Useful Koi Pond Plants

Water plants provide an extra aesthetic attraction to a koi pond, as well as an important source of food and biological water filtration. Unlike smaller ponds meant for goldfish, there are only a handful of pond plant species that are appropriate for use with koi. Due in part to the fact that they can be quite destructive towards aquatic plants, it is necessary to use plant species that will tolerate a fair amount of abuse and to be prepared to replace your koi pond plants from time to time. Thankfully, the time and energy that it takes to maintain plants for these fish is well worth the effort, as koi pond plants remove harmful contaminates from the pond and help keep it looking healthy and fresh. Here is what you need to know about the two main types of aquatic plants for your koi fish pond: water lilies and water hyacinths.

Water Lilies for a Large Koi Pond

Water lilies are one of the most popular types of water plants for koi ponds, but they are also one of the most difficult types of plants to grow successfully due to the habit of the koi fish to dig up the water lily roots from the bottom of the pond. However, few sights are more pleasant than that of watching koi swim amongst blossoming water lilies. The two most successful species of water lilies for a koi fish pond in the UK are Nymphaea colossea and Nymphaea gladstoniana. Both of these species should not be kept in water deeper than 2.5 meters, but they provide great shade for fish when they are maintained correctly and are very efficient at soaking up excess nitrates in the pond. Be sure to secure the roots of the water lily to the pond floor by means of a basket or a similar device.

Water Hyacinths in the Koi Pond

Water hyacinths are such powerful natural water filters that they are regularly used in the water treatment facilities of major urban areas all over the world and included in the plans for long term space travel to keep the astronaut’s drinking water clean and fresh. Likewise, water hyacinths are the best pond plants for maintaining the water quality of a koi pond due to their ability to remove harmful contaminants and keep the water abundant in oxygen. At the same time, the blossoms of species like the Blue Shell Water Hyacinth are simply magnificent when the plant is in full bloom. However, gardeners should be aware that water hyacinths are extremely invasive, so great care must be exercised to ensure that these plants are not released into the larger natural environments.