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Why do some plants.......
madpenguin
Posts: 2,543
in Plants
....not play ball the same each year?
Last year I grew Brooklime in my pond and it formed a lovely dense mat over the pond surface which the fish loved.So vigorous that I had to cut it back a few times to keep it within limits.
This year it has hardly done anything.
Same treatment both years.
July 2019
July 2020
The other plant is Anemone 'Pretty Lady Diana' which I moved 2 years ago and replanted in a 'better' position.I had previously had a much larger but unsuitable Anemone in the same position which had been difficult to get rid of so thought it would do OK.
Instead the plants have barely grown (I know they don't like being moved).A small piece accidentally left in the original position is doing very well and just started flowering even though it has to squeeze itself to the front!!
2 year old transplanted Anemone 2020
...and the bit left behind 2020
Last year I grew Brooklime in my pond and it formed a lovely dense mat over the pond surface which the fish loved.So vigorous that I had to cut it back a few times to keep it within limits.
This year it has hardly done anything.
Same treatment both years.
July 2019
July 2020
The other plant is Anemone 'Pretty Lady Diana' which I moved 2 years ago and replanted in a 'better' position.I had previously had a much larger but unsuitable Anemone in the same position which had been difficult to get rid of so thought it would do OK.
Instead the plants have barely grown (I know they don't like being moved).A small piece accidentally left in the original position is doing very well and just started flowering even though it has to squeeze itself to the front!!
2 year old transplanted Anemone 2020
...and the bit left behind 2020
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
0
Posts
Though it has to be said ponds are extremely dynamic, every one quickly becomes an ecosystem, rather than just a planting feature in a garden.
So things can very often have their day and then conditions favour different plants more.
I wonder if it is just the sheer heat we have had which makes the difference?
As you have changed the medium, does seem like the weather is a factor.
Though I've had plenty of pond plants thrive in the first year, then really do nothing much ever again once the pond established.