help the fish.

Decoration

An aquatic pond plant actually primarily serves as a decoration for the pond or any other body of water. The different varieties of these kinds of plants have flowering, trailing and floating plants, among others. As an attraction to be placed in the pond, the aquatic pond plant serves best because of the other functions that it has. Man made and natural ponds need some forms of aquatic pond plants for its inhabitants to survive and for the pond itself to look natural and attractive.