I was wondering if there are pond plants out there that are hardier than others....My water lettuce and hyacinth look very sad right now, all yellow, and the duck weed has almost disappeared, so I saved some and put them in a bucket in the garage.
Is there anything out there that doesn't look sad and droopy when temperatures fall? My Egyptian papyrus still looks good, so I guess that would be one plant a bit hardier, so is the Parrot Feather.
Does anybody have any more suggestions to keep the outside looking green during cooler temperature?

Andrea, being in NY I'm pretty familiar with hardy pond plants. Arrowhead does wonderful in the cooler temps. So does watercress. My water canna lillies are fine until it gets below about 50. I also have some sort of grass that last year actually did well in the pond frozen all winter.

To save your lettuce and hyacinths take them out of the pond until it gets warmer. Put them in a tub of miracle grow and where they will get plenty of light. I usually keep mine in the miracle grow for about a week. Just rinse them good before they go back in the pond.

Good luck.

I would like too know how you came across water lettuce and hyacinth in the first place. In case you did not know they are illegal too possess in florida. But don't worry since your secret is safe with me. I hope you enjoy this weekends show.

You can buy them anywhere in Missouri....but they are not winter hardy. Nothing looks green in the winter, but I have several that will come bacl when it warms up without having to bring them out of the pond. I have hardy lilies, pickrel rush (I think that is what it is called), gee my mind goes blank.....I have taken things out of ponds too.

Rob, I didn't know they were illegal until a friend told me when he saw them in my ponds. I got them from a petstore in Miami, they sold the plants in the back of the store, and now I know why....

They are definately illegal but I am sure you know that now. Just try ordering certain plants online and they will tell you they are not available in florida. Been there, done that. With that being said I have scoped out some wild growing hyacinths in a large local lake (2.500 acres)and am thinking about maybe adding some too my pond next year too cut down on the intense sun. I have a true koi pond that does not contain any plants as of now but I could tie off a hyacinth by the roots too keep it out of the skimmer and add a little color. This would also be after a complete PP treatment so I know it will be safe.
I am also a bass fisherman and if you have ever seen how many things are crawling all over a wild plant it would blow your mind. And this is even without putting them under the scope.
Now I am just waiting for those shiro utsuri pics. Also heard from Gunn and he will be there in march. I hope you enjoy your weekend.

LOL - my pond is outside and lots of strange things crawl around in it.... I even found a snapping turtle in it once. He was a small one, and I found him before he ate anyone!

Lachfa, I found a snapping turtle the size of a silver dollar in my pond last year (removed him pretty fast). I also get box turtles every now and then that also get moved because they like to eat my plants. I put them in a pond on my neighbors property.

Speaking of strange crawly things...have you ever seen the worms that come out of the water lettuce?? They are pretty weird looking. It grossed me out so much that I haven't gotten water lettuce since.

My mom and dad bring some of my hyacinths back to florida with them for the winter and keep them in their pond that way when they come back to NY in the spring I have a new supply.

I was cleaning out my pond this past spring and getting some gunk and leaves off the bottom and I lifted "something" out with it. I had been pulling up bullfrog, but this was a turtle and it looked like a snapper. Come to find out it was a little fake turtle who fell in last summer. I was embarrased.

I can imagine that! Although when it comes to being embarrassed, there was that one time when a rainstorm flooded our backyard in the summer, and there was this huge frog swimming in the water. I ran all screaming to my hubby, since I HATE frogs, especially the warty ones, and my husband was trying to get him out. When he finally got a grip on him, it turned out it was our one and only plastic frog ornament that my hubby got as a present from a friend....Now, THAT is embarrassing, especially since the neighbors had a good laugh!

Me and my camera will be on the way to the show this weekend on Friday afternoon!

At least I was the only one who saw me and the turtle, but I was ready to defend my little fishies against the baby monster who was planning to have my fishies for lunch!

ive got one of those plastic frogs that looks kinda weird
i use it to scare off little kids who attempt to feed my fish
when im not around