4th Apr 2019
Caring for Aquatic Plants in Autumn
Depending on where you live, the seasonal change from summer to autumn is apparent by the beautiful, multi-colored leaves and the dip toward cooler temperatures. How will that chill you feel in the air affect the aquatic plants in your pond paradise?
Hardy Marginals
Dropping temperatures signal your hardy aquatic plants to prepare for their winter dormancy. At this time, you should stop fertilizing them as you see leaves begin to yellow and brown. It’s okay to leave these plants where they are in your pond to weather the cold of winter, just be sure to trim the dying foliage of your marginal plants down to 5cm above the water level.
Tropical Marginals
In warm climates, tropical marginals will keep growing and will require fertilizer as usual. Water gardeners who live in colder areas will need to treat these plants as they would any garden annual by replacing them each season. A fun alternative to this is to treat them as tropical houseplants and bring them in for the winter. Most tropical marginals will do well potted in heavy garden soil in a sealed clay pot with no drainage holes. When kept wet, the plants do well in a sunny window or sunroom.
Waterlilies
Waterlilies will also begin to show their dislike for the cold with yellowing leaves and fewer flowers. When this happens, the leaf and flower stems of hardy water lilies should be cut back to about 5 to 8cm above the base of the plant.
In warm climates, tropical waterlilies are happy in the pond year round, as long as the water temperature stays above 15°C. In areas where freezing is likely, plants should be overwintered indoors. This can be a difficult task; therefore many gardeners choose to simply buy a new plant each season.
Lotus Aquatic Plants
As with the marginals in your pond, the foliage of your lotus plants will need to be trimmed back after they have died back and turned brown. It’s important not to cut the leaves while they are still green because the freshly cut, hollow stems are susceptible to disease which can spread to the plant’s tuber, possibly killing the plant. Lotus tubers will not withstand freezing, so any plants that are growing in the shallow areas of your pond should be moved to the bottom, away from freezing water.
Caring for your aquatic plants in the autumn will mean less work and healthier plants come spring.
At Aquascape Supplies Australia we have pond planters and aquatic potting mix plus plant food tablets for all of your requirements. Get in touch with us now if you need any advice.