If I didn't love my fish so much, I swear I'd kill them!

[Shae]

Spent most of the morning out by the pond today. Divided up several marginals, placed some impatiens and ferns in the waterfall, found some more lilies starting to put up pads, vacuumed out the pond, just a very productive day. The water was crystal clear and I was very pleased with how things were coming along. 

So I go out to feed the fish this evening, and my crystal clear water is all murky and cloudy, can't even see the bottom. I'm thinking what the heck happened. So I start looking around the shelves to see if something got tipped over and there it was. The pot holding my brand new water celery was turned over on the ledge and there was no dirt left in it, and no plant to be found. Then I notice what appears to be a clump of grass just floating in the middle of the pond. I get the net and scoop it out and guess what? It's not a clump of grass....it's what's left of my water celery. Those little piggies  ate all the leaves and only left 3 little nubs attached to the roots.   Bad fishes!!    I had no idea they would devour a plant like that. Now I have to wait for all the kitty litter to settle so I can vacuum again and wait weeks for the plant to grow back.  :'(

Oh well, tomorrow is another day. 

[happyoutsidegirl]

Sorry Shae, don't ya just love um tho? Ya mine eat just about everything, so when I plant i rock it down real good.I heard Celery. I want to get a couple of clumps and keep one out of the pond so when they start muching it to much I can swap them. Oh dear thats what I forgot to order!  :'(

[Esther]

My celery is in the bog so the fish can't get at it until it grows into the pond. But they go after it as best they can. That stuff is rather invasive but I like it because it has a pinkish tinge to the green and the foliage is lacey. It is a contrast to the tall stalky stuff.

[Ky Kim]

They kind of remind me of a bunch of 2 year old....

Kim

[marla]

This is why I now plant almost all of my small marginals just in stones. Last year they devoured a nice large Ranunculus(butter popcorn) I placed in the pond, took and put it in the little pond, the goldfish don't eat many plants.  Got strong and I placed back in the big pond in the fall, I'm keeping a close eye on it this spring incase they go after it again.

[Johns]

Shae,

A with all water plants, Water celery has the capability to become invasive.  Being trying to eradicate mine for years.  Your fish have done you a favor.  Get rid of it now, or regret not doing so 5 years from now...

[CT]

That's an understatement. After the first year mine was gone along with the large sensitive vine. That stuff sheds like crazy. Pretty flower though.

[Christy]

I threw out my Water Celery last year,because the fish kept getting in it on the shelf, now it grows in the ground.Really pretty plant, but it is taking over where i have it now.

Christy

[charlotteda]

I put some celery in the ground and I sure regret it

[Shae]

I haven't had a problem with the celery being invasive so far. I repotted what's left of it in some pea gravel this morning and set it in a dish pan. I finally got most of the kitty litter vacuumed up and can see the bottom of the pond again, but it's far from being clear.

[GAJen]

livetogarden sent me some beautiful water celery. Last year the fish ate it all. I am stuck on the new pond because I can't figure out what to plant on the upper mound. Water Celery might work. But I was thinking on Lantana.

[Krodity]

I had the water celery also, it was so beautiful I just couldn't resist.......next thing I knew it was EVERYWHERE
I was pulling it up and throwing it in the pond so the fish would eat it, then I was throwing it away. Couldn't get rid of it for anything. Won't have anymore unless it is in an urn and can be cut and controlled.

[Shae]

Jen, lantana is absolutely gorgeous and down where you are, it will probably come back next year. I wish it would up here, but it gets too cold up here. Butterflies just love lantana too. And it's very drought tolerant. Upper mound? Have you put in another pond? Must see pics soon!

I just love the look of water celery. Maybe I should try planting it on the outside of the pond, and use the excess as a treat for the fishes. I just found out that parrot's feather will grow outside the pond. Had a couple of sprigs to to root accidentally, and now it's starting to grow.

[GAJen]

Yepper I did. It's not that big it's a preformed sitting to the left of the main pond. Have been doing some planting around the main pond and transplanting lily's.....poting new ones for the smaller one. Got the rock work around it just haven't finished off the mound and sides. Hope to by the weekend's out. Also got a preformed for a little bog it's pretty cool. So the secret is out. Gotta work on the lotus tub. Got a choice of red, white and yellow lantana.

[marla]

Ok, I just was sent some today, maybe because I'm more north it won't take over.  Well I've got some so it's going in, I'll see what happens.  May put it in the little pond and the new lily pond if it grows well.