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Pond plants
Patiopansy
Posts: 32
in Plants
Hi all, have been given 3 water lily plants which I have started to grow in a very small pond (ok, it's a large square pot). All 3 are shooting, but they (and the pots they are in) have started to attract green slimey stuff. I know I need an oxygenatng plant, but not sure which would be best. I have room for one more plant so it has to be good. Can you clever people suggest something suitable please?
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As it is for a container pond Elodea canadensis (Canadian pond weed) is one of the best oxygenating plants around.
I would hate to have it in a garden pond though (takes over completely very quickly) or see it in the wild where it can be a real nuisance.
Thanks, Gemma, very helpful. Rest assured it will not escape!
Hornwort is the one I'm going to put in my pot, when I get it started. You tie it to a stone and place it underwater.
Native Hornwort is a superb oxygenator and no worries about it escaping.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'd go with hornwort. Plants can "escape" when a bird uses your container pond as a birdbath and then stop off in a natural pond.
Hornwort is a British Native so better for our use in this country than the non native Elodea species
Will Hornwort do well in a small container? Not saying it won't just asking, if it will feel at home it would be the my first choice and is also the oxygenating plant I chose for my wildlife pond.
We used it in small tanks at school - those little ones 18" wide x 12" x12" - it was fine
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Yes it is a good all year round hard working plant that will be fine in a small container
Really helpful, thanks. Should I try to clean all the green stuff/slime off the sides of my tank before I put the hornwort in?