Advanced Technical Aquatic Control - Aquatic Plants for Water Gardens

Aquatic plants come in three main types:

Submerged Plants have roots anchored in the pond bottom with leaves and flowers at or just above the waters surface. Some oxygenators such as the anacharis (elodea) may be totally submerged. We have water lilies in a variety of colors, anacharis (elodea), water milfoil, coontail, spatterdock, hornwort, and a variety of lotus. Contact ATAC if the plant you need is not listed. We have only listed the more popular plants. - Order Online

Marginal/Bog Plants are also called emergent plants with their roots usually under water or in boggy wet soil. Leaves extend well past the water line. ATAC carries a large selection which includes cattails, dwarf cattails, dwarf variegated cattail, flowering rush, bulrush, pickeral rush, horsetail, water cress, arrowhead, creeping primrose, marsh marigold, common and dwarf sweet flag, papyrus, lizard’s tail, parrot feather, and water iris in a variety of colors. Contact ATAC if the plant you need is not listed. We have only listed the more popular plants. - Order Online

Floating plants are usually free floating with roots suspended below leaves. ATAC carries duckweed, fairy moss, water fern, water snow flake, water lettuce, water hyacinth, and water sensitivity plant. - Order Online

STOCKING DENSITIES

Cover 60% to 70% (more for small ponds and less for larger ponds) of pond surface with a combination of water lilies, lotus, and floating plants to provide shade and cover for fish. This shading reduces the sunlight penetration which will help reduce algae growth. Stock one bunch of submersed oxygen generating plants such as anacharis (elodea) per 1 square foot of surface area up to 100 square feet. Stock one bunch per 2 square feet in ponds over 100 square feet. Marginal bog plants can be added as desired. (See Calculating Surface Area of Your Pond)

How to plant a Water Lily


1. Fill the crate or pot with a good topsoil. Do not use potting soil, compost, or manure.	2. Hollow out a planting hole with your hands.

3. Hold the ATAC water lily in position and bury the roots with additional soil.


4. After planting, sprinkle a half-inch layer of sand or gravel over the top of the soil. This will keep the soil in place when the crate or pot is placed under water.	5. Slowly sink the crated lily into your water garden 5" or 6" below the surface of the water. Use bricks or stones to elevate the crate to the correct height. Fertilize with tablets once a month by poking each tablet into the soil near the roots.