The Real McKoi - pond plants

Garden and aquatic plants

Add a splash of colour to your pond

There are many different kinds of plants that you can add to both the pond and pond edge,that will give colour and elegance,fit to grace any water feature.The water Lily is one of those plants,it comes in many different colours and varieties.
As there are so many pond plants available today it is impossible for me to list them all.A visit to any water garden center will give you a wide range of choices.

Below are just a few of my favourite plants, that I have in my own pond

Nymphae Amabilis

Water Lily Hornwort.
(Ceratophyllum demersum)
Elodea canadensis
William Falconer

Water Lily

Above are just two types of submerged oxygenating plants

Submerged oxygenating plants should be considered essential in most ponds as they absorb many chemicals from the water, such as metallic salts. As ordinary tap water contains such substances it is a good idea to have several bunches in your pond. This will go a long way towards taking the hard edge from tap water.

Tips for potting lilies

The use of plant baskets can make life a whole lot easier for pond owners.Access is much easier should the plant have to be removed and it restricts roots from spreading to much.It is also a lot easier for replanting the following spring.
Planting baskets can be purchased from most garden centers for only a few pence.

Select the size of basket you are going to use, place a few pebbles in the bottom of basket(this adds a little stability) and the insert a liner. Now,you may laugh,but I use an old pair of the wifes tights.From one pair of tights you will be able to line 3 or 4 baskets.
They don't rot and they hold the soil well.

Fill container to about half-way with aquatic soil and then place the tuber into the soil.Cover tuber with soil,leaving any buds above the surface of the soil.
Finally place a thin layer of aquatic stones over the surface of the soil.

If any buds on the tuber form pointing downwards,they should be removed with a piece of the tuber attached and planted pointing up.After a season of growth these will form their own tubers.

When you are satisfied with the potting of the lily it should be gently lowered into position.

Water lilies do far better if, in the early stages of growth after being transplanted, it is progressively, placed deeper in the pond. This is done very easily by lowering the pot onto several layers of bricks to achieve the desired height. As the season moves on and the water lily begins to grow, you simply remove one layer of brick, thus lowering the pot. After each new depth you should ensure two or three pads are able to float on the water's surface.

The ideal water depth for lilies ranges from 3 to 6 inches, for some varieties when very young, to 2 to 3 feet for others.

Irises

There are many varieties of irises that grow to various heights. They are very good bloomers and produce very attractive flowers. One of the things I like about the iris is, the wide range of colours they can be aquired in.

If you have irises in abundance they can be cut, and placed in a vase to add a little colour to your dinning table.

Above is a potted iris on a marginal shelf

Type	Colour of Blooms	Water Depth	Approx Overall Height
Iris Kaempferi varieties	White,Pink,Lavender,Blue	Moist soil or roots barely covered	Up to 36in (90 cm)
Iris Laevigata	White or Blue	2 - 4 ins (5 - 10 cm)	30 ins (75 cm)
Iris Laevigata Rose	Pink	2 - 4 ins (5 - 10 cm)	30 ins (75 cm)
Iris Laevigata Variegata	Lavender-blue (Variegated leaves)	2 - 4 ins (5 - 10 cm)	30 ins (75 cm)
Iris Pseudoacorus	Yellow	Up to 18 ins (45 cm)	Up to 60 ins (150 cm)
Iris pseudocorus Variegatus	Yellow (Variegated leaves)	Up to 18 ins (45 cm)	Up to 60 ins (150 cm)

Outdoor Bonsai Trees

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