The What, Why & How Of Aquatic Plants
The What
The simplest and easiest way to select the right variety of aquatic plants is to purchase one of our plant packages. They come with everything you need to get started. So What kinds of aquatic plants are there? What should I get for my water garden? These are very legitimate questions. First off, there are many different categories of aquatic plants with many species in each category:

Floating - Floating plants such as water hyacinth & water lettuce are best used to absorb excess nutrients that cause excessive algae growth. They also provide a nice cool shade and cover for the fish.
Submerged - Submerged plants are fantastic oxygenators. They are also used to absorb nutrients so there is no need to fertilize them.
Bog - You can add a nice touch to your water garden using bog plants. They are marginal plants that are planted around the edges of the pond. They act as a visual anchor to the surrounding garden. Bog plants are perennials, meaning that they will grow back every year.

Hardy Water Lilies - Hardy water lilies are perennials. The flowers on these lilies will bloom all summer long on the water surface. Hardy water lilies have smooth waxy leaves that are rounded at the edge.
Tropical Water Lilies - Tropical water lilies have very fragrant blossoms and will have several blooms at a time. These lilies come in daytime and nighttime blooming varieties. Tropical water lilies will be jagged or pointed around the edge of the leaves.
Hardy Water Lotuses - Hardy water lotuses have very large blooms and leaves that can stand out of the water from two to five feet depending on the variety. A hardy water lotus may take up to two years to become fully established.


The Why
So why are aquatic plants so important? In a water garden, plants are absolutely vital in balancing the ecosystem, and they offer an aesthetic touch to your landscape. If you ever wonder what causes algae to grow or why your pond isn't clear, there are really only four factors to consider: - Not enough filtration
- Too many fish
- Not enough aquatic plants
- Not using DefensePAC (bacteria)
The recommendation for aquatic plant coverage is 60% of your overall water garden surface. This will provide enough absorption of nutrients to help combat algae before it has a chance to grow.