Caring for Patio Water Gardens
Placement
Almost all pond plants prefer a sunny location. Four to five hours
(minimum) of direct sun is needed before most water lilies will bloom.
It is also preferable to avoid overhanging tree limbs if practical since
they can cause extra maintenance with dropping leaves and/or branches.
If blooms are not a major concern, your water garden will adapt fine to any
location with at least a filtered sun. In fact, light shade during mid
afternoon is desirable during extreme heat spells.
Plant Care
Most pond plants are hungry feeders and appreciate a good supply of
nutrients throughout the growing season.
Generally, one application of a slow release (3-4 months) aquatic fertilizer
tablet about May 1 will do a good job. A second application about July 1
will improve the performance of water lilies, lotus and other heavy feeders. Waste
from fish will provide supplemental fertilizer during the season.
Any spent flowers and yellow leaves should be pinched off near the base of
the plants on a regular basis. It is normal for water lilies especially to
shed older leaves throughout the season.
Some submerged pond plants (i.e. hornwort) do not produce roots and are
simply weighted down to the bottom of the pond with lead weights or stones.
However, others (i.e. anacharis) need to be placed in a small pot with field
soil or a mixture of sand and field soil (no potting soil) in order for them
to flourish. The pots should be topped off with gravel/stone, etc. to prevent
fish from digging into the pots and disturbing the soil. If Koi fish are being kept
(not recommended for patio ponds!), use larger stone (that the Koi can't move)
or place a small piece of screen over the top of the pot. If the tops grow too
large and come to the surface, they can be pinched off as needed to control
their size.
Fish Care
Keep no more than 2 small (2-5") pond fish in your patio garden. If you wish to
keep more fish you will probably need to add a filter system to your water garden.
As they grow it may become necessary to find them a more spacious home. I
would recommend common goldfish, black moors, or a variation on the common
goldfish. Japanese Koi fish are large growing fish that do not
adapt well to patio water gardens.
It is best not to feed your pond fish in a patio garden on a regular basis so
that they will scavenge on their own for natural food such as insects, algae, etc..
that they will find in the ponds. If you do wish to feed them, try feeding
them about the same time 2-4 times a week but remove any food not consumed
within 10 minutes. Do not be surprised if it takes your fish a few weeks to
come to the surface at feeding time. Discontinue feeding if the water begins
to cloud or if you suspect your fish are suffering from high ammonium or
nitrite levels (test kits are available). Also, stop feeding whenever
water temperatures drop below 50 degrees (usually about late October in Ohio).
Pump & Filter Maintenance
Your pond pump (if included) should run 24 hours to help keep the water well oxygenated.
This is especially important during hot summer days. Your filter (sponge or
lava rock) should be cleaned whenever water flow to the pump is noticeably
restricted (generally once every 2-3 weeks). If your pond pump stops running or has
a reduced flow check all connections and for debris blocking the intake or outlet
of the pump. It may be helpful to 'reset' your pond pump by allowing it to run dry for
5 seconds then returning it to the water.
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