MARGINALS NOT DOING AS WELL THIS SUMMER

[Mmathis]

Pond just turned a year old last month! So this is my 2nd summer. But I'm noticing that none of the in-pond plants are doing as well this summer. Water lilies are hanging in there, but not spectacular (they have been repotted and fertilized). Pretty blooms, but fewer leaves. Things like the parrots feather, creeping Jenny, 4-leaf clover, hornwort, water lettuce (went wild last year, but fizzled this year), water hyacinth, and a few marginals that I have stuck in the rocks.... Just looking scraggly, thin, and unattractive.

Goldfish only, no koi.

Anyone else having this problem? Wonder what's going on -- maybe I should feed the fish more, make more nitrates . Just kidding!

 

[addy1]

I never got around to fertilizing the lilies, they are blooming, but not growing as big. Big pond floaters there, but not growing as well as last year, hardy floaters. Bog plants going crazy like normal. Veg garden struggling. We have had a wet and mostly cool summer. The coolest since 2009, here in 2009-2010 winter we had 60 inches of snow after a wet cool summer...................so going to be ready for a hard winter.

Our temps are in the high 50-low 60 at night, low 80's day, not "normal" at all for july. Usually we are hot and miserable this time of year. Like 90's all the time.

 

[Waterbug]

If I don't divide most plants every year they're half the size.

 

[Mmathis]

If I don't divide most plants every year they're half the size.

That thought crossed my mind, but I divided and trimmed in the spring.

 

[Mmathis]

What about those teeny little snails I find in the filter? Do they bother plants, 'cause I've been picking them off everything here lately? Also, I recently pulled as many "ramshorn" snails out as I could. Since then, my plants aren't looking so moth-eaten.