January 2012       

 
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  Now is the Time For Wintering Over Pond Plants

When fall and winter rolls around, then it is time to start caring for the pond plants and their winter sleep.
In mild climates such as zone 8 and up, little care is needed for plants such as grasses, reeds, rush, and hardy water lily. 

In warm zones 9 and up, no care is needed for water lily, tropical or hardy.  The plants that need specific attention for most regions are floating pond plants: such as water hyacinth, water lettuce, and frogbit.  Many water gardeners choose to buy these plant each year instead of wintering over, but wintering over can be easily accomplished with little effort by protecting plants from mildew, frost, and freeze, or by using a Garden Light Box. 

In zones 8 and below, a Garden Light Box is an easy way to winter over floating plants indoors.  All you need is a fish aquarium, mirrors (that can be purchase cheap at a glass store) and a sunny window.  The key to the plants surviving is keeping in the humidity up with a plastic wrap cover, warmth, and sunshine reflected with the mirrors.  It also looks really cool! 

A Greenhouse is a Wise Investment
This year, I invested in a small walk-in green house with plastic windows for my tropical and floating plants.  It will be heated with simple seedling heat mats.  However, greenhouses in sub-zero climates need thick double pane glass and possibly a kerosene heater.  I recommend purchasing your greenhouse from either Harbor Freight Tools (where I purchased mine) or Menard's Hardware.  Also check out greenhouse designs on Instructables.com. 

How to Winter Over Water Lettuce  

Wintry Conditions: Frost is a killer. When water lettuce freezes it does not recover. When there is a threat of frost or freeze, water lettuce should be covered or brought indoors. However, remember that they do need sunshine during the day.

Mildew: It is wise to cover your pond to protect the water and plants from freezing. However, covering your pond will also promote mold and mildew growth on your water lettuce plants. This is also a killer and your water lettuce will simply rot away. If you plan to winter over your water lettuce. An indoor water garden lightbox
is a good choice, or install a fan to circulate the air and keep the mildew away.   Read Article: How to Grow Water Lettuce


Build a Garden Lightbox

This really works! 
In the cold seasons tropical plants need extra care.  Some pond plants (such as frogbit) will grow just fine with a regular florescent light and others will survive outdoors even in freezing temperatures.  Other more tropical plants need a little extra help with lighting, heat, and humidity.  Water hyacinth is one such plant, and a garden light-box can help! 
Read Article: How to Make a Lightbox


How to Winter Over Tropical Water Lily

It is good for the lilies to go through 1 or 2 frosts. The cool weather helps force dormancy. After the first or second frost remove the plants from the pond. Put the pots in a cool but protected place such as the garage and let the pots dry out somewhat until the soil is barely moist. Wrap each pot in a garbage bag and close the top of the bag so that they will not dry out much more.  Do not close the top tightly; this way the plant will be able to breathe just a little. Sealing up the bag tight will also promote mold and mildew which will...   Read Article: How to Winter Over Tropical Water Lily


 

Brian's Tahoe Greenhouse

This is my friend, Brian, in South Lake Tahoe, Northern California.  Tahoe is located at 6,200 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Zone 6-7.  Temperatures in the summertime can get down to 32 degrees!  And, it is known to snow in Tahoe any month of the year.  But this doesn't stop Brian.  His tomato plants grow strong inside his greenhouse.  The inside is heated with Christmas tree lights.  The frame is constructed with branches from local area trees.  The siding is 6 mil thick clear visqueen plastic; which is stiff plastic sheeting used to insulate windows.  One side of his greenhouse is on hinges that open like a door.  This is certainly an attractive greenhouse, Brian!     Find out which type of greenhouse is right for your climate zone...

 

  Getting Winter Ready

Autumn is the time to start getting serious about protecting your pond for the upcoming winter season.  An easy way to do this is by building a hoop house to shelter your small water garden.  The hoop house design on the left uses PVC pipe and 6 mil. thick plastic sheeting.  The PVC pipe can be inserted inside the pond or anchored down outside the pond into the ground using stakes that fit into the ends of the pipe.   

Upgrade for Severe Climate:  In more severe climates, I recommend  using 2 layers of of 6 mil. thick plastic sheeting with 1 inch bubble wrap used as insulation in between the layers of plastic.  If you have heavy snowfall, heavy duty chicken wire can be used as reinforcement over the hoop house. 

Heating the Hoop House:  You will want to keep the climate inside the hoop house above freezing.  Hanging large C7 or C9 Christmas tree lights will raise the indoor air temperature by 20°.  These can easily be purchased on eBay and at Etsy.com.  In colder climates, a cold frame house with glass walls is a wiser choice along with an oil heater.  

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