Oxygenating Pond Plants

Plants are the perfect way to keep your pond ecosystem balanced and healthy. Oxygenating pond plants (or oxygenators) are the best type of pond plant you can choose to keep your pond healthy. Not only do they provide more oxygen to your garden pond, but they also create safe habitats for wildlife and inhabitants of your pond to live under the water.

Here at Pond Planet, we’ve got a great range of pond planting products as well as this handy guide to assist you in creating a garden pond that thrives with oxygen and life.

What Are Oxygenating Plants?

Although all plants are known to release oxygen, oxygenating pond plants live underwater releasing a stream of oxygen which helps prevent your pond from stagnating. These plants also help absorb your pond’s unwanted nitrates, improving the balance and well-being of your pond, all whilst reducing unwanted algae growth.

Why Do I Need Oxygenating Pond Plants?

Oxygen

Oxygenating plants help provide vital oxygen to the pond which is essential for all aquatic life. Oxygen is the life source of any pond, the abundance of which improves the health and well-being of fish, wildlife and even the beneficial bacteria within the pond filter.

Water Filtration

These oxygenators along with your pump and filter help remove unwanted excess nutrients such as nitrate from the pond. This in turn helps reduce algae growth which reduces the loading on the filter system. This not only improves the appearance of the pond but also creates a positive environment for your pond’s ecosystem to thrive in.

Pond Decoration

On top of this, pond plants are a lovely addition and welcome boost to your pond’s appearance, whilst also providing beneficial shade throughout the summer months. The shade not only provides shelter for your fish but also helps prevent algae growth.

Most Popular Types Of Oxygenating Plants

The seasons can massively affect how well your oxygenating pond plants will provide oxygen to your pond. It can be handy to choose a few different types of oxygenating pond plants to plant in your pond; this way, they can work together throughout the seasons.

Water Violets (Hottonia Paulstris)

Water violets are oxygenating plants that provide pretty flowers throughout May and June. It should be planted in the shallow parts of your pond but can be put deeper when it has grown. Water violets should be fully submerged in the water, where they can even cope with direct sunlight.

Water Weed (Elodea Densa)

One of the most popular oxygenating plants, waterweed grows rapidly and can help keep algae at bay in your pond. Waterweed makes the perfect beginner oxygenator plant, as it can adapt to new pond set-ups very quickly and without hassle.

Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)

Hornwart is an oxygenating pond plant that is from the UK that is submerged in the water completely. It grows loosely and fast throughout late spring and summer, sinks to the bottom by Winter and repeats the process as the seasons change.

Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus Aquatilis)

Another oxygenating pond plant that provides a pretty aesthetic, the water crowfoot, grows beautiful, little white flowers that will add colour to your garden pond. These flowers appear between April and June, and you should plant them in bunches up to 60cm deep.

How Many Oxygenating Plants Do I Need For My Pond?

Having two or three oxygenating pond plants per square metre of pond surface is usually recommended when it comes to the number of plants to have in your pond.

Can You Have Too Many Oxygenating Plants In A Pond?

Yes, you can have too many oxygenating pond plants. During the photosynthesis process, plants consume oxygen during the darker hours – even oxygenating ones. This can then have the opposite effect than hoped and lead to an unhealthy environment for your pond’s inhabitants.

How To Plant Oxygenating Plants In A Pond

It’s important to research how your particular plant type needs to be planted. Most oxygenators are submerged plants which means they need to be immersed in the water entirely. Others are floating plants that can sit on the pond’s surface and don’t require planting in soil or gravel.

Planting Submerged Pond Plants

Pond Baskets

Generally, you need pond baskets to plant the majority of pond plants including oxygenators. Pond baskets should be filled with gravel or aquatic compost to provide an ideal growing substrate for your pond plants to thrive. Pond baskets also act as an anchor point to prevent the plants from floating out of their desired position.

In our range of pond planting products, you’ll find floating pond baskets as well as a broader range of other pond plant baskets waiting to be chosen.

Aquatic Compost

Aquatic compost, like our Velda Aquatic Compost available from Pond Planet, is the perfect choice for ensuring your oxygenating pond plants get all the nutrients they need to survive. It is formulated to provide everything your pond plants need without encouraging unwanted blanket weed.

Struggling with blanket weed? You can find out how to remove blanket weed with our helpful guide.

Plant Oxygenating Plants In A Suitable Pond

Make sure you don’t try and plant your plants in an unhealthy pond. The water ideally needs to be clear, well balanced and algae free. Otherwise, you will halt the growth of your pond plants before they’ve even started.

Fertiliser Balls/Spikes

Fertiliser Balls or Spikes help make planting and caring for your pond plants even simpler. Products such as the Laguna Pond Fertiliser Spikes help ensure your pond plants have the required nutrition available for healthy and balanced growth.

Choose The Right Time

When buying your chosen pond plants, do your research to check when is the best time of year to plant them. This is generally the spring/summer which is the growing season for all aquatic plants.

Best Oxygenating Pond Plants

Whichever type of oxygenating pond plants you choose, by not overpopulating your garden pond and thinking carefully about how you plant them, your pond will reap the benefits. For all the best tools, accessories and pond plant accompaniments, check out the full range of pond plants at Pond Planet today.