How and Why Should I Disinfect My New Pond Plants

 How and Why Should I Disinfect My New Pond Plants

How to Disinfect the New Aquatic Plants

The first step is to fill two large containers with water. In one of the containers, put a chlorine remover, while in the second one add a potassium permanganate (KMnO4 ).

The potassium permanganate concentration should be approximately 1/8 tsp per three gallons of water. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and use the chemical compound with extreme caution.

One by one, wash off all the dirt from the roots of the aquatic plants and remove all withering and damaged leaves. Your drifting of floating aquatic plants should be cleaned from any parts that have started to decay.

The next step is to place those plants in the container with the potassium permanganate. You will then add an air bubbler to the container to create dynamic water movements, which will serve as a “centrifuge” and will easily remove any undesirables.

You must gently submerge the plants in the container and make sure they stay underwater for the next three to four hours. If they are potted aquatic plants, prolong their disinfection period by two hours.

After this period has passed, take the aquatic plants out of the container and rinse them in the treated water container. Now that they have been “washed” you can place them in your pond.

The disinfection is to ensure that all the soil along with the foliage is safe to plant in your pond, and will not harm your koi or other pond fish. It’s important to take these safety measures for the well-being of your fish.