| A pond without plants is like cake without icing. Pond | | | | year 'round. If you don't have a greenhouse, place |
| plants fight algae, give fish a hiding place against | | | | tropicals in your sunniest window and keep misted, |
| predators, and beautify our own little slice of paradise | | | | several times a day if possible, to provide the |
| to plunk down in at the end of a tiring day. | | | | humidity they crave in order to flourish. "Grow lights" |
| Don't smother your pond with plants, however. Start | | | | do a fabulous fake of the sun, however, and many |
| with half the surface area, and don't let them cover | | | | tropical pond plants thrive under them. |
| more than two-thirds to three-quarters at their | | | | Marginal pond plants - those that grow around the |
| growing peak. Overcrowding stresses them out, and | | | | edges, or margins, of a pond - can be either hardy or |
| hey - it just looks bad! | | | | tropical. Some hardy marginals are cattail, plantain, and |
| Don't let the terms "hardy" and "tropical" throw you | | | | rush. Tropical marginals include taro, spider lily, and |
| when choosing plants for your pond. Just remember | | | | water hibiscus. Of course there are legions more to |
| that these terms refer to the environment in which | | | | lust after in both hardy and tropical marginals. Place |
| the plant has originally been adapted - and not to | | | | marginals with their pot tops one to six inches under |
| whether it can be thrown across the room or how | | | | water. Very tall plants, like cattail, can be moved as |
| well it looks in a fancy mixed drink. | | | | deep as a foot beneath the surface one they've |
| Hardy pond plants, as a rule, can handle cold | | | | gotten full-sized. |
| temperatures and frost. Of course, this is relative to | | | | Water lilies, however, like their water deep - |
| your USDA agricultural zone, found here: Ask your | | | | between 18 and 30 inches - after starting the season |
| plant professional or check the plant's label before | | | | in the 6"-12" shallower end. This gives them a nice, |
| taking home that plant that does great in Hawaii, but | | | | springtime shot of sunshine to get going again. And |
| not so great in Maine. | | | | when the plant pro recommends those funny-looking |
| Tropicals, on the other hand, pretty much hold true | | | | pots with all the little holes in them, go for it. Pond |
| to what they're called: They will take a nosedive if | | | | plants poke their toes (roots) through them to |
| temperatures get much below 70 degrees, turning | | | | develop tiny, nutrient-extracting feeder roots. |
| into a messy mush if it freezes. | | | | Meshing with one another, these roots provide |
| But, ah, Grasshopper, there are ways to save even | | | | stability and protection against wind, kids, pets, and |
| those hardy plants that aren't quite up to a northern | | | | adults that have a tendency to stumble into them. |
| blizzard, as well as those tender-toed tropicals with | | | | Fertilize pond plants when they need them. "Ha!" you |
| which you've fallen madly in love. | | | | say. "And when is that?" Well, go back to your plant |
| Bury hardy pond plants, pot and all, into a | | | | pro, the Internet, or the plant label you so wisely |
| south-facing part of your yard and cover with a | | | | saved. Each plant may have different requirements, |
| thick, warm blanket of mulch. Or put them into a | | | | but one rule of thumb: Plants need much more |
| garage or basement, making sure they're kept wet | | | | fertilizer in warm-weather months than when it's cool |
| and have good air circulation. | | | | outside. |
| Tropicals, on the other hand, need light and moisture | | | | |