Many people are starting to add gaps to their homes for many reasons. The problem is that many people don’t know how to properly care for and plant the life that is necessary to sustain this tiny ecosystem in your area. There are several plants that need to be included, and some that add beauty while serving a much needed function. Whether you want to keep the pond away from mosquitoes and keep breeding, or to keep color and fun in the home exterior, plants and animals that they put in your tank, they are as big as the tank itself. If you already have a pond in your area and need a way to get rid of algae and keep critters alive, or if you want to add a pond to your container, there are some important things to keep in mind. You want to have some kind of animal in your pond. They are to choose from. You can go the terrarium route and have toads and salamanders (fire belly is my favorite) or you can use the traditional koi pond. . Either way, you’ll need these pumpkins to fight the worms and other invasive bugs that come with standing water. Having a waterfall will help in this too. These animals also provide food for the pond plants. Not all plants can truly thrive near a pool, though, and some can actually harm your pool by introducing contaminants into the water. Here are many plants that are necessary to enhance your pond, as they will enhance the beauty and keep your pond clean and pure for years to come.
Oxygenating Plants –
One of the most important parts of any animal bearing tank is the underwater plant life. These submerged plants not only clean waste and debris from the bottom of the pool, but also return oxygen to the water. This pain is very important for life. All these animals, from snails to koi to toads, need this oxygen to survive. These plants naturally disperse the water and keep your tank open and not dark. They are very easy to plant as well. You can either bury the roots in gravel at the bottom of your pool, or just tie a small weight to the bottom of the plant and just let it fall in. you can usually forget about it.
There are several categories to choose from. Cabomba and Hornwort are two bushy varieties that can offer shade to your koi and snails on hot days, and Cabomba Blowers –
No pond is truly complete without floating plants. These broad-leaved plants (usually lily pads whether they are lilies or not) add a traditional look to your pond and can be useful to the creatures living there. While there are different varieties of floating plants, not all of them bloom. A nice green leaf can add great color to a pond, and offer shade to fish and snails, or a nice spot for amphibians. While the frogbit does not have a true flower to it, it is a beautiful green color that grows small clusters of flat fluttering leaves. purple flower water hyacinth is a beautiful flower for the pond (I love purple), but the plant itself can detract from the appearance of the pond with its sheer size.
My favorite swimmers are the Lilies and the Nymphoid family. Lilies bloom beautifully and give you wide petals, which are famous. The Nymphoides (the name means “lily-like”) family includes Alligator Leaf, American Snowflake, Butterfly Snowflake. While these blooms are not as large as the lily, they are nice if you don’t care for the lily or are looking for cheap ones that won’t steal the show from your tank. One last cut that can be used in addition to many gaps is the IAP variety of Water Hyssop, either “hairy” or “smooth”. These have a very nice and delicate flower, but it is a very useful plant. These grow around the edges of your shallow pool, where imperfections appear (concrete or other exposed imperfections) and will grow several feet in length. A few of these things put around your pool can give you a nice border. From the fact that these can grow in frost, heat, and great traffic, they grow very hard and easily. They frame your pool and help stabilize the surrounding banks to keep dirt and debris from clouding the water or falling into your pool.
Bog and surrounding plants –
The area around your pool is as important to the look and feel of your pool as the pool itself. There are many plants that can thrive around a pond and some that can really thrive in that type of moisture. The ficus is my favorite of these plants. It takes a lot of humidity and moisture for the fern to really abound, and the pond offers that kind of growth area. They are a very cheerful plant, which adds beauty to any pond. The delicate and intricate looking leaves are truly wonderful. Bog Lilia and other types of reeds plants also thrive near ponds and some will grow in water near the bank. These can help to raise the edge of your pond in the surrounding area where your garden can grow. Aquatic Mint and Bluebells are some nice blooms around your pool. The possibilities of these plants are endless.
There is one other ingredient you may want to consider for your tank snails. These snails will eat algae which will rob the living plants of their vital nutrients and sunlight. You need to be careful with this though. Bringing live snails, such as Japanese Trapdoor snails, is less likely to invade your pond than their egg-laying brethren. A live snail bearing offspring will often be devoured by your pond inhabitants. You want to try and save some of the babies to go to your tank, but by using live snails, you won’t let the babies out and take control of your pond. There are two other additions to your pond that you may want to consider, but the right balance of plants, filtration through a waterfall, and live inhabitants can keep your pond looking pristine and perfect.
Sources:
Bog Plants
Like a lake of plants
Eagle Plant Lake
