The Roles Plants Play in your Koi Fish Pond

Most Koi hobbyists will choose at least some of the more traditional water-garden plants for their Koi fish pond.   These fall into one of four categories which I will go into next.

A broad category of moisture-loving and bog plants includes almost any plant that enjoys very moist to soggy soil.  This can be defined as soil that contains more moisture than is found in the average garden, but not in standing water.  A natural environment such as a lake, a pond, or a stream will be surrounded by a zone that transitions from an area of relatively wet soil that supports an array of different plants.  If creating a natural-looking koi fish pond is your goal, try to include some of these plants.  If you are looking for a wide variety of pond plants, try Live-Aquaria.com.  They have a wide selection of pond plants and are very reasonably priced.

For very shallow water, you will want to grow what is called a marginal plant.  Marginal plants are those that like to grow at the mucky edge of a pond or lake or in very shallow water.  For my Koi pond, I grow the plants by putting their containers on the ponds shelves.  I use blocks under the plants to raise them to their preferred level.  When you purchase these plants, be sure and ask about their water level if it is not indicated on the plant's container, as each type of plant will have a different depth requirement.   For example, you may purchase a plant that only needs to keep its roots moist and will do well in an inch of water, while another plant may require six inches or more to prosper in your Koi fish pond.  These types of plants work well to create a natural look for your pond and help to conceal the edge of a flexible liner or a rigid shell.

Submerged plants grow below the Koi pond's surface.  They are also known as oxygenators because they act as a natural filter to help keep your Koi pond in a chemical and biological balance.  This makes it a more friendly environment for your Koi fish and less inviting to algae.  I have previously discussed the importance of  biological filtration for your Koi.  The use of submerged plants in your Koi pond will be a necessity if you want Koi fish and do not wish to invest in a biological filter.  In my Koi  fish pond I have both a biological filter and oxygenating plants.

For the surface of your Koi pond, purchase plants that float freely on the water's surface.  You can also use plants that are rooted in containers on the bottom and send up leaves that float.  These are called floating plants and they help to discourage the formation of algae by keeping the Koi pond's surface cool and shady.  Included in this category are lotuses and water lilies, plants which many people consider to be a must for any Koi Carp fish pond.  Also included are water hyacinths and water lettuce.