Pond Plants

[squeeker]

I typed a great post last night before I went to bed, and I can't find it anywhere this morning.     I'll try again...

I'm setting up a pond this summer (thanks groan!!), a 150 gallon preform, about 2 feet deep and with a surface area of about 6' X 4'.  I've done a lot of reading, and I'd like to have some marginals, some floating plants like hyacinth and water lettuce, and a lily.

I was wondering if any pond veterans had any words of wizdom on when and where to buy plants.

Thanks!

[kennyman]

Have you ever been through the Marlborough Forest in late spring? The Marsh Marigolds there are a real treat! I find it a great spot to see wetland plants growing naturally. Blue Flag Iris, Turtlehead, And many more 

There is a section along RogerStevens Drive outside North Gower That you can see these plants from the road.

[Sue]

Can you give a more specific time of year to see the marsh marigold flower? Do you mean end of May? I'd like to see that.

[grenso]

there is a store that specialises in pond plants...it's abt two blocks at the beginning of Preston street in little Italy, Ottawa...As you walk down Preston for like 5 mins you will see the place...You wont miss this place....The best of luck.

[Laura]

Grenso, is that the north (Albert) or south (Carling) end of Preston?

I saw some water hyacinth at BA Innes today - I think they were 2.99 - don't know if that's a good price or not.  I know that Ritchie's Feed and Seed also carries pond plants, but I don't know any more than that.......

[limed]

If you buy pond plants, Richmond Nursey has alot inside, you should get them soon before they break off the babies and sell them as 1. You can get a big one with about 3 small ones attached for the price of one. Remember you might have to weather them since they grow them indoors.

Ed

[grenso]

I meant between Carling and Preston....walk on the left side for like 5 minutes and you will notice a pond outside the store...you will not miss this place for sure...inside they have another steamed pond and inside they have this awesome poster with all the pond plants you will ever want. It's called Paradise Waterfalls andthe phone number is 613-236-0212. It's at 444 Preston Street. Sorry i didnt give you full details earlier, i just found the business card i picked from there. It's specialises in pumps, liners, filters, plants&fish, ponds, waterfals and installation. Hope this helps.

[PaleoFishGirl]

Home Depot sometimes has good deals on pond plants, but you have to watch for them. 

Usually around September or October there are great deals everywhere

[squeeker]

Thanks, guys.

I called Ritchie's and they don't get their plants for another few weeks. 

I called the place on Preston and there was no answer (?) so I left a message... haven't heard back.

Home Depot (or was it Canadian Tire? One of them carried plants, the other didn't...) also don't get theirs in for another few weeks.

I'll try Richmond Nursery, thanks.

[oenology]

Hopefully I will be bringing pond plants and marginals at next month's mini auction.

[mseguin]

How about some Myriophyllum Jen 

[oenology]

Myriophyllum -  sure not any time soon In fact if at all. I planted the 2 whole liitle pieces with one tiny root tendril a piece in a pond pot and one of my dogs thought I'd made a new toy. So now I have 4 itty bitty pieces and 2 with no root...

[squeeker]

What kind of plants do you plan on bringing?

[oenology]

marsh marigolds, pitcher plants, ferns, flag iris, perhaps some water lilies and cardinal flower and maybe moss.

[squeeker]

Woo, awesome. 

I received a call back from the place on Preston.  I'm going to go have a look today 

[jimskoi]

I dont know about any of you but i dig up my own plants.Its alot cheaper that way and you can pick and chose.I put them in plastic planters and in the pond they go.I put them in the planters for a year and then they go in the pond under the gravel.Lilys,arrow root,cattails,lily pads etc.
Just a thought.

It will be atleast another month or so before they come up to be able to dig them.The lily pads you have to dive down with a shovel to dig them up.
Just my 2 cents.

jim

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[PaleoFishGirl]

Beautiful pond, jim.  I was going to suggest the same thing.  There are lots of huge, beautiful arrowroot plants growing along the Rideau near where I live, and water lilies aplenty. 

[squeeker]

That is a really nice pond!

Question:  Isn't digging up lilies and such illegal?

FYI:  the place on Preston won't have pond plants for another few weeks, either.  Looks like I'm jumping the gun.

[gvv]

Question:  Isn't digging up lilies and such illegal?

Why it should be? Unless this is a conservation area...

[jimskoi]

Thanks guys.

As far as i know its not illegal.I have been doing it far quite a number of years.I dont dig them up in front of anyones house or cottage or on protected areas.Here is a picture of the top pond.It runs into the other one.

jim

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[PaleoFishGirl]

Beautiful... I did the same for my parents' pond, I love the 'native' look. 

[Seanc]

great pond jimskoi, i think i am going to get more plants this year, right now i olny have two lilys. i also want to put gravle in it, what is the best/cheepest stuff for this?
And you always know summer is just around the corner when you put the goldfish in the pond.

[jimskoi]

I actually already have my Koi in the pond.They are breaders so I should have more babies in about a month or so.
I went to the quarry and bought large pea gravel.It ranges from 1" to 3" in diameter.It works great and there are no sharp points on them.
I made the pond out of pool liner and covered it with black plastic for wrapping up hay.Works great and alot cheaper than pond liner.

jim

[Seanc]

yeah my goldfish are the same, went in yesterday. they also breed. i'll lookingto the pea gravel. thanks

[PaleoFishGirl]

Just an update re: locations for plants, one of the booths in the Byward Market is selling pond plants.  They mostly had hyacinth, but a few interesting looking reeds etc.  I didn't get a look at the prices because I was on a mission for work, but if you go, bring a truck because the hanging baskets for sale are INCREDIBLE (drool)...

[kennyman]

We just got a delivery of marginal and aquatic plants on Friday. None of the floaters yet, its too early for them.

I have been starting up some of the ponds (instaling pumps in the skimmers and putting in fresh filters) for a few of our customers this past week and noticed some lilly leaves just below the surface in one of the deeper ponds.

It is Open house at Hillside Gardens in Perth this weekend and it was totaly crazy there today. I never even stoped for a lunch or coffee break. 10 hrs of solid sales! I had customers from Kanata to Portland and everywhere in between

[Seanc]

i have such a hard tome with floting plants, my dog like to eat them! every day there is one less, untill they are all gone . he also likes to go swiming in out pond, and drink out of it. also he likes watching the goldfish swiming around in there, he some times spends 5 min(alot of time for a dog with a very small attention span) just watching them swim around. he pritty funny.

my gold fish are loving the pond! the swimm around in a little school, and pick at the sides and under the plants.its relaxing watching them, and its nice to go out on a nice sunday moring and sit beside it and watch them while you have breakfast.

kennyman where do you work? do you specialise in ponds?

sean

[Mettle]

SP Barrhaven just started a sale on water hyacinth and water lettuce... 10 for $10. Can get additional ones at a dollar a piece as well. But it is 10+ plants.

Not the NICEST I've ever seen, but for the price, it's not bad. The hyacinth has some good roots on it.

I expect most of it to sell this weekend though.