Aquatic plants are less more likely to be attacked by pests and diseases than those growing outside the pond. That’s very fortunate because chemical sprays should never be used in the pond, the effect on fish and insects that we would like within the pond can be disastrous. The fundamental control technique is usually to remove the affected leaf or the entire plant, depending on the danger posed from the pest or disease. This should be done promptly before the problem gets out of hand. For some pests the leaves could be sprayed with a forceful jet of water to clean away the insects into the pond and into the mouths of grateful fish. Another technique used is to put a bit of sacking over the foliage so that it is weighed down until the insects have drowned.
There is certainly one common complaint which does not involve neither the pest nor disease - it’s purely cultural and this is the failure of Water Lilies to flower properly. You can find a number of causes of poor or absent flowers. The plant may not have reached flowering size or it may have been planted incorrectly. With a mature plant it may be at the wrong depth or it may have been moved to deeper water too early. Shade might be a problem and so can water currents or the droplets from a fountain. If the plant has bloomed well in previous years then it may require feeding (use special fertilizer pellets or sachets pushed into the soil within the planting basket), or it could require dividing and repotting.
Here are several of the commonest pests that you may find affecting your pond. Some of them require you to definitely do something and a few don't. Before I get on them though, I would just like to mention the frog. I am including the frog mainly for interest rather than as a warning, as it is unlikely that this amphibian will ever cause any harm within your pond. But remember that through the breeding season a male frog will cling very tightly to anything that moves, and very occasionally a fish can get damaged and even killed by having its head tightly clasped with the legs of a well meaning but over-amorous frog.
Anchor Worm.
This skin parasite is one of the causes of obvious distress with the fish swimming rapidly around in circles. When the scales are examined a raised bump is often seen - the site of the embedded barbed head of this pest. From this affected area hangs the body of the worm, Greyish-White and tubular. At the end of the worm you will find usually several egg sacks. Prorietary remedies are available, but the standard treatment is to touch the worm with a paint brush which has been dipped in paraffin. Pull out the parasite using tweezers and dab the wound using a fish antiseptic.
Dropsy.
This is an uncommon problem, but an extremely serious one. The body of the fish becomes bloated and also the eyes protrude, but the most distinctive symptom is that the scales are raised to give the 'pine cone' effect connected with this disease. The experts cannot decide what causes dropsy. There may be several forms of dropsy but it is known that one type of dropsy is caused by bacteria. You will sometimes see dropsy cures listed in the catalogues and also the condition sometimes corrects itself, but the best plan of action is always to kill the fish humanely.
I have only listed Two in which could occur in your pond, but there are a lot more. Maybe I will write about them in my next article if I have time.
Author Resource:
I spend a great deal of my spare time in my garden but I have to admit that the majority of it is spent either improving my pond or simply sitting by it watching the world in the water live it's life. A large amount of my fascination with ponds was created using the help of a gardener london company. They gave me all the assistance and advice that I needed as and when I asked them for it.
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