re: plants for outdoor pond

To: Aquatic plants list <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
Subject: re: plants for outdoor pond
From: Cynthia Powers <cyn at metronet_com>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 17:20:44 -0600 (CST)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 23:06:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Edziu Iskra <edziu at gate_cybernex.net>
To: Aquatic-Plants-Owner at actwin_com
Subject: Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #506

> From: Doug & Grace McQuarrie <dougmcq at iaw_on.ca>
> Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1997 15:53:44 -0800
> Subject: Question??  Concerning plants for an outdoor pond
> 
> I would like some suggestions on plant species to place in a pond.  The =
> pond will be placed in a climate with moderate summers (27oC - 32oC) and =
> fairly cold winters (-5oC - -15oC).  I'm looking for something that will =
> oxygenate the pond while providing a possible food source for carp.  The =
> pond will allowed to go wild so I need something hardy.  Any =
> suggestions???

Well, it's not hardy, but anachris is a good choice, even if only for the
first year.  It's cheap, will root if you tie a rock to it to hold it down
(tie and toss), and will grow very quickly to fill in and produce
oxygen/consume nitrate.  While it's not hardy in all but the largest
bodies of water, it's popular even in cold areas as a base plant because
it's inexpensive and grows quickly, so you can restock it every year.

It also grows as a floater.  If you have an old aquarium with a regular
fluorescent light, you can just take a few handfulls of the stuff in the
fall, toss it in the aquarium in the cellar, put the light on the timer,
and with minimum maintenance, you'll have enough anachris to restock come
spring.

I'm sure other people will give hardy recommendations; I just wanted you
to consider anachris, for the first year if nothing else.  It can buy you
time while other things grow in.

Would you rather I be pointed, or blunt?  -- Edziu