The What, Why & How Of Aquatic Plants
The What
The simplest and easiest way to select the right variety of aquatic
plants is to purchase one of our plant
packages. They come with everything you need to get started. So
What kinds of aquatic plants are there? What should I get for my water
garden? These are very legitimate questions. First off,
there are many different categories of aquatic plants with many species
in each category:
 Floating -
Floating plants such as water hyacinth & water lettuce are best used
to absorb excess nutrients that cause excessive algae growth. They also
provide a nice cool shade and cover for the fish.
 Submerged -
Submerged plants are fantastic oxygenators. They are also used to absorb
nutrients so there is no need to fertilize them.
 Bog -
You can add a nice touch to your water garden using bog plants. They
are marginal plants that are planted around the edges of the pond. They
act as a visual anchor to the surrounding garden. Bog plants are perennials,
meaning that they will grow back every year.
 Hardy
Water Lilies - Hardy water lilies are perennials.
The flowers on these lilies will bloom all summer long on the water
surface.
Hardy water lilies have smooth waxy leaves that are rounded at
the edge.
 Tropical
Water Lilies - Tropical water lilies have very fragrant
blossoms and will have several blooms at a time. These lilies come in daytime and nighttime blooming varieties. Tropical
water
lilies will be jagged or pointed around the edge of the leaves.
 Hardy
Water Lotuses - Hardy water lotuses have very large
blooms and leaves that can stand out of the water from two to five
feet depending
on the variety. A hardy water lotus may take up to two years to become
fully established.
The Why
So why are aquatic plants so important? In a water garden, plants are absolutely vital in balancing
the
ecosystem, and they offer an aesthetic touch to your landscape. If
you ever wonder what causes algae to grow or why your pond isn't
clear, there are really only four factors to consider: - Not enough
filtration
- Too many fish
- Not enough aquatic plants
- Not using DefensePAC
(bacteria)
The recommendation for aquatic plant coverage is
60% of your overall water garden surface. This will provide enough
absorption
of nutrients to help combat algae before it has a chance to grow. 
The How
Now that I know aquatic plants are important, how do I plant them? That's
a great question. Here is the rundown.
Floating -
Floating plants do not need to be planted. Simply toss plants onto the
surface of the water. Floating plants can also be placed inside a Bio-Falls
unit for added filtration and to prevent vigorous spreading. This will also
help to hide the Bio-Falls.
Submerged -
Submerged plants may free-float throughout your water garden. If you water
garden is equipped with a skimmer you may want to wrap a weight around the base of the plant before tossing it in to prevent the skimmer
from pulling in the plant.
Bog -
Simply create pockets and crevices 6-8" in depth between the gravel and
boulders. Remove the marginal plant from its pot, move gravel aside, place
the plant and then spread the gravel around the base of the plant for support.
Hardy & Tropical
Water Lilies - Prepare lily pockets by making indentations within
your first or second shelf (12" to 18" in depth). Place the lily tuber
in the lily pocket and fill with aquatic planting media. Finally, spread
loose gravel around the base of the lily to prevent the soil from being
stirred up.
Hardy
Water Lotuses - Hardy water lotuses are usually potted in wide,
shallow containers because of their aggressive behavior. Plant in a round
container at least 18" in diameter with 6" of depth. It must be round,
because square pots can cause lotuses to die when the tuber gets crunched
into a corner during heavy growth seasons. Gently place the tuber into
at least 3" of soil. Fill the rest of the container up to the brim with
water. Be sure to keep the lotus in the pot when planting into your water
garden.
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