Messages

1

Pond Chat / Re: How to quarantine plants....and KILL flatworms, snails and copepods...Help!!!

« on: August 30, 2011, 08:38:19 PM »

I think the snails are pouch snails.......they totally multiply like crazy.  Planaria......yes, it is gross.  They are flatworms and there are lots of them.  From my online searches I have found a product called "Flatworm Exit", which I think I will use.  I also have read about a product called "PraziPro" which would be good for any potential parasites that could have arisen.  I am not sure though what would be the best for the snails.  I have a lot of hornwort and duckweed, which I am reading cannot tolerate bleach, otherwise that is what I would use.  The closest solution I can come up with is an Alum bath, though nothing seems to guarantee full eradication of snails and snail eggs. 

2

Pond Chat / How to quarantine plants....and KILL flatworms, snails and copepods...Help!!!

« on: August 30, 2011, 05:57:31 PM »

Ok, so I have a ton of issues in my barrel pond, and attribute most of the problems to adding plants that were not properly dealt with before adding them to the pond.  Yes, there is also decaying matter and algae which is certainly an issue as well.  I typically do a thorough clean out of the pond twice a year, and water changes on a regular basis - but never have I had a flatworm or snail problem until now.  I'm sure this is because of plants I added to the pond.  I had a Japanese Trapdoor snail, which was enough for this pond, I did not want or need all these extra little snails that are in there now, and I'm sure they came in with the plants.  Now there are loads of flatworms and it is so disgusting.  I also have a lot of tadpoles and pollywogs in the pond, as well as frogs in the garden that will start breeding in a few months.  I love having frogs, but the other things (flatworms, snails, copepods) I am not interested in at all and I want to get rid of them.  So I plan on doing a separate quarantine for all the plants, and then separating all the tadpoles into a separate container.  I want to thoroughly clean the pond out and let it dry out for a couple of days, then restock the pond with the plants after treating them, and add the tadpoles back.

I need some sound advice on how to go about this quarantine, so that a full kill of all planaria, snails, parasites, etc is guaranteed.  And then how to guarantee that the plants will be safe to recombine with the tadpoles and frogs.  Help please!!!!

3

Pond Chat / Re: Are my ponds too small to put this many plants?

« on: February 24, 2011, 12:00:10 AM »

That's what I thought you were going to say!  What about an oxygenating plant to go under the water?  Any good recommendations - is it necessary or not?  My current pond is pretty murky right now, I can't see very far into it....I'm getting ready to clean it all out and start fresh.  I also have frogs in my garden and they have already started mating.....just yesterday I counted over 100 new eggs in the pond.  There are also still a few tadpoles left from last Spring.  Ugh, I did not want the frogs to start mating again until I changed the water and put new plants in!  Right now all I have in there is 4 leaf clover plants and they are almost gone....very straggly and falling apart.  This pond has not received any care at all, but has supported frog eggs and numerous tadpoles for the last year.  There are a couple of snails but thats it.  I know there just has to be a lot of sludge at the bottom, and I can't imagine these new eggs surviving with the pond in this state.  I plan to take them out and put them back in after I've cleaned it out and added the new water lily, just hoping they'll make it!  I appreciate any suggestions anyone can give me to keep a low maintenance pond of this size.  I want it to be like a natural ecosystem, which it has been, but I want it to be healthier with clearer water and to be able to achieve this in the most natural, low maintenance way possible (and with as few products as possible).  Thanks for your advice!

4

Pond Chat / Are my ponds too small to put this many plants?

« on: February 22, 2011, 05:12:05 PM »

In a previous post I asked for suggestions for hardy water lilies for my half barrel pond.  Since then I have ordered some plants but am worried I will be overcrowded.
For the half barrel pond I will put a Perry's baby red but I also wanted to mix it with a water poppy.  I have a feeling this will be too much in such a small space.  Do you agree? 
My other pond which is a little smaller will contain a Helvola which I wanted to mix with a 4 leaf clover plant.  Would that be too many plants for that space?
I am mainly concerned about the mix of Perry's with the water poppy though.  I thought they would look so beautiful together, but if the half barrel is too small to contain both of them I may start another pond for the poppy!  I would love to hear your thoughts!

5

Pond Chat / Re: What is a good water lily for my barrel pond?

« on: February 22, 2011, 05:00:37 PM »

That is really pretty....

As I have been looking at a lot of pond plants the past few days it's making me a little crazy - making me want to have more ponds just so I can try out all the different plants!

6

Pond Chat / Re: What is a good water lily for my barrel pond?

« on: February 17, 2011, 02:51:41 PM »

Thank you for your comments.
 
Ok, so a lot of votes on Helvola.  I will have to give it a try. 

Any other suggestions?  I have another container - a little smaller than a half barrel, that I would also like to plant a lily in.  It will get full sun but also shade in the earlier part of the day.  What about a nice red or pink one, for a small area?

Yes, Pacific Grove is a wonderful place to live.  I love it here!  There is so much charm and natural beauty everywhere.

7

Pond Chat / What is a good water lily for my barrel pond?

« on: February 16, 2011, 07:05:11 PM »

Hi everyone,

I have a barrel pond and want to put a nice hardy water lily in there.  I live on the California coast, and the weather here is mild and fairly consistent.  Summers don't get very hot, and winters don't get very cold either.  I have my pond in a sunny location, and would like something beautiful that will bloom as much as possible.  Does anyone have any good recommendations?