Koi Gardens

Water lilies are available in hardy and tropical varieties. They both come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and the leaves provide fish with shade from the heat of the summer sun, cooling the water and making algae control easier too. Waterlilies will also help to start the nitrogen cycle in your pond.

The majority of waterlilies need plentiful sunshine to do well (six or so hours per day), but some can get by with as little as three hours. Some blue-hued waterlilies do better than most in spots where there is some shade. The larger flowered tropical Director George T. Moore tolerates some shade, as does the smaller tropical Dauben. Some yellow ones to consider include: hardy Joey Tomocik, hardy Chromatella, & hardy Charlene Strawn.

Red-hued ones actually may hold their color a little longer with less exposure to the hot sun (generally speaking, they don't do well in hot climates). Examples are hardy Attraction, hardy Escarboucle, and hardy Lucida.

A common practice for your Koi gardens is to put your water lilies in a pot that is two or more times deeper than the soil. If you normally plant your lilies in 8 inches of soil use a 16-20 inch pot with your normal 8 inches of soil. The Koi will now have to stand on his head to have access to your plant and most fish do not like this.

Don’t forget to put your large rocks on top of the soil. It is best to keep your prized plants in shallower water and at locations harder for your Koi to reach.

Koi have high nutritional requirements and need certain levels of vitamin C and protein. Your plant leaves can become a nutrition source. It’s a good idea to supplement their food occasionally. You can give your Koi salad leaves, cabbage, spinach, melons, citrus, and proteins such as earthworms, chicken and shrimp. Give them a small amount two or more times daily.

Frequent feedings and varied foods will give your Koi less incentive to chew on plants.

Examples of Water Lilies: Colorado, Escarboucle (Nymphaea Escarboucle), James Brydon (Nymphaea James Brydon), Joanne Pring (Nymphaea Joanne Pring), Joey Tomocik (Nymphaea Joey Tomocik), Perry's Baby Red (Nymphaea Perry's Baby Red), Perry's Fire Opal (Nymphaea Perry's Fire Opal), & Texas Dawn (Nymphaea Texas Dawn).

Before you get your heart set on growing the exotic-looking lotus, be sure you can meet its needs. Although the plant can be grown almost anywhere in North America, for it to produce those spectacular flowers and pods, it needs warm temperatures. Lotus need two or even three consecutive months of temperatures over 80° F.

Also, don't expect it to bloom for you its first year, though it may, especially if given alot of fertilizer. Lotuses are greedy feeders. The second year will be better. Lotus will never bloom as well as water lilies.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) this is a beautiful floating plant with purple flowers. It is prohibited in at least six southern states in the US but in colder climates it is useful in improving water quality and clarity. The dangling roots collect sediment and consume excess nutrients. You will need to remove these plants before the first frost to keep decaying matter from remaining in the pond during winter.

American frog’s bit (Limnobium spongia) this plant is a favorite snack of the herbivorous turtles (hence the name). The so called sponge on the underside of the leaf is more dominant and often causes the leaves to stand upright instead of lying on the water’s surface.

Cape honeysuckle is a flowering plant you can plant around the edges of your pond and it attracts hummingbirds.

A marginal, sometimes called a “bog” plant, is a plant that, in nature, grows on the sides of a pond or in a damp area. They can supply “vertical interest” as well as variety and color.

Marginal plants will require very little maintaince. Being a part of your water garden will cover the basic need of water, and they do not require fertilizing. It is best to plant these in pots, not only to contain them but to have easy access as well.

Many marginal plants can be planted in nothing but gravel or large pebbles without soil. This not only weights them down, it slows their growth and compels them to take all their nutrients from the water. This technique is particularly worthwhile in larger ponds or ones with lots of plants. Marginal plants will do their best in shallow water; along the edges of the pond.

Marginals of tropical origin should not be placed in water colder than 70° F. All marginal, tropical or hardy, should prosper and even flower their first year in your Koi garden.

Examples of Marginal Plants are Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), Canna (Canna x generalis), Cattail (Typha species), Golden Club (Orontium aquaticum), Iris (Iris species and hybrids), Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus), Mosaic Plant (Ludwigia sedioides), Papyrus, Umbrella Palm (Cyperus species and cultivars), Taro, Elephant's Ear (Colocasia esculenta), Sweet Flag, Japanese Rush (Acorus calumus), Pickerel Rush, Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata), & Spike Rush, Fiber-optic Plant (Eleocharis montevidensis).

Some of the common floaters are duckweed, bogbean, water clover and duckweed. What this diverse group has in common is an ability to grow without soil. Their roots dangle down from beneath their leaves into the water below and manage to derive what nutrient they need.

Benefits of floaters are they are a tasty treat for your Koi and they flourish in full sun. But some will tolerate part-day shade and still manage to bloom. Most floaters tend to prefer still water.

Floaters are a welcome addition to your pond because they help fulfill the requirement of two-thirds water coverage that leads to a healthy pond, plus they provide shelter for Koi and pond fish along with using nutrients that might otherwise feed unwanted amounts of algae.

Floaters and Submerged Plants tend to grow very easily, this means you will need to keep them trimmed back so they don't take over your pond.

For More Information on Floating Pond Plants Click Here

You need to be aware of the types of plants you buy as some can be toxic to your fish. Different parts of a plant may be toxic, the leaves, stems, or roots, have varying chemical properties, and a leaf might not be toxic where a root is.

Before adding your plants consider what part of the plant your fish will have access to. If you are unsure if a certain plant is toxic and you cannot find any information about it, find an alternate plant. On this website I have a list of Toxic Plants, and do not think just becuase a certain plant is not on this list that it will be fine, these are just the ones I know of so far.

For More Information and a List of Toxic Plants and Parts Click Here

All children love being around water. Water can be dangerous, especially to young children, so very careful thought must be given before you start to dig deep holes in your backyard for ponds of any kind. There are various attractive compromises. It is possible to create relatively safe features in which water bubbles out of say, a rock and then disappears between fixed stones into a safe underground reservoir. This idea leaves no surface water, which can prove to be dangerous. Or you could have a shallow, natural-style pond which can be both educational and safe. You could also build a waterfall that empties into a shallow stream.

If you do decide to have a pond and you have small children make sure and surround your pond with a fence or cover the pond with heavy netting.

If you decide that a water garden is not the garden you need because of your little ones then try this website: www.enjoy-your-garden.com
Your garden is one of your greatest assets. Whether you want a peaceful plant filled sanctuary, extra living and entertaining space, or somewhere to grow your own vegetables, our tips and information will help you create a garden for year round pleasure and enjoyment.

If you need an activity for your little ones to do while you stay busy with your pond, let them plant flowers.

Easy plants for children to grow are:

• Antirrhimum
• Calendula
• Helianthus annuus
• Lathyrus odoratus
• Lobelia
• Tagetes
• Thunbergia alata
• Tropaeolum majus