Water plants

Water plants will usually need to be repotted every 2-3 years, depending on how they establish themselves. If your water plant becomes too top-heavy, or the roots begin to push through the bottom of the pot, then you'll need to repot them.

Oxygenating water plants grow with some or all of their foliage below the water's surface. They provide oxygen during the day, when they undergo photosynthesis, and they help condition the water by absorbing things like ammonia, nitrates, and other minerals. This prevents these minerals from building up and becoming toxic to your fish.

Water plants in Melbourne will require varying levels of sun exposure. Generally speaking, it's best to place your feature in a partially shaded area, with some exposure to the sun for a few hours of the day. Too much sun, however, encourages the growth of algae.

You'll need to avoid areas where run-off will trickle into your pond or feature, so steer clear of walls near gutters.

If you've established a balanced ecosystem in your water feature, there'll be little maintenance to do. The correct pairing and variation of water plants will eliminate pesky algae problems, and keep the mineral levels in harmony.

Think of it like companion planting in a vegetable garden. If you'd like to know more about which water plants should be paired together, which varieties we sell and how you can establish a healthy ecosystem in your water feature, contact our experienced team. When you're ready to buy water plants, we can tell you everything you need to know.

We have a range of popular, locally grown water plants in stock, including:

• Cyperus papyrus — 'King Tutt'
• Myriophyllum papillosum — Water Milfoil
• Triglochin procera — Water Ribbon
• Zantedeschia aethiopica — White
• Dionaea muscipula — Venus flytrap

You won't need oxygenating plants for a pond or water feature without fish in it. Instead, you can choose floating decorative plants like water lilies, or water plants classified as emergent or marginal.

Emergent plants are where the plants' roots are submerged, but the foliage protrudes above the water level. Meanwhile, marginal plants don't necessarily have their roots permanently underwater, but grow in muddy water margins.