Water lotus should be considered a bog plant, as they do not contribute to covering the surface of the pond as do the floating leafed water lilies. Water lotus grow from large vigorous banana shaped rhizomes and must have at least two nodes (the pinched looking area of the rhizomes) left on them when divided in order to survive. Their roots are brittle and can easily be broken, killing the plant. Lotus should be grown in large tubs or baskets no less than 32 quarts in size. Place the rhizomes shallow in the pot and cover with soil and 1 inch of gravel. It may be necessary to put a rock or brick over the tubers of these plants until rooted to prevent them from floating out of the soil. Lotus should be placed in the pond about 4 inches below the water surface. To place the lotus in deeper portions of the pond, put them up on blocks or bricks to achieve the proper depth.

Submerged Plants for the Backyard Pond:
Cabomba caroliniana
'Cabomba'
Foliage fine spreading, small white flowers. Too aggressive for earthen ponds.
Elodea canadensis var. gigantea
'Anacharis'
Fernlike, small flowers. Too aggressive for earthen ponds. Egeria densa, also called 'Anacharis', is a RESTRICTED plant in some states.
Myriophyllum spp.
Water Milfoil'
Foliage very fine texture, covers stems. M. spicatum 'Eurasian Water 'Milfoil' is a RESTRICTED plant in some states.
Sagittaria subulata
'Dwarf Sagittaria'
Small, grasslike plant for shallow areas like shelves of the pond. Better choice than the species.
Vallisneria americana
'Vallisneria'
Large, grass like plant, takes shade. Better choice than the species.
Deep Water Plants:
Hardy Water Lilies Nymphaea spp.
Lotus Nelumbo spp.
Spatterdock Nuphar luteum
Tropical Water Lilies Nymphaea spp.
Submerged Plants or Oxygenators
Anacharis Elodea canadensis
Cabomba Cabomba caroliniana
Dwarf Sagittaria Sagittaria natans
Vallisneria Vallisneria americana
Water Milfoil Myriophyllus spp.

 
 
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