Water Lilies

Ponds located where they receive lots of sunshine can become water lily showcases. Most hardy water lilies do their best at 4 or 5 feet depths. Tropical water lilies, however, do best at about 1 1/2 to 2 feet below the waterline. Don’t place water lilies where water continuously sprays on the tops of their pads. They will not do well under those circumstances. Keep water lilies well-fertilized. We use 2 PondTabbs per water lily each month during growing season.

Blooming Water Plants

Most flowering water plants require sun to bloom. You may find that the green leaves of the plant does better in shadier spots but if it’s blooms you’re seeking most plants will need at least 4 hours of sun a day. Irises generally bloom only once a year and that is early to mid spring. The great thing about most irises is that the green strap-like leaves stay green all year long in Georgia. Use 1 PondTabb per month in most flowering potted plants to get the best blooms.

Floating Plants

Water hyacinths will bloom in sunshine but they use all the strength they have to produce the bloom. Don’t expect water hyacinths to provide healthy greenery while they bloom. Liquid fertilizers formulated for water gardens help the plant become more lush. In the shade their green leaves will look their best. Water lettuce is a great floating plant to use in the shade. The sun tends to pale them out. Water lettuce is easy prey to bug infestation. If this happens to you, simply remove the lettuce to a “hospital tank” and sprinkle with seven dust. Never dust them in a pond with fish inhabitants. Once the bugs are gone wash the seven dust off the plants and return them to the pond. This works well for most bug infestations on any plant. In areas where freezing occurs in winter hyacinths and lettuce die and become muck on the bottom of the pond. Remove them before the first frost.

Use trailing vines to soften the waterfall. Creeping Jenny is commonly used around ponds because it doesn’t mind its leaves trailing across the water. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other vines as long as you remember that some vines become invasive. I’ve seen beautifully used sweet potato vines, trailing petunias and honeysuckle.

Shade Lovers

No longer are people tied to the notion that ponds need to be in the sun. Although fewer plants are able to bloom in the shade often we achieve great foliage.

Impatiens

Use impatiens for a splash of bright colors in the shade. Impatiens love wet feet and can be placed in the hollow of a wet rock in the waterfall or stream. Here’s a neat trick: Take the root ball, dirt and all, of a single plant and wrap it in a piece of pantyhose that has been tied at one end. Use a twist-tie to secure the other end of the pantyhose to the neck of the plant. Place it where the root ball can sit in moisture. It will grow even better than if you had planted it in the “usual” way.

Elephant Ears & Caladiums

For foliage that can’t be beat place the corm of a large elephant ear plant in a shallow stream so that water continuously runs past it but it’s top is exposed to the air. Brightly colored Caladiums can be done the same way. You will need to make sure the corms are secured into place. Remove them before the first frost or you will lose the plant to winter.

These carnivorous plants lure insects into their long throats and slowly digest them making them a great project plant for a school-age child. Native to Georgia swamps the Pitcher Plant grows well in a bog garden that is protected from strong winds and can take sun as well as shade.

Umbrella Palms are one of the more versatile marginal water plants. Most marginals prefer water just over the pot. Umbrella Palms can be placed shallow or up to 2 feet under water. They are hardier than their cousin, Egyptian Papyrus, and almost as showy. To get the most out of your Umbrella Palm plant it in the largest pot you can lift and fertilize with 1 PondTabb each month during growing season. A large Umbrella Palm becomes a show piece when placed in the middle of the pond.

Lotus

With huge flowers and edible roots and seeds the lotus stands tall as one of the most desired water plants in the world. In ponds place the lotus in shallow water in full sun. Lower the potted lotus into the ground anywhere there’s enough sun to produce the lovely blooms. This plant is the last to grow and the first to go and requires heavy fertilization during growing season. Use 5 PondTabbs at the first of the season. Push the tabs in gently so you don’t damage the hollow root.

Plants & Fish