Benefits of Each Type of Pond Plant -Lilies, Lotus, Marginals, Oxygenators

Agreat step toward a well-balanced pond is learning about the benefits of plantslike lilies, marginals and submerged grasses. Adding a few of these to yourpond can beautify your pond, greatly decrease algae and promote a cleansymbiotic system, keeping your pond clear and beautiful.

Lilies/LotusPlants

Lilies andLotus are very similar looking plants and are often times confused for oneanother. Both plants aid in providing a well-balanced pond by shadingponds that are in direct sunlight. They also help the pond by consuming excessnutrients, both of which (sunlight and excess nutrients) are key elements incontrolling algae.

Lotusplants tend to be more fragile than lilies, especially when it comes toshipping and planting which explains why they are seasonal while lilies aresold year round. Of the two, Lotus areprobably more revered due to their limited availability and their place inJapanese culture.Bothplants are rooted either at the bottom of the pond or in a pot that rests onthe bottom of the pond. They grow from long stems that reach up to thepond's surface where their large green foliage opens up and floats on top ofthe water. Each plant also produces colorful blooms that rest atop the floatinggreen leaves. The main noticeable difference between the two is the flower. The petals of a lily tend to be more pointed at the end than a lotus, similarto a daisy. The shape and look of the petals of a lotus are more roundedand curved, similar to that of a rose. Also, the foliage and flower oflotus is capable of growing up to a few feet above the ponds surface, whereasthe lilies are strictly floaters.

Marginal/Bog Plants

Marginals (also often referred to as bog plants) as they are thedominant plant type in a bog filter set up since they don't need much water tothrive but are tremendous at filtering out nutrients. Marginals add texture andheight to your pond and grow best in moist to damp soil. These plants areplanted along the edge (or margin) of a pond in just a few inches of water orless, are very decorative and they attract birds and butterflies to your pond,providing a naturally beautiful backdrop to your pond. Species like Arrowhead,Pickeral, and Cattails provide height and shade. Marginals in general keep yourpond clean by stopping runoff from entering the pond, making one less mess foryou to clean. They also curb algal growth by voraciously absorbing the samenutrients (nitrate and phosphate) that algae need to grow, making your pond thatmuch cleaner and ecologically sound.

SubmergedGrass/Oxygenators

Oxygenatorsare submerged plants (typically grasses) that add oxygen to the pond waterduring the day when the sun is out. Oxygenators provide safe havens for fishand other small aquatic creatures to get away from predators like birds andraccoons. These submerged grasses grow mostly below the pond's surface and areusually placed at the bottom of the pond either in a pot or planted directlyinto the bottom soil of the pond. Submerged grasses aid in purifying the waterby absorbing impurities like carbon dioxide, phosphate and nitrate that causealgae problems.

Agood rule of thumb is to cover anywhere from 40% to 60% of your pond's surfacearea with pond plants to limit algal photosynthesis. It is beneficial to havemore than a few of these different plants to bring beauty and balance to yourpond environment.