A Detailed Guide to the Key Points of Aquatic Plant Cultivation Methods

There are many kinds of aquatic plants, which can be divided according to their growth habits into emergent plants, floating-leaf plants, submerged plants, free-floating plants, and emergent herbaceous plants. Let's take a look below at what the key points of aquatic plant cultivation methods are.

1. Planting management

Aquatic plants should be planted according to the habits of different species or varieties. During garden construction, there are two different technical approaches to planting aquatic plants: one is to build planting troughs on the bottom of the pond, spread at least 15 cm of cultivation soil over them, and plant the aquatic plants into the soil; the other is to plant the aquatic plants in containers and then sink the containers into the water. The two methods described above each have advantages and disadvantages. Planting aquatic plants in containers and then sinking them into the water is more commonly used, because they are easy to move; for example, in winter in the north, the containers must be taken out and stored to protect against severe cold; when changing soil, adding fertilizer, and dividing plants in spring, the work is also more flexible and labor-saving. Moreover, this method can keep the pond water clear, and cleaning the pond bottom and changing the water are also more convenient.

2. Planting containers

When the pond is built, planting troughs are built at suitable water depths, and cultivation soil rich in humus is added. For planting containers, wooden boxes, bamboo baskets, wicker baskets, and the like are generally chosen, as they will not rot within a year. When selecting them, note that after being filled with soil and planted, they should not tip over in the water or be overturned by wind and waves. Containers with holes are generally not used, because the cultivation soil and its fertilizer efficiency can easily leak into the water and even pollute the water quality. Different aquatic plants have different requirements for water depth, and the positions where the containers are placed are also different. Generally, brick or stone square platforms are built in the water, and the containers are placed on top of the platforms so that they are stable and reliable. Another method is to tie the container with two water-resistant ropes, then fix the ropes on the bank and press them under stones. If the water level is very close to the bank and there are scattered rockery stones on the bank, the ropes should be concealed, otherwise the landscape effect will be affected.

3. Soil

Clean garden soil can be finely sieved to remove small twigs, weeds, dead leaves, and so on from the soil. Try to avoid using thin mud from ponds, so as to avoid mixing in the seeds of aquatic weeds or other harmful biological bacteria. Using this as the main material, add a small amount of coarse bone meal and some slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.

4. Management

The management of aquatic plants is generally relatively simple. After planting, in addition to routine management work, the following points should also be noted:

Check for pests and diseases; check whether the plants are crowded, and generally divide the plants once every 3 to 4 years; apply supplementary fertilizer regularly; remove weeds from the water, and when the pond bottom or pond water is too turbid, change the water or thoroughly clean it. When planting aquatic plants, some principles must be mastered so that they grow well.

5. Key points of care

1. Soil

Except for free-floating plants, which do not need substrate soil, planting other kinds of aquatic plants requires using organic clayey soil such as field soil or pond mud as the substrate soil, and covering the surface with coarse sand 1 to 2 cm in diameter, which can prevent the water from becoming turbid due to watering or vibration. When planting at home, to prevent odors and mosquito breeding, the pots or vats holding the soil can be placed outdoors, and well-growing plants can be selected and placed in water-filled containers for indoor viewing, and replaced at any time. For waterside plants, plant them with field soil plus crushed sphagnum moss.

2. Sunlight

Most aquatic plants need sufficient sunlight, especially during the growth period, that is, between April and October each year. If sunlight is insufficient, phenomena such as leggy growth, small and thin leaves, and failure to bloom will occur.

3. Fertilization

Use jade fertilizer made from oil cake and bone meal as the base fertilizer. About four or five jade fertilizer pieces placed in the corner of the container is enough. Waterside plants do not need base fertilizer. For supplementary fertilizer, use chemical fertilizer instead of organic fertilizer to avoid polluting the water quality, and use it at ten times thinner than for ordinary plants.

4. Water level

Aquatic plants have different requirements for water depth depending on their growth habits.

5. Thinning

If various kinds of aquatic plants are planted mixed together in the same pond, the fast-reproducing species, such as duckweed and water lettuce, must be thinned regularly so that they do not cover the water surface and affect the growth of water lilies or other submerged plants; when floating plants become too large and their leaf surfaces cover one another, division must also be carried out.

3. Changing water

To avoid mosquito breeding or deterioration of water quality, when the water becomes turbid, the water must be changed, and in summer the frequency of water changes must be increased.