Oxygenating Plants

This is a bit of a misleading name. These are plants that are generally put into the pond to add oxygen to the water. They do, but only during the day. On a night time these plants absorb oxygen like all other plants and this can cause problems.

Ponds have the least amount of oxygen in them during high summer temperatures and low pressure weather conditions like before a thunderstorm. At times like these a pond that is overrun with ‘oxygenating’ plants will become critically short of oxygen in the period just before dawn. This can result in fish deaths

Having said all of that, it is still a good idea to have oxygenating plants in a pond. They will provide a submerged habitat for wildlife and fish and can use up masses of nitrates that would otherwise lead to algae growth. Just don’t let them take over (as they have a tendency to do) and if hot weather and a thunderstorm are forecast then make sure you have a fountain, waterfall or air pump in operation.

Oxygenators are usually weed-like plants that are sometimes sold planted in a pot but are just as often found in bunches with a lead weight wrapped around the stems to make them sink to the bottom. They will grow in either case but we would recommend that you plant them. This means that they will grow faster initially and that you have some control over where they go in the pond. The loose bunches tend to end up wherever the current takes them, which usually means the pump if you have one.

Click here if you would like to buy some oxygenating weed
Or
Check out our pond planting section for everything you'll need to get started.

Now that you know about oxygenating plants, why not have a look at one of our other guides:
General Planting
Marginal Plants
Deep Water Plants
Floating Plants
Invasive Species

Or click here to see the full list of guides