Floating water pond plants

These float on the surface of the pool throughout the summer helping control algae by depriving them of light and using up their mineral resources. Native species like the Stratiotes aliodes or water soldier and the Hydrocotyle ranae (Frogbit) over-winter in various forms on the bottom of the pool.

Stratiotes aliodes or water soldier rises from the bottom of the pond as the water warms up.

Species like the water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) and the water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) are frost tender and need to be over-wintered under cover.

Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) can be potted up in winter and over wintered under cover. This makes it a little more resilient to lower temperatures.

Water lettuce or Pistia stratiotes must be taken indoors below 7c.

Be wary of any relatives of the duckweed including the floating fern Azolla caroliniana. They make great duck food but very quickly and uncontrollably cover the pool if there are no ducks to keep things under control.

Rampant Azolla caroliniana or floating fern takes on some pleasant tints in autumn.

Whatever you choose, there is no ceremony in planting them. Just put them in. If they sink to the bottom they will soon sort themselves out.

Allow 1 plant for every 10sqft of pool surface area.

Water soldier and Frogbit sink in the winter anyway and come up as the water warms in spring.

A stock of Fairy Moss (Azolla coronilla) can be overwintered in a small pan of loam and water. Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) can be planted in some damp, fertiliser free, fibrous loam or compost.