Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Lottiegob on July 29, 2010, 22:26

Title: pond plants - do they need food?
Post by: Lottiegob on July 29, 2010, 22:26

I've recently set up a wildlife pond in my garden and it's got a few plants in baskets including a water lily and a couple which sit waist-high in the water.  Do these plants ever need feeding or do they get their nutrition from the pond itself?

Title: Re: pond plants - do they need food?
Post by: JayG on July 29, 2010, 22:46

In theory a fish-pond will have a balance between the waste products of the fish and the nutritional requirements of any plants.

A wildlife pond doesn't have many permanent inhabitants to produce much plant food so the usual solution is to buy special plant-food pellets which you push down into the soil in the baskets. This would apply to both your underwater lilies and the marginals you have.

Wouldn't bother until next spring now as the growing season will soon be coming to a close unless they are looking particularly weak; less is better than too much otherwise the water will turn green; not disastrous but not great either!

Title: Re: pond plants - do they need food?
Post by: Lottiegob on July 30, 2010, 22:46

Thanks JG, my water iris is looking slightly yellow, so not sure if it needs something.