THE CHINESE WATER GARDEN - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 164

If you're using containers, the SOP should be planted one-third deep in the center
of the container. (In a pond with a muddy bottom, you plant SOPs just by dropping the
cuttings into the pond.) The recommended rate of planting is two bunches per one 7-
to 12-inch-diameter pot, 3 to 5 inches deep. Allow approximately one bunch for every
2 square feet of water surface for containers. (In larger ponds the requirements may be
somewhat different.)
INVASIVE ALERT!
Some of the plants commonly used as submerged oxygenating plants (SOPs) are noxious invasives. Eur-
asian watermilfoil ( Myriophyllum spicatum ) is on the most-wanted list of invasive plants that clog wa-
terways, interfering with swimming and boating. Though fanwort ( Cabomba caroliniana ) is native to the
southeastern United States, it is considered an invasive in northeastern and northwestern states.
Suppliers often don't list the species of SOP they supply, so you may not know what you're getting.
Assume it's an invasive plant. Never allow exotic plants (or fish) to enter a stream, a natural pond with an
outlet, or other waterway. They are fine in your container water garden, as long as you dispose of them
by composting or discarding with your garbage in a closed plastic bag.
Fish and Snails
In addition to SOPs, you have to add two other things to your water garden to keep it in
proper balance: fish and snails. Fish act as natural insecticides, eating aphids, mosquito
larvae, and other insects that come within their reach. A small tub with two bunches of
SOPs does well with just two 4- to 5-inch fish. These can be ordinary goldfish or Japan-
ese koi. These, too, are available from water-garden suppliers, as are snails. A local pet
store may sell them also, but be sure to say they are for outdoor use (and get food and
instructions for feeding them at the same time).
In severe winters, you should take in a few of the goldfish to guarantee that you
have some the following season. Goldfish are, however, amazingly hardy; they survive
as long as the whole container doesn't freeze solid.
Snails take out the garbage. You need them in your pond to eat algae and debris.
The usual recommendation is one snail for every 1 to 2 square feet of surface in your
container.
Lotuses and Water Lilies
Unlike the lilies of the field, water lilies do toil and spin — or at least they serve a prac-
tical function as well as looking beautiful and being edible. One lotus or a medium to
large water lily should be included for every square yard of surface area in your pond.
Since a single Chinese lotus requires a 25-gallon container, small water gardens might
have to settle for a purely ornamental (inedible) water lily. The lily pads shade the water
surface and so help maintain the proper water temperature. They also help keep oxygen