Hardy vs. water plants sensitive to frost
Many native aquatic plants are hardy, which means that they can easily remain outside in the pond even when the temperature is below zero. One example is this Cattail.
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Note: Occasionally remove snow from the ice cover on the pond so that sunlight can still penetrate and reach the plants.
Exciting: some aquatic plants, including some water moss species, sink to the bottom of the pond when it is cold. The temperatures there never go into the minus range. As soon as it gets warmer again, the plants rise again by themselves, so they return to the surface of the water. That is fascinating nature.
In addition to the robust and "smart" ones, there are also aquatic plants that cannot cope with frost at all and need your help. However, you should also prepare largely winter-resistant plants for the cool season.
Prepare winter-proof aquatic plants sensibly
- Transplant into a plastic container if you have spent the summer in a ceramic or stone container
- Provided with a special winter protection (e.g. made of fleece)
- If necessary, bring it to a protected location in the garden (temperatures not exceeding ten degrees Celsius, otherwise there is a risk of sprouting too early)
Bring water plants that are sensitive to frost into the house
- Bring tropical-exotic aquatic plants into the house in good time (even at temperatures of around ten degrees Celsius)
- fish with a sieve and immediately place in a bowl filled with water
- Place the bowl on the windowsill of a well-heated living space (to ensure both the required brightness and the required warmth)
Note: If these requirements can also be ensured in an aquarium, it is possible to overwinter the plants in it.
Important: Do not bring the aquatic plants outside again until after the ice saints (mid-May).
General tips for wintering
- Remove all leaves from the aquatic plants before the first frost
- Shorten the reeds by half (but must still protrude above the surface of the water for the oxygen exchange between the ice cover and winter air)
- do not cut other aquatic plants until spring (e.g. bank plants)
- Mini garden ponds it is essential to bring it into the house before the frost occurs
