Water Garden Plant | Floating Pond Plant

related article: Water Garden Plants | Outdoor Tropical Plants

Floating Pond Plant & Pond Zones

After you have finish to build your Garden Pond by do-it-yourself you are looking for the best water pond plants for each pond zone. Make a water garden plan to avoid unnecessary replanting of your garden and pond plants. Even if most floating pond plants may amaze you the most, you have to consider all zones in and around your biotope.
 

Your water garden plan should show at least the following zones:

• deep water zone : 50cm - 1,60cm
• mid level zone : about 40cm
• shallow zone / pond to garden zone : wet transition to garden
• surrounding zone : connecting garden landscape

Now make a rough sketch where you plan to plant all outdoor plants and you will see, already with these preparations your planting will go ahead smooth and without remodelling or replanting. Each water garden plant will help your new water hole to find its natural biological balance. As soon as your aquatic plants develop well the will provide a healthy living space for fish and further pond life.

To keep algae under control and the water more clear you should consider to put Anacharis into your pond. This pond plant is under water floating and uses up the nutrients, so these don't feed the algae. Of course these plants in your water pond cannot replace a technical Fish Pond Filter that is able to keep water quality stable constantly.
 

Aquatic Plants from Deep Zone to Shallow

It's the best when you start planting all aquatic plants from your deep water zone to the shallows. Begin in the deepest level with very small gravel (about 4mm) and increase the pebble size to the banks. In deep water zone place floating pond plants like water lilies. Keep these in plant pots so they won't spread uncontrolled and it will be easy to move them during freezing winter months.

Another floating water plant is Eichhornia or better known and water hyacinth. This flowering water garden plant is marvellous to look at, but fast spreading and must be controlled and reduced before it covers all the pond's surface.

When you choose your outdoor plants for garden and water pond you have to consider a proper balance between pond size and surrounding garden landscape. Plant all fast spreading pond plants into plant pots or baskets. Water lilies may cover half of the water surface to provide enough shadow for your fish. Don't place your water pond plants to close together. With enough open space they will catch more sunlight, develop and grow faster. Last not least, if all is loosen up, gardening will be more easy and open.
 

Don't forget the visual impression from some distance, your water garden landscape will make on you and your visitors. Think of a theatre stage or a shop window.

In both places you would never place the biggest decorations in the first row and block your sight to the depth of the room. The "composition" to design your water garden works similar. Choose low plants and flowers at the pond side, that is next to you. For the banks and garden, that lies (from your position) behind the pond, choose tall growing plants like e.g. reeds to create a natural background.

For most water garden designs, especially for ecological biotopes, you should avoid symmetries. Symmetries only work for very artificial designs, architectural indoor fish pond or classical garden landscape à la Versailles.