Best Oxygenating Plants For Small Wildlife Ponds
Small wildlife ponds are an excellent addition to any garden and are always teeming with life. One important element for this fragile ecosystem is oxygen.
As a result, oxygenating plants not only look beautiful but also play an important role in keeping your wildlife pond thriving. So, what are the best oxygenating plants for your wildlife pond?
Well below is just some of the best oxygenating plants you can use in your wildlife pond;
What Are Oxygenating Plants?
Oxygenating plants can also be known as submerged water plants, this is because they are usually found under the water and can be used to filter your pond water. These plants tend to get their name as they give out oxygen during the day and use it up at night. This process is known as photosynthesis which all plants go through.
Oxygenating plants have a lot of benefits for your pond. They are used to keep the algae growth in your pond under control whilst also providing oxygen. These types of plants are used to help keep your algae at bay as they feed on the nutrients in the pond that would otherwise have been eaten by the algae. This therefore stops the algae from being able to grow as they have less food to feed on.
Oxygenating plants get their nutrients from the water, and they do this through their leaves and not roots like most typical plants. These plants can also be known as macrophytes, this means that they thrive under the surface of the water. This can help to provide the fish and wildlife with a valuable underwater habitat.
Also, by having these plants submerged underwater in your pond can significantly help the wildlife and fish that live in or around your pond. They can be used to provide shelter, release oxygen into the water and can help to filter out any toxins and pollutants.
Does A Wildlife Pond Need Oxygenating Plants?
In short, oxygenating plants are highly recommended and can have significant benefits for your pond. This is because they are vital to maintaining a healthy pond. Therefore, if you were to not have these plants in your pond, you may find you have many problems.
There are many benefits you can receive from oxygenating plants that you would not necessarily get from having other plants. These benefits include oxygen, water filtration, pond decoration, and allowing the wildlife a place to hide.
Oxygen is a vital mineral to ensuring you have a healthy pond and wildlife. Your pond needs oxygen to thrive. Having oxygenating plants in your pond can dramatically help the wildlife and fish because they need this to survive. If you do not have enough oxygen in your pond, that can lead to an abundance of problems.
Oxygen in plants happens through the process of photosynthesis. This is where plants release oxygen in the day and then they use it up at night. This can result in a better and healthier pond which the aquatic life can thrive on and ensure you have happy fish in your pond.
Having a good water filtration system is also important to ensure that you have a well maintained and healthy pond. The oxygenating plants can also help to filter unwanted nutrients and grime. This is because these plants help to reduce the amount of algae growth which can often affect your water filter and pump.
Also, by having oxygenating plants to filter the pond water can ensure that you have much cleaner water and as a result have much healthier and happier fish. The plants absorb the bad nutrients like nitrate and phosphates via their leaves to make for a healthier and cleaner pond.
Many people also have oxygenating plants in their pond because they are aesthetically pleasing. Although this may not be a reason you need them, it can be a welcomed addition to your pond.
Lastly, having these submerged oxygenating plants can provide plenty of hiding places and shade for your pond. This is beneficial as many fish prefer having a hiding place, especially if they are smaller and tend to be hunted by the larger fish.
Many fish also like having a shaded or protected area in their habitat for breeding purposes. Also, it is important to note that having plants that provide shade will also stunt the growth of algae (which can be troublesome) as algae thrives off sunlight.
Ensuring you have plenty of oxygenating plants can help to encourage newts and frogs into your pond and its surrounding areas, which can also help your pond to thrive. When you are designing a pond, it is important to try and keep it as natural as possible. Having these oxygenating plants is a sure way to ensure that you are doing this because they have many natural benefits.
Therefore, it is clear that having these plants in your pond can significantly improve the quality of the water. This indicates the need for these plants in your pond.
How Many Oxygenating Plants Do I Need In My Wildlife Pond?
There is a rule of thumb when knowing how many oxygenating plants you need in your pond. It is recommended that you have 3 bunches of oxygenating plants for every metre squared that you have. For example, if you have a pond that is 8 metre squared in area then you will need 24 bunches of oxygenating plants.
Although it is possible to have too many oxygenating plants in your pond. So, it is important to follow the recommended guidance. Due to the photosynthesis process plants release oxygen in the day and store or use it up at night. So, if you have too many oxygenating plants in your ponds it can have the opposite effect and can lead to an unhealthy environment for your pond.
What Oxygenating Plants Are Best For Small Wildlife Ponds?
There are many oxygenating plants that are highly recommended for you to put into your wildlife ponds. The best 9 plants will be discussed.
Arrowhead
The first plant you should consider putting in your pond is arrowhead. This is known scientifically as Sagittaria subalata but can also be known as dwarf sagittaria or dwarf arrowhead.
If you are new to having a pond, then this is the first oxygenating plant that you want to include. You are best to put arrowhead in more shallower waters at only a few feet underwater. This is an easy to maintain plant that can grow either entirely submerged or slightly above water.
This plant gets its name because of its slightly arrowhead-shaped leaves, although the plant can tend to look like a thick clump of crabgrass. These plants are great at releasing oxygen and can reproduce well.
This particular plant is also not very sensitive to a change in temperature so you do not need to worry over the summer or winter if your plant can survive. The arrowhead can thrive and survive with temperatures between 59-84 degrees Fahrenheit.
Red Rotala
Red Rotala is another great oxygenating plant that you should consider having in your pond. This is also known scientifically as Rotala macrandra.
This is a beautiful and vivid oxygenating plant that you should have in your wildlife pond. The red rotala has very robust leaves but there are some factors that you need to be mindful of when deciding to put this plant in your pond.
You must be careful when placing this plant in your pond. The red rotala requires a lot of light, if they do not get enough sunlight, this can be detrimental to the plant. You must also be careful where you place this plant in your pond as if it is too close to other plants the lower leaves will not be able to have enough light. This can cause the leaves to become dull.
Hornwort
Hornwort is also a great oxygenating plant that you should put into your wildlife pond. This is known scientifically as Anthocerotopsida. This plant can also sometimes be known as coontail. Although this plant may look delicate, it can actually grow to two feet tall and is extremely robust and possible one of the hardiest submerged plants.
The hornwort can either be free-floating or if you would rather, you can choose to anchor it down with small weights. This plant is best suited to still pond water. It can also be in the sun or partial shaded. This can also be thinned out in the summer; you do this by removing the yellow or clear coloured leaves.
Hornwort can handle slight fluctuations in temperature, but you should keep an eye on this plant during extreme weather changes. It is also not usually fed on by fish making this a good oxygenating plant for your pond. It is also very easy to take care of.
It is important to regularly check the pH levels in your pond as this can cause problems for the plants and animals that live in it. Hornwort survives best in water with a pH between 6 and 7.5.
Eelgrass
Eelgrass is another common oxygenating plant that you could put in your wildlife pond. This plant is scientifically known as Vallisneria. This plant can also be known as tapegrass or wild celery. It has tall wavy leaves which can look a bit like celery.
This particular plant can grow up to two feet tall. However, if you find this plant is growing too tall for your pond then it is easy to cut down. As long as the roots are still intact then this plant can keep on growing.
Eelgrass is commonly known as one of the best oxygenating plants that you can have in your pond. Although you have to be careful as this plant can grow quickly but you can pull up some of the roots to stop this from happening.
When this plant spreads across your pond it can look like an underwater meadow. You should be careful if you have a lot of large fish in your pond as they could damage or accidently rip up the plants.
Fanwort
Fanwort is another choice of oxygenating plant that you should consider for your pond. Fanwort is known scientifically as cabomba.
You can recognise fanworts by their bright green, fan-shaped leaves which also has white flowers on the surface of the water. Most of the other oxygenating plants do not have flowers so this should be easy to sport amongst the other plants in your pond.
Choosing to have fanworts in your pond can have benefits. The leaves can be used as a great habitat and browsing opportunities for the fish in your pond. When deciding to have this plant you need to sure that you pond is between 3-10 feet deep and that the bottom is muddy. This is because the roots like to sit in mud.
Water Violet
Another plant that is a good oxygenating plant is a water violet. This is scientifically known as hottonia palustris. This plant can be dual purpose, making this a plant that you need in your pond.
This is a great oxygenating plant but also has very pretty flowers that sit on the surface of the pond making your pond to look more aesthetically pleasing. The flowers tend to appear in May and June and are pink in colour.
For this plant to flourish, it needs to be in at least 60cm of water. Although it is important to know that at first this plant may struggle to settle into its new environment. However, once the water violet settles, it will grow and spread with ease.
Waterweed
Waterweed is another oxygenating plant that you can choose to have in your pond. It is known scientifically as elodea canadensis or elodea densa.
Waterweed tends to have dark green curved leaves on long steps. This can act as a great habitat and spawning sites for fish and other animals that live in the pond. Above the water, waterweed can produce white or purple flowers that float on top of the surface.
Although when growing waterweed, you will need to remove or cut down some of the plant regularly as it can grow very quickly which can then overtake your pond. But this can be easily fixed with the correct maintenance.
This plant can survive even during winter months as it can tolerate a range of different temperatures. So, if you want an oxygenating plant that can survive all year round then you may want to consider the waterweed.
Also, although waterweed can float in the water and still provide the benefits of an oxygenating plant, it’s always best to ensure the roots are into the mud or other sediments at the bottom of your pond.
Water Sprite
Water sprite is the penultimate oxygenating plant on the list. This plant is known scientifically as ceratopteris thalictroides. This plant looks very similar to fern and can often be referred to as water fern. This grows completely submerged under water.
This plant does not have well-developed roots, so water sprite gets its nutrients mainly from the pond water. This means that this plant can act as great water purifier. As the water sprite does have some roots, you can use 2-3 inches of gravel or small rocks to anchor your plant down. Although you do not have to do this, and your plant will survive if it is left to float.
The water sprite is a very versatile plant and can grow in either full shade or direct sunlight. So, if you want a plant that you do not want to worry about then this could be a good choice for you. It can survive in water temperatures between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit and has a pH range from 6-8.
You will need to regularly maintain your water sprite as it can grow at a surprising rate, but you need to do this gently as the leaves and stems are thin and delicate. Also, this particular plant should not be kept with goldfish as they tend to find the water sprite palatable.
Water Wisteria
Lastly, there is water wisteria. This is known scientifically as hygrophila difformis.
Water wisteria is usually bright green and has lace-like leaves which can produce blue flowers but only if they are able to grow above the water surface. This plant can grow to two feet tall and about a foot wide and is simple grow. Although like most other plants, you will need to trim it to ensure that it does not overtake the pond.
If you live in a more temperate climate then this is the type of plant you need. Water wisteria needs moderate light and to live in temperatures from 74-84 degrees Fahrenheit in order for it to survive, hence the need for a more temperate climate. You also need to ensure that your pond stays within 6.5 and 7.5 on the pH scale.
Conclusion
To conclude, having oxygenating plants in the right quantity can have amazing benefits for you pond. Like all plants, oxygenating plants follow the photosynthesis process. Having oxygenating plants in your pond can also help you to keep the growth of algae at bay. This is because the oxygenating plants use up the nutrients that would otherwise feed the algae.
It is important to have at least some oxygenating plants in your pond as they add benefits to your pond that other plants would not be able to do. Choosing to have oxygenating plants can help to increase oxygen in your pond. It can also act as a natural water filter.