We have over 50 varieties of Aquatic Plants to Choose From!
If you are looking for that special plant for your water feature, we probably have it....
Many retail stores sell Aquatic Plants. Even the Lowes has a selection of Aquatic Plants in the spring. Selling aquatic plants is similar in nature to selling fish in that a knowledgeble staff an quality plants will make all the difference in the world to your pond. The difference that true Aquatic Retail centers offer to the customers is a much more diverse variety of plants, knowledgable staff to help customers choose the correct plant for their pond and quality plants that will thrive in our climate. Simply put, there is a right way and a wrong way to "Retail Aquatic Plants".. We invite you to compare our plants and customer service to our competitors and decide for yourself.
Knowledgable Staff - This is the most important asset that any retail store selling plants can posses. 90% of our customers do not know which plants are hardy and which are tropical or which plants fit best in the stream vs the pond. Our staff is familiar with all of our plant species and can help you make a wise decision based on the size and location of your pond or water feature. Some plants thrive in full sun others will thrive in partial shade or shady locations. It is important for you to know the characteristics for each plant you buy so that you will know what to expect from that plant as the season progresses.
Quality Plant Suppliers = Quality Plants - We only purchase plants from Moerings USA LLC of Stevensburg VA. There are several reasons we chose this supplier. The 2 most compelling reasons were geographical location and professionally packaged quality plant species. Moerings being located in Virginia ensures that the plants you are buying from us are grown in relatively the same climate. This promotes good quality plants that can thrive in our local climate. Moerings supplies us with only healthy grade A plants. Additionally each plant is individually planted in an easy to handle container with an inforation tag that contains information about the plant itself, a picture of the plant in it's mature state, the hardiness zone,recommended planting depth, bloomtime, and sunlight requirements. This provides you with all the information you could possibly need to make an educated decision for your aquatic plants purchase.
Warranty - We stand behind our plants with a seasonal plant warranty. If you buy a plant from us and it dies during the season of purchase we will replace that plant with that species or any comparable species. (Warranty is not valid for plants purchased after August 1st)
Diverse Selection - We have the most diverse selection of aquatic plants in Kentucky all season long. Many stores will have an abundant quantity in the spring months but let their quantities and selections whither as the summer progresses. Additionally we make weekly plant orders. Therefore in the unlikely event we do not have a specific plant you are searching for we should be able to get it for you in most cases. At a very high level aquatic plants are seperated into 2 distinct categories (Hardy and Tropical).
Hardy Aquatic Plants - Our USDA Planting Zone in Kentucky is 6. Just like other plants aquatic plants are rated by their preferred USDA plant zone. We recommend that you choose a diverse selection of plants with about 70% being hardy with a Zone rating of 6 and lower. Typically speaking hardy plants have more foilage than flowers. Hardy Lilies come in various colors such as red, yellow, white, and pink.
Tropical Aquatic Plants - Tropical plants are defined as plants that cannot tolerate the cold winter weather here in Kentucky (USDA Zone 7 and above). Tropical plants typically have brighter more abundant flowers than hardy plants and for lilies in particular you can only get blue and purple flowers from tropical lillies. Overwintering tropical plants is relatively simple. you simple need to remove the plant from the pond and store in a container of water in your basement or heated garage, preferably near a window.
In addition to hardy and tropical categories a pond is divided into 6 planting zones, all of which depend on the depth of your pond, although there is some natural overlapping. Each of these zones have both hardy and tropical species readily available. We stock over 60 different varieties of plants covering hardy and tropical species in addition to the 6 zones listed below.
Zone 1: Marginal Plants (0 to 2 inches under water)
These plants stand around the pond in straightforward garden soil. The soil is dry to moist and can become waterlogged as the result of heavy rain or if the pond floods. Marginal plants should be chosen for their shape and height to create a gradual transition to the actual water plants. Another way of creating an attractive transition from garden to pond is by using a layer of pebbles or stones that continues into the edge of the pond. Pebbles and rocks can also be used to camouflage the edges of a pond liner or of the preformed mould. Plants can be planted among the stones and pebbles to look as though they are growing into the water. The result is very natural looking.
Zone 2: Marsh or Bog Plants (0 to 6 inches under water)
The marsh area starts immediately over the edge of the pond. This area is freely accessible to the pond water, which will keep it wet. Marsh plants need their roots to be between 0 and about 6 inches under water, depending on species. The labels of these plants always indicate what depth of water they can tolerate. It is very important to maintain your marsh plants carefully to ensure they do not become messy and untidy.
Zone 3: Water Plants (0 to 16 inches under water)
Heading into the pond from the marsh or bog zone, we arrive at the water plant zone. These are the plants most suitable for planting in the deeper parts of the pond and must have their roots under water. In fact they can grow completely under water, to a depth of up to 16 inches.
Zone 4: Water Lilies (10 to 40 inches under water)
Finally we reach the pond’s deep water zone, which is a suitable habitat for plants such as water lilies. Water lilies take root in the soil at the bottom of the pond and prefer calm, stagnant water. Water lilies create areas of shade under their leaves and this helps inhibit the growth of algae. During the day water lilies are a delight to the eye but they close their flowers at night and when the weather is gloomy. The depth at which the different varieties of water lilies should be planted is shown on the label accompanying the plant. It can vary between 10 and 40 inches deep.
Zone 5: Oxygenators (10 to 40 inches under water)
Like water lilies oxygenating plants belong in the deeper regions of the pond. Oxygenating plants remove large volumes of nutrients from the water and compete for the dissolved mineral salts on which algae thrive, thereby starving the algae out. The purpose of oxygenators is to produce oxygen, some of which is absorbed by the water. The oxygenated water is more efficient in terms of promoting the natural breakdown of waste materials in the pond water. This prevents rotting in the bottom layers of the pond bed. Oxygenators are available in pots and in loose bunches.
Zone 6: Surface Floaters (float on the surface of the pond)
These plants simply float on the surface of the pond. They are not planted, but are laid in the water. They produce roots to absorb nutrients from the water, rather than to attach themselves to anything. Surface floaters are an important element of a healthy pond. They filter the effects of sunlight on the water and remove large quantities of mineral salts. This inhibits the growth of algae. Surface floaters multiply at speed and it is essential to remove plants from the pond regularly to stop the surface from becoming completely covered. We recommend always keeping two thirds of the water surface of your pond free of plant cover.
