Easy-to-grow low light pond plants that can help filter your water
- Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
- Light needs: Low to moderate
- Water temperature: Thrives in cold water
- Benefits: Excellent for natural filtration, removing nutrients that can lead to algae growth.
- Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
- Light needs: Low
- Water temperature: Tolerates cold temperatures
- Benefits: Grows well without being rooted in the substrate, absorbing excess nutrients from the water, which helps maintain clarity.
- Water Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpioides)
- Light needs: Low to moderate
- Water temperature: Cold water-friendly
- Benefits: A lovely flowering plant that acts as a biofilter by absorbing nutrients and improving water quality.
- Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus 'Variegatus')
- Light needs: Low to moderate
- Water temperature: Tolerates cold water
- Benefits: Grows well along pond edges and assists with filtration through nutrient absorption.
Substrate:
These plants generally do well in a mixture of aquatic soil or gravel. You can also use clay-based pond soil mixed with some sand to provide support for rooted plants, especially for Water Forget-Me-Not and Sweet Flag.
For floating or non-rooted plants like Hornwort, no substrate is required, and they will absorb nutrients directly from the water.
