Oxygen Plants
water soldier - 6 pieces - Stratiotes Aloides
- Floating oxygen plant
- Full grown height: 20 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
elodea densa - 10 pieces - Elodea Densa
- Oxygen plant
- Full grown height: 60 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
Needlewort - 4 pieces - Crassula Recurva
- Oxygen plant
- Full-grown height: 10 cm
- Placement: -1 to -80 cm
elodea densa - 5 pieces - Elodea Densa
- Oxygen plant
- Full grown height: 60 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
Coarse hornwort - 5 liters - Ceratophyllum Demersum
- Oxygen plant for 500 - 2,000 liters
- Full grown height: 80 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
marimo moss ball - 5 pieces - Cladophora aegagropila
- Oxygen plant
- Full grown height: 10 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
Coarse hornwort - 2 liters - Ceratophyllum Demersum
- Oxygen plant for 100 - 1,000 liters
- Full grown height: 80 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
parrot feather - 4 pieces - Myriophyllum Brasiliensis
- Oxygen plant
- Full-grown height: 10 cm
- Placement: -1 to -20 cm
water soldier - 12 pieces - Stratiotes Aloides
- Floating oxygen plant
- Full grown height: 20 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
mares tail - 4 pieces - Hippuris Vulgaris
- Oxygen plant
- Full-grown height: 30 cm
- Placement: -1 to -20 cm
Marimo Moss bulbs - 10 pieces - Chladoflora Aegagropila
- Oxygen plant
- Full grown height: 10 cm
- Placement: loose in the water
Frequently Asked Questions
Loose underwater plants are unbound plants placed directly in the deeper part of the pond without a pond basket.
- Why. They filter the water, protect fish from potential hazards and prevent the water from getting too warm from sunlight.
- How many. It is recommended to have a minimum of 10 to 12 loose oxygen plants per 1,000 gallons of water.
Oxygen plants in baskets are suitable for shallow areas of the pond, often placed among marsh and riparian plants.
- Why. They provide a natural look by creating height differences between plants. They also help prevent algae in shallow wetlands.
- How much? The recommendation is to have at least 2 baskets of oxygen plants per 1 m².
Yes, all of our oxygen plants are hardy and can remain in the pond during the winter. Some oxygen plants lose their leaves and sink to the bottom, where they overwinter. In spring, they will resurface and start growing and blooming again. So no need to worry; these plants survive the winter and return every year.
Our elodea densa comes in bunches of 5 twigs, held together by a ring at the bottom. You can throw these bunches directly into the pond; because of the ring, they will naturally sink to the bottom and take root there in the substrate, such as substrate or mud. You don't necessarily have to loosen them; you can also place them in a pond basket, but this is not necessary. The ideal depth for elodea densa is between -40cm and -120cm. elodea densa prefers to be a little deeper because it does not thrive in too warm water. Too warm water or insufficient nutrition can cause the plant to turn white.
water soldier is an oxygen plant that is always placed loose in the pond. Especially in colder temperatures and in new ponds, this plant can sink to the bottom, where it can sometimes stay for weeks. As the temperature rises, it floats to the water surface on its own. In winter, it sinks to the bottom again, where it takes root firmly. You may not see the plant sometimes, but that is not a cause for concern. Sometimes the water soldier loses leaves to save energy. You can then see only the core of the plant. As long as it is still green and the temperature is right, it will grow new leaves quickly.
hornwort you can place loose in the pond, which is most common. You can also plant this plant in baskets, but it is not necessary. If you put the hornwort loose in the pond, it will float and will eventually grow to the bottom and take root there. This is an ideal oxygen plant suitable for both small and very large ponds. The plant is naturally a brown-green color, so don't worry if it looks a bit brown or red.
Our moss balls are suitable for any pond. These unique plants can both float and live on the bottom. The depth of the pond does not matter for moss balls. They can live up to 100 years, grow about 5mm per year and can grow up to 10cm in size.
Oxygen plants are plants that grow completely underwater and produce oxygen that they release directly into the pond water. They are essential for a clear and healthy pond because they filter the water, stop algae by absorbing CO2, and provide a natural balance in the pond without the need for a pump or filter.
The best oxygen plants according to our expert Simon are the moss ball, elodea densa and hornwort. These plants are not only enormously oxygenated, but also have the advantage that they can be placed directly loose in the pond without having to be planted first.
While all plants produce oxygen, oxygen plants have unique characteristics that set them apart. They grow entirely underwater, meaning that all the oxygen they produce is released directly to the water, and they absorb CO2 from the water. This is unlike marsh plants or water lilies, which come in contact with the atmosphere. Because of this unique action, oxygen plants have a purifying effect on pond water and help fight algae.
Oxygen plants are essential for keeping pond water clean and healthy. Prune them about twice a year and remove dead or damaged leaves. To keep the plant growing and not just developing flowers, cut the stems at an angle and prune them to about 15 inches below the water surface. This promotes good oxygen supply and healthy growth.
Yes, you certainly can, and it's even wise to do so now. Rainfall and falling temperatures can cause water values to fluctuate, leading to less oxygen in the water. This is detrimental to pond life.
It is best to go for an oxygen plant package with loose oxygen plants combined with a bottle of BACTA CLEAR. This is an ideal package for both the hot summer months where extra algae occurs, and for cold winter months where oxygen levels in the water drop: Pond Making Clear Package.
There can be several reasons why loose oxygen plants such as water soldier, hornwort and elodea densa grow poorly or die.
Check that the points below are met:
- Depth: Oxygen plants such as these do best at a depth of at least 15 cm. If they are too shallow, they may struggle to grow properly.
- Sunlight: A sunny spot is essential, but make sure there is not too much shade either. Too little sunlight can stunt the growth of oxygen plants.
- Sufficient other plants: Oxygenating plants benefit from plenty of other pond plants that contribute to the pond's biological balance. A healthy plant mix helps support water quality.
- Water quality: Water quality plays a big role. Do you have a bottom layer of pond substrate and are there enough bacteria in the water to support biological balance? Poor water quality can seriously affect oxygen plant growth.
If you are unsure about the balance in your pond, you can do a pond check using the link below. This will help you determine if your pond meets the minimum requirements for a healthy biological balance: pond check.
This is what our customers say!
Excellent 
200+ reviews at 
Marjoke Bakker
Oxygenating plants and a bottle of Bacta clear
Purchased: Pond clear package - M
My pond was quite murky, so after a good conversation with Simon, I decided to follow the advice: more oxygen plants and a bottle of bacteria. I ordered the recommended package, but after four days no improvement was visible. Full of disappointment, I contacted customer service. They advised me to be patient and give the process 2-3 weeks. Although I had my doubts about it, I decided to wait anyway. And what turned out? After two weeks, the water started to clear and I even saw frogs that I had never noticed before! Thanks team vdvelde, and apologies for my impatience!
Patrick Müller
Plants are growing much better now and water is crystal clear
Purchased: POND SUBSTRATE pond substrate - 40 liters
Last year I had a landscaper install a plant filter at my swimming pond, recommending lava and some plants from the local garden center. Unfortunately, things went completely wrong; the plants died one by one and I suffered an algae infestation. After contacting customer service, I was advised to replace the lava with pond substrate and order some more plants. Now, several months later, the plants are growing well, and my filter is finally free of algae.
Fenna Schmidt
My little city pond
Purchased: Complete Pond Package - S - Red
I had been dreaming of having a pond in my urban garden for some time, but it always seemed like such a hassle. Online I found a complete package and decided to take the gamble, although I was skeptical about the quality of plants sent through the mail. But to my surprise, everything was delivered neatly and well-packaged. Within no time I had my pond set up. To my delight, after only two months I saw the first water lily bloom, and as icing on the cake I discovered salamanders in my pond. No idea how they got there, but it only adds to the joy. Truly enjoying it!
Susi Werner
A must for anyone with a pond (large or small)
Purchased: Simons Pond Advice Book
This book completely meets my expectations. A great guide with lots of great tips on pond construction, pond plants and design.
Highly recommended purchase on my part.
Great book!
Jules Chabot
Blue lily: beautiful!
Purchased: Hardy Blue Water Lily - Nymphaea Blue Queen
Thank you very much for the generous delivery of the swamp iris "Blue Lis".
The new plants have been planted and I am curious to see if they will bloom this year.
There is good news about the water lily "Blue Queen": It is also blooming here in blue - and how beautiful!
Oxygen plants vjiver
Oxygen plants for the pond
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Which pond underwater plants to choose?
Where do I buy oxygen plants and what do they cost?
This is how oxygen plants work
Why oxygen plants in the pond?
- Oxygen plants filter and purify water and release oxygen. Sufficient oxygen in the water is important for the growth of other aquatic plants, aquatic animals and bacteria.
- At the same time, they absorb CO2 from the water, which keeps the water from suffocating. If you have too few oxygen plants in the pond, algae may appear. They compete with the oxygen plants because they too need CO2. So place enough of them to avoid giving algae a chance.
- Oxygen plants prevent the sun from getting free rein in the pond water. This causes the water to heat up less (quickly), which reduces the formation of algae.
- With enough oxygen plants in the pond, a pump and filter is completely unnecessary; the plants form a natural filter that manages to keep the water clean and clear.
- Oxygen plants in the pond provide shelter for fish and frogs when a hungry heron passes by, for example.