Info & Care Sheets

• Late Summer Water Gardening

  The days are still warm, but the nights are getting cooler.  Autumn is just around the corner, however, there is still enough summer left to enjoy the outdoors and our gardens.  Water gardens are still blooming, and some plants enjoy the cooler temperatures which make their colors more intense.  If temperatures remain in the 70 and 80’s, many plants will continue to bloom.  Some late/long summer blooming pond plants are:

  Late/Long Season Blooming Plants	Plants with Leaf Color
  Arrowhead, White Flowered	Cannas
  Aztec Arrowhead	Cardinal Flower
  Lotus	Chameleon Plant/Houttuynia
  Cannas	Creeping Jenny
  Cardinal Flower	Melon Sword
  Marsh Marigold	Red Stemmed Thalia
  Monkey Flower	Taros
  Sensitive Plants	Tropical Water Lilies
  Thalia	Variegated Sweetflag
  Water Hibiscus	Yellow Fringe/Snowflake
  Water Hyacinth (If water temp ≥ 65ᵒ)	Zebra Rush
  Water Lilies
  Yellow Fringe/Snowflake

  It’s all about the water temperature:

  Towards late September, as the day and night temperature get cooler, water temperature will also begin to decline. Water temperature will indicate when it is time to change your water garden routine. 

  Here are a few items to keep in mind for fall:

  • You will want to stop fertilizing your pond plants when the water temperature drops below 60 degrees so that your plants can begin to prepare for dormancy. 
  • You can continue feeding your fish Summer/Warm Water food as long as the water temp stays above 65 degrees. When water temperatures remain below 65 degrees, you will need to switch over to an Autumn/Cold Water fish food.  Autumn or Cold Water fish food is higher in carbohydrates and lower in protein which is easier for the fish to digest in cooler water, and it reduces the amount of ammonia by product released by fish. 
  • As the water temperature drops, so does the biological efficiency of your filter and beneficial bacteria.  Ammonia spikes from dead plant material, fish waste, and uneaten fish food can be a problem for your fish as Warm Water Bacteria is less efficient in cold water.  Cold Water Bacteria is formulated to work in cold water and is necessary for fish when water temps are at/below 50 degrees. 

  For now though, continue to enjoy your water garden into late summer/early fall.  After the long hot days of summer, the cooler temperatures of autumn are a welcome relief. 

  In October, we will outline over-wintering your pond, pond plants and fish. See you then!!

  Posted on August 21, 2012

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