Pond & Aquarium Plants

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Lotus

Lotus

Looking similar to water lilies the lotus is one of the oldest cultivated aquatic plants and make a great addition to any koi pond.  Their leaves are typically very large, as much as 18 inches across which is great for providing shade to your koi in the summer.  Often confused with water lilies the lotus flower is very beautiful and also fragrant.  A word of caution should be noted here as these plants have a substantial growth rate and are best planted in larger koi ponds.

 

Water Lilies

When it comes to floating plants with attached roots water lilies are definitely the most popular choice amongst koi pond owners and may be the top choice of any of the aquatic plants.  These plants will do well in just about any region of North America in any season and can be potted and placed at the bottom of the pond.  On the surface, pond owners with water lilies will find a pleasant array of leafy covering and beautiful flowers that will nicely accent any pond

 

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Water Lettuce 

Water Lettuce

Another free floating plant is water lettuce.  This is more of a tropics/warm climate plant and forms compact leaf clusters on the surface with a compact root mass forming beneath the plant.

 

 

 

 

Water Hyacinth

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Water Hyacinth 

Some popular choices for floating plants are water hyacinth.  This species is an annual in the colder regions of North America but a perennial in the warmer parts of the States.  They bear purple or blue flowers and their roots form a compact “nest” beneath them.  These plants do a great job of filtering the water of excess nutrients.

 

 

Aquarium Plants

Amazon Sword Plant is a common and popular freshwater aquarium plant, different c4e5ac2b73323443e658ce23855a3999stores sell different varieties of plants under the name “Amazon Sword Plant.” One variety, Echinodorus bleheri has broad leaves. Another variety, Echinodorus amazonicus has narrower leaves. But either way, varieties of this plant can be a great addition to a freshwater aquarium, they also provide great spawning substrate for your fishes especially egg laying fishes like angels.

 

 

 

 

Micro Sword

99932Micro Sword Plant The Brazilian micro sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) is a short-stemmed plant, that can be grown as a carpet in an aquarium. It is found throughout much of Brazil, and it grows both fully submersed and partially submersed on the banks of rivers and streams.

 

It will grow to a maximum size of 3 inches (7.5 cm) in a home aquarium, and will form a dense and impressive carpet if it is provided the right mix of nutrients and lighting. This can be a somewhat difficult plant to grow, and should only be attempted by aquarists who have some experience with aquatic plants.

 

p28968Myrio Green

The Myriophyllum pinnatum is a rapidly growing plant that is ideal for planting in the background of the aquarium to hide equipment, and for providing refuge for newborn fish.

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