For our customers with large earth bottom natural ponds:
Both Native plants and ornamental impact plants are excellent an excellent choice for natural ponds. Do not think of weeds or even cattails which will quickly get out of control in an earth bottom pond.
Native plants prevent erosion, keep the water clean and clear and add a lot of character to the natural setting.
What Plants/Native Plants are best for my natural earth bottom ponds?
Different parts of the country should use different plants around the edge of their ponds.In the southeastern USA some great shallow water plants include
- Thalia Dealbata
- Sagittaria Latifolia (Duck potato or hardy arrowhead)
- Golden Club
- Red Stem Arrowhead
- Pickerel Cordata
- Pickerel Dilatata (Royal Pickerel Rush)
- Variegated Water Celery
- Canna Orange Punch
- Louisiana Iris (All Varieties)
- Blue Flag Iris
and more!
What waterlilies do you suggest for Natural Earth Bottom Ponds that will not take over.
Waterlilies that do great in the south and southeast for large natural earth ponds: (Note many turtles, koi, carp, muskrats and some large fowl will dig up and eat waterlilies)
- Lemon Meringue,
- Awesome,
- Clyde Ikins,
- Colorado,
- Perry's Double Yellow,
- Cranberry,
- Sunfire,
- Gregg's Orange Beauty,
- Fuchsia Pom Pom
Most of these are not seed producers and are much easier to contain in a natural pond.
Where can I buy Water Garden Plants?
Pond Megastore is thrilled to offer a wide selection of pond plants. Common species, Native Aquatic Plant Species, New Pond Plants for Marginal areas. All these water garden plants are offered direct to your home by FedEx or mail.
How do I plant my Water Lily and Water Garden Plants?
Full instructions for growing water lilies, lotus plants, marginal plants, and oxygenating pond plants can be found in the menu under "Instructions for Planting Your Pond Plants", with special instructions on planting Lotus, Australian Waterlilies and more!
Most plants will require a good size container and proper soil which is a heavy loam soil, which is basically topsoil, which you never have to purchase. However, if you have red or yellow clay in your backyard, you can prepare a loam soil for a few dollars. Learn why fabric containers are often better than solid containers for plant growth and healthy roots.
Also remember to fertilize aquatic plants, outside of pitcher plants most aquatic plants will benefit from a boost in food, especially Water Lilies and in summer the Lotus plants.
What Is Loam Soil?
Loam soil is a good mixture of Topsoil and Sand
If you are lucky enough to have good topsoil in your backyard, by all means, use your topsoil. All you will have to do is add fertilizer. If you are not so lucky--and your backyard is sand or heavy red or yellow clay, you can mix up a batch of loam soil.
You can create your own loam soil by mixing these two ingredients together
- 2/3 Inorganic Topsoil (Little or no organic material added)
- 1/3 Pool Filter Sand
Mix together thoroughly with a little water. Your soil should clump when squeezed. If your soil is mixed properly, it will not muddy your pond water.
We no longer recommend any bagged soil, all seem to contain mulch and other organic material now.
You can purchase Pool Filter Sand at any store that sells pool supplies.
Loam soil is well suited for all aquatic plants (except oxygenators). Oxygenators rarely need to be planted, just anchored in the substrate or in a container filled with sand or 1/8 inch pea gravel.
Sand holds little water but does allow for aeration and drainage.
Some DO's and DON'TS regarding Aquatic Planting Soil
DO NOT use potting soils ( as they are too light and will float right out of the pot). Potting Soil has organic material that will rot and foul your water!
DO NOT add too much composted material (as it is too rich in organic matter and it will ferment underwater and destroy the ecology of your pond).
DO NOT use 100% calcined clay as there is no nutritional value in calcined clay.
DO NOT add rocks, stones or pebbles to the top of your planting container as this will inhibit the growth of your plants. Plants do not grow in rocks and stones in nature!
DO NOT purchase API Aquatic Planting Media or Microbe-lift Aquatic Planting Media as these products are NOT suitable for waterlilies, lotus or most other pond plants. They are suitable for submerged grasses ONLY!
