Pond Water / Plants

Question
My question is with regards to the water in my pond and plant growth. I live on an acreage and we have well water. The pond is supplied with well water and the last two years my plants just don't seem to grow. When I lived in town and added chemicals to the water for my fish, the plants did great. The well water is very hard water. Is there something I should add to the water or do I need help with the plants. Thanks

Answer
The plants don't like hard water.  Rain will dilute it some.  Have you tested your well water for the following:  pH, hardness (yes on that), ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, iron, phosphorus, etc.?  The well water may have too much or too little of some nutrient the plants need.  Do the plants get as much sun in your new pond as the old one?  Do you add fertilizer?  Do the animals chew on the plants?  There are many possibilities.  I would add a plant fertilizer tab to the potted plants and maybe something liquid like Florafin to the water during growing season which adds potassium which is often lacking in water.  Here is my page on pond plants:

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/plant.htm

Good luck!
Robyn