Get inspired with @bakkercom

Oxygenating aquatic plants

The aquatic plant species are indicated in different zones. Zone 1 is the waterside plants, which are placed along the outer edge of the pond. These garden plants love wet soil but do not remain submerged at all times. Zone 2 is the marsh plants. They stand on the other side of the bank and love moist soil. We plant them at a depth of about 15-20 cm. This depth is measured from the surface of the water. Zone 3 is the water plants or underwater plants, which are mostly or completely submerged. Flowering aquatic plants often reach up above the water's surface. Zone 4 is the water lilies, which everyone is familiar with. The 'queen of the pond' displays her beautiful colours above the pond's surface. Oxygenating plants belong to zone 5. As mentioned, they are essential for the health of the pond and for reducing the risk of algae. Zone 6 is for floating plants, which we place on top of the water as decoration. The leaves of floating plants are ideal shelter for aquatic creatures when they need to cool off from the sun.

Oxygenating plants

Oxygenating plants are perhaps the most essential plants for the pond. They clarify the pond and create enough oxygen for fish and bacteriaën. Oxygenating plants absorb carbon dioxide from the water and convert it to oxygen, so organisms can live in the water. To survive, plants need a healthy environment. The water should contain enough minerals such as magnesium and calcium. This is called hard water. The level of hardness can be reduced by the rainwater that falls into the pond. It is important that we continue to supplement these minerals so that the oxygenating plants can thrive. To thrive, plants also need sufficient light, a water temperature of between 12 and 25 degrees Celsius, and sufficient carbon dioxide. If there is too little CO2 in the water or the water quality is not good enough, the chance of algae in the water can go up again. We recommend that you test the quality of the water once in a while.

Establishing oxygenating plants

Oxygenating plants grow (almost) entirely under water. There are two ways to establish oxygenating plants in the pond. The first method is with special pond baskets. We take a large pond basket and place the plants in it. We fill the basket with special pond soil. We don't use potting soil for garden or flower pots because it washes away easily. A layer of coarse sand is applied on top of that to minimise the chance of the soil rinsing away and of roots rotting. The second method is mainly for the situations in which the plant clumps are already somewhat larger. We gently roll the plant around a stone and bind it with twine. Then we put the stones on the plastic liner on the pond bottom.
The ideal period for planting oxygenating plants is between April and June. However, it is advisable to plant our oxygenating plants immediately after constructing the pond. With the exception of winter, oxygenating plants can be planted in the pond at any time. By planting oxygenating plants right after creating the pond, we prevent algae from having a chance to grow. To keep the pond healthy and clear, we recommend planting about 4 to 5 oxygenating plants per 1,000 litres of pond water. We'd rather place more oxygenating plants than less to keep the pond algae-free.

Pruning oxygenating plants

Oxygenating plants need to be pruned several times a year. We do this when the oxygenating plants are almost at the water's surface. When water plants reach the water's surface, they grow less quickly. We cut the plant back to about a third of its length. As a result, new shoots will continue to grow on the plant. These shoots will in turn also grow toward the water's surface. Always use sharp, clean pruning tools. This prevents pruning injuries to the plants.
Also check out the following interesting products: