Aquatic plants are used for aesthetic appeal–they stay afloat on ponds, adding beauty. Oregon’s most popular aquatic plants consist of water lilies, lotus, iris, water shield, and different types of oxygenators and floaters. They are typically found near areas along the coast, in rivers, ponds and lakes. Luckily, since Oregon has one of the best nurseries in the USA, it is easy to purchase plenty of aquatic plants–if you don’t feel like going on a plant hunt for rare species.
Pond plants fall into three groups: hardy, semi-tropical, and tropical. These three descriptors can be used to distinguish different plant conditions throughout the year.
Hardy plants have the ability to withstand drastic weather conditions, like cold weather, hot weather, droughts, and wind. This makes them perfect pond plants, because of their ability to adapt to different climates—giving your aquatic plants (and the pond owner), a stress-free lifestyle. For this reason, hardy plants require minimal maintenance, but only if the pond is properly cleansed and taken care of. A popular aquatic plant choice are hardy water lilies. Water lilies are beautiful plants that adapt well to any pond and weather condition, but grow best when exposed to a couple hours of sunlight a day.
Semi-tropical plants thrive in wet, warm areas, partly tropical. If protected, they will survive the winter. Some popular semi-tropical plants to buy for your ponds are umbrella pams, butterfly ginger, and bluebell. These plants are especially appealing for garden ponds.
Tropical plants grow during cold climates, but they should be kept in heated greenhouses to be protected and increase their chances of surviving. Although they grow in cold climates, they evolved in warmer, humid conditions–giving them the ability to easily adapt to various locations. Oregon has usually warmer temperatures, but most tropical plants are hardy enough to survive the winters. Tropical plants are a great choice for ponds, as they float and give an appealing tropical appearance to your pond. They are also vastly used in landscaping and many tropical plants have beautiful, aromatic flowers that bloom in humid conditions. Oregon is full of lush, tropical plants that bloom year-round. Some of these popular plants include Bougainvillea flowers, Mandevilla plants, and Tropical Hibiscus.
Aquatic Habitat Safety
In Oregon, restoring aquatic habitats is a very important part of keeping your ecosystem healthy and ensuring they are sustainable. To keep your aquatic habitat in check, inspect the flood plains, and water quality and quantity. To prevent your habitat from being eroded away by sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants, it is important to keep these elements out of your streams. Reducing soil erosion improves water sources, cleans soil, and ultimately protects the environment.
Pond liners that are impenetrable are essential to have an aquatic habitat. Liners can help keep any type of water containment system in place, whether it’s for a plant pond or a retention pond. Keeping fish healthy in your pond is critical because it helps keep harmful bacteria out of your pond, since sick fish can release unwanted contaminants. Pond liners made of fish-safe materials like HDPE and RPE provide you with a sense of security you won’t find in other liners. Oregon’s state regulation requires that you get a permit to fix blocked streams where fish cannot pass through. If fish safety and clean water is important to your pond, then it will be worth getting one from Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife.
You do not have to use potable water approved liners for all ponds and water features, but it is definitely a good idea to. Although, such liners are necessary for human drinking water supplies and are also recommended for animals. Water can be tested by taking a water sample and sending it through OAR (Oregon Administrative Rule) where it will be examined by OAR’s laboratory.
