Plants are an integral part of a fish pond because they keep the water aerated, help prevent excessive algae growth and add shade for fish. By picking suitable water plants, you can foster a healthy environment for fish and your pond as a whole.
Choose plants based on a few specific criteria. Plants serve a number of purposes and as a result, you should not skimp on plants in a fish pond. You need a multitude of plants to use nutrients from the pond water to keep it clean, plants to provide surface shade to shelter fish and deter algae, and plants to add decoration to your pond.
Add floaters for interest. A wide variety of floating plants that don't require any potting are available to fish pond builders. Water hyacinths, fairy moss and water lettuce are inexpensive and keep excessive light from penetrating the water, thus keeping algae at bay. Floats are also a supplemental food source for fish, as koi and goldfish like to snack on the floating roots.