Hi Robyn and all ponders,

I have not been on site for a very long time, but have a couple of questions for you. We just recently bought some water hyacinth and lettuce to throw in our pond since it is completly covered on the rock bottom (and top) with string algae. The floating plants have only been in for a few weeks and the hyacinth is already starting to yellow and loose some of it's green color. Would this indicate that our pond is lacking something or perhaps to high in PH? It has gotten a little cooler since we put them in, but not sure it that would cause the problem?
Also, do you have any suggestions to break down string algae and other mulm matter that is floating in the bottom of our pond? (no filter, just pump and river rock on bottom of pond) Rock on bottom makes it impossible to clean even with pond o vac. Just wondered if there is some chemical to use to help break this stuff down or eliminate.

Thanks
Newbie

Where do you live? What are the day and night time temperatures like? It's still pretty cool here (abnormally so). Those tropical floaters usually yellow for one of three reasons - too cold, not enough sunlight, or improper nutrition/water quality. Is the pond in full sun? Have you tested the pH? Do you add any liquid fertilizer? I add some with potassium (using Tetra FloraFin) which is often the nutrient that is lowest and can cause yellowing.

If you added a pump, moving water, and filter, that would go a long way to breaking up algae and gunk on the bottom. I suggest also adding some good bacteria to the pond to digest the waste. I use BZT and Pond Zyme but Microbe-Lift is more commonly used by others. There are a dozen brands of pond digester-type products that contain digestive bacteria and enzymes.

Robyn,
I'm in Ohio which is zone 5. The pond is pretty much in full sun all day(when it's out...its been rather cool and damp so far) The ph level in our pond always seems to be just a little higher than normal...not sure if the river rock on bottom would have anything to do with that or not. When you mention fertilizing the floating tropicals, I'm guessing you take them out of the pond ?or is the fertilizer you mentioned safe to use in the pond? Is this fertiizer good for water lillies and lotus as well? This will only be our second summer with this pond. I intend to add alot more plants this year in hopes to win the battle against the string algae. As always, thanks for your vast knowledge and taking the time to answer all the questions. I'm sure you will here from me plenty this summer as well.

Newbie

The liquid fertilizer FloraFin (as well as some other brands but not all) is added right to the pond and feeds floating plants and plants who have roots in the water. It doesn't harm the animals and will not fertilize plants whose roots are planted in pots. I use PondTabbs to fertilize the lilies, lotuses, and planted marginals.

How high is your pH?