● Just how many plants do I need? Maintaining around 60% plant coverage over and within your pond will help absorb and utilize any excess nutrients in the pond, preventing unclean water or algae blooms. Aquatic plants also provide shelter and food for the ecosystem in the form of fish, snails, tadpoles, and dragonflies. For ponds up to 50 square feet, a good rule of thumb is 2 bog plants, 3-5 submerged plants, and 6-12 floating plants.
● Look for perennial or hardy plants if you want greenery all year long. Which plants are able to last through the winter chill will depend on your particular location and the cultivar that you choose. In the US, you can figure out what ‘Plant Hardiness Zone’ you’re in by looking up your location in the USDA database. For example, an iris may be hardy up to Zone 4, entering a period of dormancy once temperatures drop below a certain level. In places colder than Zone 4, like the Northern part of Minnesota, it may be too cold in the winters for an iris to survive all year long.
● Pay attention to how much sun your plants are getting, and how much they’d prefer to get. Plants are labeled with their specific light needs, ranging from full sun (6-8 hours per day), partial sun (3-6 hours of direct light), partial shade (3-6 hours of indirect sun), or full shade (3 or less hours per day). Some plants will need some protection from harsh afternoon sun no matter their light rating. Direct morning light is the most beneficial for almost every kind of plant.
● Certain cultivars will prefer more or less water than others. Bog or edge plants often prefer to have ‘wet feet and dry ankles,’ or wet soil while keeping the lower part of their stem dry out of the water. Emergent/marginal plants are partially submerged, usually in about 6 inches of standing water. Deep water plants can thrive completely under the water and are often employed as excellent oxygenators due to this fact.
Is your water moving? Some plants can withstand the movement of a current or small stream, while others do best in still waters. Certain kinds of reeds and grasses will do just fine in moving water, while many kinds of floating plants may do better in water that stays still.
