Native oxygenators

[Elean0r]

I've been reading through various threads within this section of the site and have been convinced enough to get rid of the Elodea spp (Canadian pondweed) and replace it with native species, and to try to do it quickly before anything decides to lay eggs in it.

The pond is quite big, just about rectangular, approx 4m x 3m (about 13ft x 10 ft) with marginal shelves of various depths and a central deep bit that slopes down to about 90 cm at the very deepest.

We already have a 28cm square basket packed full of Ranunculus aquatilis (water crowfoot) and another containing Calltrinche (water-starwort) as well as a kidney-shaped basket full of Fontinalis (willow moss). There are two smaller containers of Hornwort, but the plants look very scrawny after the winter. There are four containers of various size containing Elodea, but it's trying to take over the whole of the middle of the pond.

If we take out the Canadian pondweed we'll lose about half, maybe more, of the oxygenating plants, but can replant straight away if we're able to source replacements easily and without paying too much.

We're limited to 'floor space' because there are also two non-native lilies (we bought them because they look pretty) and one native Nuphar lutea (yellow water lily) in large, deep, baskets. So we can really only replant rather than add more.

Would it be worth trying to get another species, such as Potamogeton crispa (if we can find some) to add diversity of species?

And, can anybody think of any other native, non-emergent, deep oxygenators we can use?

Thanks.

[animartco]

Potamogeton crispa is a beautiful plant and well worth getting if you can. I seem to remember it lasts al year thouh I could be wrong. Water crowfoot however dies down in winter and so only oxygenates for half the year. It can be more invasive than elodea. Well ANY oxygenator can. If it doesn't fill the bottom of the pond it isn't doing its job! If the pond is deep enough it shouldn't reach the surface. Many of our native weeds do better in flowing water than still, so bear that in mind when looking for variety.

[Elean0r]

Potamogeton crispa is a beautiful plant and well worth getting if you can.

We've been scouring the internet. Lots of places seem to sell it, but when it comes to ordering a notice comes up that it's either out of stock or not yet available, but we'll keep looking.

Managed to find some Eleocharis Acicularis (Hair Grass) though, which we thought we'd plant deep and see what happens, and will take cuttings of the existing plants to try to spread them around a bit more.

All the new plants we've put in are growing very well, so it seems a good time to try, nothing ventured and all that.

We're more bothered about removing as much as the elodea as possible as soon as possible, before the newts start laying, because we don't want to disturb their spawn.