They are the yoke of every garden pond: algae. Green foamy carpets cover the surface of the water and cloud the pond. In the worst case, the water can tip. Pond plants against algae are a natural and effective long-term solution.
Which pond plants help against algae?
Pond plants against algae are effective and natural: hornleaf, cattail, water feather, water lilies, frog bite and swamp iris. They absorb nutrients, provide shade and produce oxygen, reducing algae growth.
No garden pond without algae growth
Algae are of course nothing bad in themselves. Algae grows in every garden pond and usually poses no risk, neither to the appearance of the water oasis nor to the biological balance. The most important garden pond algae are:
- Blue and green algae
- Thread algae
Mostly unproblematic: blue and green algae
Tiny blue and green algae are present in all water, even in chlorinated pools. If the stock is limited, they don't even cloud the water. However, in warm conditions and nutrient-rich water, they can multiply explosively and form an unsightly slime carpet on the water surface.
Thread algae
Thread algae can completely cloud the pond water if an algae bloom occurs. This is particularly problematic for ponds with fish populations, because the algae that die and sink after flowering can cause the animals to suffocate due to the resulting deprivation of oxygen.
What to do about algae?
In order to keep algae formation as low as possible from the outset, a constantly low nutrient content in the pond water must be ensured. This deprives the algae of their livelihood. On the one hand, it is advisable to regularly fish out nourishing algae deposits on the water surface and to regularly cut back the marsh plants.
You can combat algae very effectively, naturally and free of charge by letting the pond plants work for you. Species rooted deep in the bottom of the pond draw nutrients from the soil and also from the water, so that less is left for the algae. On the other hand, they release oxygen, which also keeps the algae away.
Plants against algae
Basically, you should put lots of plants in your pond so that they absorb the water nutrient content. Heavy eaters are of course best suited.
Easy care
- Horn leaf: The horn leaf, which swings gently in the water like a soft pine branch, has the ability to absorb many nutrients directly from the water.
- Bulrush: The cattail is not only an impressive and very classic pond edge inhabitant. It is also a very effective algae preventer due to its great hunger for nutrients. It is also easy to care for and not too vigorous.
- Water feather: It reproduces independently at the bottom of the pond and enchants on the water surface with its delicate white flowers
Flower beauties
- Water lilies: With their beautiful, large flowers, they are the classic of pond romance. They help against algae in that they shade the lower water layers with their flat, decorative floating leaves and make it more difficult for the algae to grow.
- Frog bite: It also shades the water surface with its small, round floating leaves. Its flowers on the water delight in snow white with a yellow heart
- Swamp iris: With its size and artistic, yolk-yellow flowers, the swamp iris creates a very pretty picture in the garden pond. It is also very effective against algae.
