02-22-2007, 09:34 AM
This past winter was the coldest since we put in our waterfall. Some of the plants look like they will not be coming back. I wonder if this is a sign of availibilty/shortage of aquatics coming this spring?????
02-22-2007, 01:41 PM
Wow, the picture is beautiful! The waterfall is beautiful! Every time we put something next to our waterfall our dogs walk all over it. I hope someday we can have something as nice.
Jodi
Jodi
The Pond Digger
02-24-2007, 03:20 PM
Hey Joefish!
This is the coldest year we have had in a long time! I have pond contruction buddies in Colorado and they have been unable to work because of the weather conditions four times longer this year than in the past ten seasons!
We actually grow quite a bit of aquatic plants at our facility and I can tell you this: My growing facility looks like a GRAVE YARD! Just tonight we are looking at a cold snap in the weather!
Our tree frogs have been croaking up a storm over the last couple of weeks but it is quiet tonight because of the cool temps, I'm sure!
Anyways, back to the question. Most of the aquatic plants that look like they are taking a DIRT NAP will be showing signs of life in just a couple of short weeks!
You will find this year the aquatic plant availability will be slim just as spring breaks because the winter was harder and stayed longer this year.
BEWARE of amazing looking aquatic plants to early in the season! If you see plants for sale that look to good to be true in early March, the aquatic plants may have been GREEN HOUSE grown and will certainly SHOCK out as soon as they are exposed to the colder temps outdoors!
These GREEN HOUSE aquatic plants will usually look awful with in a week because they need to be acclimized to the chilly weather. Imagine taking a plant out of an 80 degree Green House and toss it outside in your pond where the night time lows hit below 50 degrees! Ouch!
Don't be afraid to ask the person you are purchasing from, if the plants are from a Green House or grown outdoors. It is best if you are purchaing aquatic plants that are grown local to your state.
For example: By mid March, I will have half a dozen different species of aquatic plants that will start to look nice enough to sell. I'm in California and lets say I sold some of these plants to a pond builder in Minnesota. Well in March, California will be in the 70's and Minnesota will be in the mid to high 30's. THESE CALIFORNIAN PLANTS AIN'T GONNA DO WELL IN MINNESOTA DURING MARCH, FOR NOTHING!........... I'm sure you get the picture.
Most of the quality establishments will know and be very up front with you about the growing conditions.
Happy Pondering,
This is the coldest year we have had in a long time! I have pond contruction buddies in Colorado and they have been unable to work because of the weather conditions four times longer this year than in the past ten seasons!
We actually grow quite a bit of aquatic plants at our facility and I can tell you this: My growing facility looks like a GRAVE YARD! Just tonight we are looking at a cold snap in the weather!
Our tree frogs have been croaking up a storm over the last couple of weeks but it is quiet tonight because of the cool temps, I'm sure!
Anyways, back to the question. Most of the aquatic plants that look like they are taking a DIRT NAP will be showing signs of life in just a couple of short weeks!
You will find this year the aquatic plant availability will be slim just as spring breaks because the winter was harder and stayed longer this year.
BEWARE of amazing looking aquatic plants to early in the season! If you see plants for sale that look to good to be true in early March, the aquatic plants may have been GREEN HOUSE grown and will certainly SHOCK out as soon as they are exposed to the colder temps outdoors!
These GREEN HOUSE aquatic plants will usually look awful with in a week because they need to be acclimized to the chilly weather. Imagine taking a plant out of an 80 degree Green House and toss it outside in your pond where the night time lows hit below 50 degrees! Ouch!
Don't be afraid to ask the person you are purchasing from, if the plants are from a Green House or grown outdoors. It is best if you are purchaing aquatic plants that are grown local to your state.
For example: By mid March, I will have half a dozen different species of aquatic plants that will start to look nice enough to sell. I'm in California and lets say I sold some of these plants to a pond builder in Minnesota. Well in March, California will be in the 70's and Minnesota will be in the mid to high 30's. THESE CALIFORNIAN PLANTS AIN'T GONNA DO WELL IN MINNESOTA DURING MARCH, FOR NOTHING!........... I'm sure you get the picture.
Most of the quality establishments will know and be very up front with you about the growing conditions.
Happy Pondering,