New Pond Oxygenators

[Rashmika]

Hi. I'm haing problems keeping my pond oxygenators alive over winter. I originally had Elodea Crispa, but this died off over the 2009 winter. I then aquired some Hornwort, but this too died off over the 2010 winter.

I have seen the following in my local garden centre:

Ranunculus Aquatilis (water Crowfoot... bad?)
Myriophyllum Spicatum (Spiked Milfoil... worse?!)
Fontinalis antipyretica (Water Moss... non native?)

Which would you recommend in a small, pre-fab, shady wildlife pond?

Finally, my Ragged Robin did not surive the birds or squirrel! I am looking to replace it with either Water Mint or Golden Creeping Jenny. Again, which would you recommend or avoid (I suspect avoid the Golden Jenny but my pond IS quite shady!).

[dampflippers]

Those three are all ok (nativewise).

The ones to avoid are parrots feather, floating pennywort, azolla and swamp stonecrop.

Water mint native, but keep an eye on it and be brutal when it suddenly sends out runners all over the pond.
Creeping jenny is non native, but won't get out of control.

Plants I like:
water forgetmenot
brooklime
yellow iris
water avens
marsh marigold
lesser water spearwort (greater might be too big for your pond)
bog bean
frogbit
water starwort
hornwort
spiked water milfoil
water crowfoot
fringed pondlily

[kathateria]

Why should parrots feather be avoided?Thanks

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by dampflippers

Those three are all ok (nativewise).

The ones to avoid are parrots feather, floating pennywort, azolla and swamp stonecrop.

Water mint native, but keep an eye on it and be brutal when it suddenly sends out runners all over the pond.
Creeping jenny is non native, but won't get out of control.

Plants I like:
water forgetmenot
brooklime
yellow iris
water avens
marsh marigold
lesser water spearwort (greater might be too big for your pond)
bog bean
frogbit
water starwort
hornwort
spiked water milfoil
water crowfoot
fringed pondlily

Creeping Jenny is a native, though is frequently planted.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by kathateria

Why should parrots feather be avoided?Thanks

It's a very invasive non-native that can totally smother a pond. Worse it may escape into the nearby local environment if pieces are transported + create havoc.

It caused a lot of problems in the ponds on Wimbledon Common; not to mention many other places.

[Rashmika]

Originally Posted by dampflippers

Plants I like:
water forgetmenot
brooklime
yellow iris
water avens
marsh marigold
lesser water spearwort (greater might be too big for your pond)
bog bean
frogbit
water starwort
hornwort
spiked water milfoil
water crowfoot
fringed pondlily

I'm currently digging a second wildlife pond to accomodate my rather handsome newt colony in the smaller pond so a lot of those will go in that one. Plus the location will get more light too.

I might try one sprig of Milfoil and Crowfoot each in the smaller pond to see how thye do

I think I'll plump for the Water Mint due to its benefits to the Butterfly population.

(makes a mental note to find some sttinging nettles)

[dampflippers]

Sorry, I forgot the bigger leaves oxygenators like the native potamogetons:
broad leaved pondweed
opposite leaved pondweed,
curled pondweed

[Kayleigh]

Where abouts in the country are you..
I have had pond plants you mentioned through the heavy winter we just had with no problems.

[Red Robin]

I don't know which oxygenator plant this is and I thought it wouldn't survive the snow and ice but it has - Healthily enough to attract the egg laying of a Large Red Damselfly



^ Would someone ID this oxygenator plant please? Thanks

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

I don't know which oxygenator plant this is and I thought it wouldn't survive the snow and ice but it has - Healthily enough to attract the egg laying of a Large Red Damselfly



^ Would someone ID this oxygenator plant please? Thanks

Hi

It looks like the species I was about to recommend, Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum!!

The big advantage with it is that it has no roots and so will establish very quickly.

All the best