What are the best oxygenating plants for a pond?
Both useful and decorative, oxygenating aquatic plants are essential in a pond. They will adapt perfectly, while participating in regulating the balance of the environment. Furthermore, the production of oxygen is of great importance for aquatic fauna, so do not hesitate to continue the rest of this article to discover them.
What is the role of oxygenating aquatic plants?
The oxygenation of water constitutes the primary use of oxygenating aquatic plants. Indeed, the bacteria present in the pool need oxygen to develop. However, these are essential elements in the degradation of dead leaves, suspended organic matter and organic fish waste. The action of bacteria transforms these materials into nutrients which will serve as basic food for plants.
As a result, oxygenating aquatic plants play a key role in water clarity and quality. Without forgetting its usefulness in protecting fry and aquatic bacteria against predators. Finally, they also ensure fish spawning.
The essential water lily
Water lilies belong to the family of floating aquatic plants. The roots remain at the bottom of the pond, but the flowers and leaves will bloom on the surface of the water. They contribute to the oxygenation of the pool, but you will also appreciate them for the decorative aspect with immediately identifiable flowers, of different colors.
The large size of the leaves allows fish to take refuge in their shade. Using just one water lily plant, the plant is capable of covering 1 m² of surface area. But for the plant to flourish, choose a sunny position and, when possible, sheltered from the wind. Water lilies are deciduous aquatic plants. Therefore, the foliage will gradually disappear as the winter period approaches. Rest assured, the roots are buried deep and they will remain intact. This is why the water lily is a first-rate oxygenating aquatic plant for a pond.
Presentation of Japanese horsetails
Also known as equisetum japonium or winter horsetails, these are aquatic plants that we recommend you insert into your pond. The plants are literally fascinating with a vertical growth with the particularity of not having leaves. As a result, your pond will give you a vintage effect. For its development, moist soil remains essential.
Reproduction takes place by the propagation of spores by suckers on sterile stems. The latter can also reach more than a meter in height. But to fully exploit Japanese horsetail, we recommend that you plant it in a hole by creating an anti-rhizome barrier to prevent the pond from being suffocated and invaded.
Do you know milfoils?
When we talk about oxygenating aquatic plants, it’s impossible to ignore milfoils. They belong to the Haloragaceae family with astonishing efficiency in oxygenating a pond. However, the greatest vigilance is required regarding its development, because they are also invasive. As a result, you have no other choice than to intervene regularly to control its proliferation.
Watermilfoils are capable of reproducing asexually through stem fragments and rhizomes. Remember that the plant is able to adapt to any condition, which explains its incredible growth. The plant remains popular for oxygenating the pond with pleasant, semi-evergreen foliage. The long floating stems extend over several meters and during the summer period, you will discover finer spiky branches.
Aquatic vanilla: an oxygenating plant with flowering in winter
If you like the smell of vanilla, then you will immediately be seduced by the plant. It also has the particularity of flowering in winter with splendid shades from ivory white to pink, including darker colors. Before your eyes, you will discover a magnificent spectacle which will enhance your pond with characteristic oval-shaped foliage.
Aquatic vanilla adapts easily to the pond and will naturally find its place in a shady corner to replace the water lilies. We strongly advise you to try it so that you can fall under the spell of this fragrant plant which will make you want to approach the pool to smell this delicate scent of vanilla.
Discover the pondweed
It is a species belonging to the Potamogetonaceae family. The plant is characterized by its rustic appearance, but also by its incredible effectiveness. The native species will have no difficulty adapting to a pond with stagnant water, slightly acidic and poor in nutrients. It is an aquatic perennial characterized by the presence of a cylindrical stem. The pondweed remains immediately identifiable by its lanceolate leaves when submerged, which is not the case for the floating ones, because this time, you will discover oval foliage.
When the summer flowering period arrives, the leaves appear in compact spikes. Do not hesitate to use this species to provide effective shelter for the fish and wildlife in your pond. Be careful all the same about its development, because pondweed reproduces easily by rooting broken stems.
