Koi Gardens
A Koi garden is a well-designed and deliberate planted Koi garden is the foundation for the entire ecosystem that will develop within it. A well planted water pond has an abundance of plants, both Lilies and Marginals. It is best to introduce your Koi to the plant pond instead of introducing your plants to a Koi pond. To know if your plants and Koi can co-exist in one body of water takes trail and error and research. A Koi is a carp fish so part of their genetic heritage is rooting. They are also very curious by nature and they love to nibble. If their nibbles become damaging to your freshwater plants you should either place rocks on top of the soil or move your plant close to the pond edge. Koi have deserved reputations as plant eaters. If your Koi continues to root in your plants you can move them to higher ground.
Another common practice for your Koi garden 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. You can rotate your pots in and out of the Koi garden to give your Koi a treat and it gives time for other plotted plants to sit out and recover. Water celery (Oenanthe japonica) and water cress (Nasturtuium officinale are especially good for this. Duck Weed (Lemma minor) and mosquito fern (Azolla) are floating plants that multiply rapidly in standing water.
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. To start the nitrogen cycle in your pond you can add waterlilies and pickerelweed (Salicornia Virginica). Some water gardeners use rock on the bottom. You can’t do that with Koi. Rocks collect dirt and debris. When it rots, it produces hydrogen sulfide gas and kills Koi. Water complements the plants in a garden beautifully. It can create tranquil, reflective areas as a contrast to some lively planting, or it can bustle along in a stream, in contrast to the static plants, creating a sparkling streak of silver. Water can also produce noise, such as the tinkling of a fountain or the more regular pouring of a waterspout. The movement of water in a stream can also be very soothing to watch. One of the advantages of having a water feature is that it lets you extend the range of plants featured in your garden to include those that enjoy growing in or around water. A pond offers endless possibilities for adding plants or rearranging those you already have, plus the added enticement of fish and other pond animals. Some plants, such as water lilies, thrive in the deep water itself, while others prefer the shallow water margins, where they can get their roots down into the mud. Other plants like the muddy edges of a pond, where they are generally out of the water but where their roots are occasionally submerged. Another group, such as hostas and rodgersias, like the area next to the pond, which is out of water but still damp, while mimulus and many primulas relish being planted beside a stream or waterfall, where they are occasionally splashed and where the air is nice and buoyant. 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 need an activity for your little ones to do while you stay busy with your pond, let them plant some flowers. Easy plants for children to grow are: Antirrhimum, Calendula, Helianthus annuus, Lathyrus odoratus, Lobelia, Tagetes, Thunbergia alata, and Tropaeolum majus. Your children will thank you!
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. You can add your plants immediately, using a variety of plant types help balance the pond as well as make it beautiful. Plants benefit from animals, animals benefit from plants.
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