Some aquatic plants are hardy, others are not. This article will tell you how to ensure that all your plants survive the cold season unscathed.

Some aquatic plants cope well with frost

Hardy vs. frost-sensitive aquatic plants

Many native aquatic plants are hardy, which means they can remain outside in the pond even when the temperature is below zero. An example is the cattail.

Note: Occasionally remove snow from the ice cover on the pond to allow sunlight to penetrate and reach the plants.

Exciting: Some aquatic plants, including some types of aquatic moss, sink to the bottom of the pond when it is cold. The temperatures there never go below zero. As soon as it gets warmer again, the plants rise again by themselves, i.e. return to the water surface. This is fascinating nature.

In addition to the robust and "smart" ones, there are also aquatic plants that cannot cope with frost at all and need your help. However, you should also partially prepare largely winter-resistant plants for the cool season.

Prepare hardy aquatic plants sensibly

  • Transplant into a plastic container if they have spent the summer in a ceramic or stone container
  • provided with a special winter protection (e.g. made of fleece).
  • if necessary, bring to a sheltered location in the garden (temperatures no more than ten degrees Celsius, otherwise there is a risk of early budding)

Bring frost-sensitive aquatic plants indoors

  • bring exotic tropical aquatic plants indoors in good time (even at temperatures of around ten degrees Celsius)
  • Fish off with a sieve and immediately place in a bowl filled with water
  • Place the bowl on the window sill of a well-heated living space (to ensure both the required brightness and the required warmth)

Note: If these conditions can also be ensured in an aquarium, it is possible to overwinter the plants in it.

Important: Do not bring the aquatic plants back outside until after the ice saints (mid-May).

General tips for wintering

  • remove all leaves from aquatic plants before the first frost
  • Shorten the reeds by half (but must still protrude above the water surface for the exchange of oxygen between the ice cover and winter air)
  • only cut other aquatic plants in spring (e.g. bank plants)
  • Bring mini garden ponds into the house before frost sets in

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Vegetable garden