Pond overwhelmed by plants!

ZED · #1 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 01:30 PM

Hi ~

I'm absolutely novice pond-maker and I could do with some advice about pond plants, please.

Initially I had a problem with algae so I bought a water plant (ebay) that was described as being useful for keeping algae in check ...

Well yes, it does indeed keep algae in check ... by completely overwhelming the pond surface so that there's nowhere for algae to develop! I started off with a small quantity of the plant, but within weeks it has 'taken over'.

I would like to know whether this plant is an indigenous species to the UK (because if it isn't I'll turn it into compost!) I'd also like to know what would be the optimum amount of plant life to have on the pond surface. Inside the pond I have various snail species, freshwater mussels, and several types of insect larvae.

Bestest,
Paula.
Sorry, just realised that identification of the plant may not be easy from my image! Each individual plant making up the 'raft' is tiny with green & rust-red leaves.

BarbaraEmma · #2 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 02:38 PM

Zed , I'm absolutely not an expert, I've only just put in my own pond ,but that plant is incredibly invasive and I wonder if you'd better have a look at this link and see what you think.
http://www.torrens.org.uk/NatHist/Aqua/HR/index.html

Hope this link works for you,and I really hope I'm wrong.
Barbara

smartie · #3 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 02:51 PM

It's not easy to see from your photo, but it does look as though you may have Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, in which case the message is get it out quickly.

As always, advice varies, but if you aim to have about half the pond surface covered in foliage that should be fine. Many pond plants grow quite quickly, so with a small pond like yours you do need to be careful even with the non-invasive ones that you don't overplant. For instance, don't be tempted by the native waterlily - that would fill your pond completely within a couple of years.

There are other people on here who will be able to give you better advice about specific varieties for small ponds than I can, and they will no doubt be along soon.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 02:56 PM

Im not expert either but I would get the garden rake and rake it all out put it at the side of the pond so any creatures can crawl back in..Then compost it..

metalfish · #5 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 03:26 PM

Can't remember that plants name but it crops up in as a weed in nurseries selling pond plants, it'll rake out easily (Kayleigh's advice is spot on there), you'll probably have to do it a few times as bits will hide in amongst plants & stones.

You can put a bundle of barley straw in your pond (a few handfulls for a pond your size). As it brakes down it makes chemicals that discourage algae, which'll help until you get your plantlife established in there.
Leave the barleystraw to rot copletely away, it'll also create an excellent habitat for small water critters who'll help create your little pond ecosystem.

Do be carefull what plants you buy. Many native & non-natives can be suitable for big ponds but not little ones, any shop that sells pond stuff (on the net or real shops) should be able to give you advise, and if they can't then buy from somewhere else.
Good luck & it won't be long before your pond is fabulous

Tursiops2 · #6 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 05:45 PM

Alternatively, it might be Water Fern Azolla filiculoides. Equally undesirable.

More info on this and other unwelcome aliens:
Pond Conservation | Introduced plants | Avoid introduced invasive plants
Invasive non-native plants

T2

ZED · #7 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 06:33 PM

Many thanks All ~

I've raked as much out as poss. Kayleigh (unfortunately will probably have sacrificed some snails' eggs in the process). I was horrified to find that plants were growing on top of each other so the 'raft' was quite thick - it wasn't merely a 'surface covering' as I had thought

Thank you for the barley straw tip metalfish.

Yes, I think it is probably Water Fern, Tursiops2. I've taken a photo to show the hair-like roots.

Bestest,
Paula.

Edited to add: this is what the 'Avoid introduced invasive plants' link says about it ...
"Once it is in a pond it is costly and time-consuming to get rid of, and easily spreads to other ponds. In fact, the problem is so bad that the government (England and Wales only) is proposing to make the sale and release of this and several other invasive non-native pond plants illegal."

Jez · #8 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 11:49 PM

That looks fairy moss to me, if that's the correct name for it!?!

hel1985 · #9 (**permalink**) 24-05-2009, 12:04 AM

i'm sure we used to call that gold dust or fair dust or something silly like that..
i wouldnt worry to much about the snails eggs,they are both male and female and can re-product at a rate that is anyones guess lol...
do you have any fish in your pond,or planning any in the future?
if not what about some newts and sticklebacks?
just a thought

ZED · #10 (**permalink**) 24-05-2009, 08:20 AM

Once the plant had been raked to the side the resident blackbird couple swooped and had an absolute field day! There are a lot of blood worms (fly larvae) in the pond and many were caught up in the Water Fern/Fairy Moss.

I'm now wondering whether it's safe to compost the plant remains as apparently it propegates itself by spore formation

Sticklebacks would be lovely hel1985 ... is it possible to buy them? (Newts wouldn't be safe though as I have 4 dogs).

Bestest,
Paula.