Tropical aquatic plants are not suited to survive freezing temperatures. Here are your options for managing them during the winter months:
Treat Them as Annuals:
- The simplest approach is to remove tropical aquatic plants from the pond at the end of the growing season and discard them.
- Add them to your compost pile to recycle nutrients and reduce waste.
Overwinter Specific Plants:
- Some tropical plants, such as waterlilies, can have their tubers stored:
- Remove the tubers and place them in moist peat moss inside a sealed bag.
- Store the bag at room temperature until spring.
- Tropical marginal plants can be brought indoors and treated like houseplants, although not all species will thrive indoors.
By treating tropical aquatic plants as annuals or overwintering specific ones, you can ensure your pond remains healthy and ready for new plants in the spring.