Marginal Plants and Natural Filtration

Marginal water plants are primarily plants with bare roots and draw the nutrients they need for survival directly from the water, not the soil.  So really, these plants compete directly with the algae for the nutrients within the water.  Water lilies draw the majority of their life giving energy from the soil at the bottom of the pond or from the pot they were planted in.  Here lies the major difference.  Plants that have bare roots and not depend on the soil for survival directly compete with the algae and plants that are rooted within the soil do not. 

If you want to increase the natural filtration process within your water feature, or if you have more algae growth then you want try adding some completion to the eco-system.  More marginal aquatic plants may just be what your needing.

Garth Epp Publisher, BuildingMyPond.com