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Floating Aquatics
Floating aquatics can be planted in a similar way to submerged aquatics, although they grow better if their dragging roots can touch the soil. Most of these plants are annuals rather than perennials. They are inexpensive and make it simple to order new plants annually.
Although you will need to spend some money on this variety each year, they are some of the most fascinating plants to watch and they require little care once planted. Floating aquatics are also very practical. They provide shade and cover for fish and reduce the amount of algae growing by competing for their food supply.
The best floating aquatics to choose are:
- Azolla Caroliniana -- A mass plant, crinkly and mosslike
- Duckweed (lemna minor)
- Floating Heart (Nymphoides peltatum)
- Frog's Bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
- Salvinia
- Shell-flower (Pistia Stratiotes)
- Water-chestnut (Trapa natans)
- Water-fern (Ceratopteris thalictroides)
- Water-hyacinth (Eichhornia)
- Water-poppy (Limnocharis Humboldtii)
- Water-snowflake (Limnathemum indicum)
Marsh and Bog Plants for Pool Borders
The last type of oxygenators is border plants. These aquatic plants cover the line where the water lily pool and the earth meet, while also making the pool more beautiful by providing a varied setting for the water lilies. Even for formal pools, a variety of border plants in the corners and center will enhance the overall beauty of the other displayed plants.
Border plants are a little different from the other types of aquatics, although they still require very little planting. While they cannot simply be put in the water like the submerged and floating aquatics, planting them in heavy loam is sufficient.
There are usually three potting types for border plants. Those plants with submerged roots should be planted in 6-10 inch pots or boxes and set on a ledge at the water level prescribed for them.
Plants with root crowns at or just above the water should be boxed and filled with earth to the appropriate level. Finally, there are plants which come from dry land but whose roots can be grown in marshy conditions. Before planting, check the potting method for the plant you have chosen.
Some of the best border plants on the market are:
- Arrowhead (Sagittaria)
- Bogbean (Sagittaria latifolia)
- Bulrush (Scirpus)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Cat-tail (Typha latifolia)
- Creeping Primrose (Jussiaea diffusa)
- Egyptian Paper Plant (Cyperus Papyrus)
- Flowering-rush (Butomus umbellatus )
- Forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris)
- Iris (Iridaceae)
- Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus)
- Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
- Primrose Willow (Jussiaea longifola)