Water gardens are wonderful additions to your home. It is like having a natural ecosystem at your own yard. But on the other hand, they need a watchful eye during the winter season or unless you want it to freeze over. Here are tips for winter care to keep your plants and fish alive and healthy during the cold winter months.
The initial step is to clean all debris from the pond. Leaves, branches, and other organic materials release toxic gases which can be harmful to fish and plants in your garden. Never install a pond under a tree unless you want to remove fallen leaves daily. Rake daily to lessen the amount of debris around the pond.
Check the water temperature and stop feeding fish when it reaches 45 degrees because their metabolism will slow down and they will stay in deepest and warmest part of the pond until spring comes.
The surface of your pond will freeze over completely unless you produce a hole in the ice to release the trapped gases. Use boiling water to create a hole and not by breaking because it would disturb and kill the fish.
Since ponds are typically deeper than water fountain reservoirs; the pump can be left working throughout the winter to keep circulating. See if the pump has an adjustor switch and set it to the lowest setting. Put the pump atop bricks, rocks, or an upside down flower pot with the end of the tubing approximately one to two inches below the surface. Remove the pump at the bottom of the water if you have fish since it will circulate the warm water to the surface turning it too cold for the fish and ultimately lead the fish to their demise.
If you live in a very cold climate wherein it will freeze the pond into more than six inches of ice, you should keep your plants for the winter. To keep them alive until spring, remove them from their pot and place them in large plastic bags. Place them in another bag, seal them tightly, and put labels. It is ideal to keep them in a place with the temperature between 50 to 60 degrees.
But if you live in a moderate climate and don’t expect that much ice to form in your pond, you can leave the plants outside as long as the roots are not frozen. It is ideal to submerge them in the deepest part of the pond. Please be reminded that all tropical plants should be removed. Enduring tropical aquatic plants like lilies can be removed and placed in a bucket of water, just remember to change the water daily. Once the bulbs harden, keep them moist in a small bag and store in a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees.
