Hi! We have a new pond this year, you know, one of those fancy-smancy black plastic jobbies complete with pump, filter, and pre-fab black plastic waterfall? WELL- all went well through the summer, but now here we are with winter staring us smack dab in the face, and now we say, "DUH, NOW WHAT!?" Do we drain it, lest it should crack with the expansion of the ice? We have some frogs that decided to come live in our pond and would hate for them to have to dry up (what *do* frogs do in the winter, anyway?) (By the way, how can one get frogs in ones pond when one never bought a single tadpole nor has *any* water source anywhere even remotely closeby?) We never got around to buying any fish, so that's not an issue. The pond is about 18" deep. We also thought we were cool and bought a few "water plants" and now that we've become a bit attached to the cute little guys we'd hate to see them freeze (yet not able to spend megabucks on expensive elaborate lighting/tank systems). We have a "micro cat tail", and carnivorous "pitcher plant", and a "lizards tail" (though all the leaves went away and all there seems to be are some vigorous green roots coming out the bottom). We also have a regular catty nine tail growing in a 5 gal bucket *next to* the "pond" (never put it in the pond, and it seemed to like it just fine in its bucket o'mud). SO.......how would these plants fare in a regular fish aquarium with a grow light on them? Or is there a better idea? I don't know if they're hardy or tropical (my guess is tropical, save the big catty nine tail). Do we leave the pump going? Do we cover it? Do we drain the sucker? And what of the poor little froggers (actually one's quite large)? OH! So many questions...so much ignorance on our parts! Why can't we live in zone 9 or 10!!?? (HA) Any advice will be mooocho welcomed! :)
-gt-
Newbie Ponder In Search of HELP!
Oh my, so many questions.
Let me start. If you build it they will come. 18" is definitely too shallow in my opinion to provide a safe environment in which herps could over winter. If you have any natural bodies of water out there it would truly be best for the frogs if you netted them and relocated them so they could nestle in for the winter now. They will be back next spring, I promise. Their chances of survival are far greater in the natural ponds even if your water was deeper. A few layers of quilt batting and some leaves would be great for any frogs you miss but at 18", you might want to try real hard to net everything and anything in there. The problem is that good Old Ma Nature didn't count on people like you and I providing attractive nuisances to confuse them so any that remain behind have to be provided for. My main purpose for all my frog ponds was to provide additional spring breeding ground for next year as there is a vernal pond on somebody else's property that has been frying up and along with it goes a gazillion frog eggs that I want to transfer to one of the frog ponds I set up here this year. Year after year frogs and toads have been laying eggs in that vernal pond that dries up and it got to me. It is also my intent to accept herps from a wildlife rehabber. I never expected the frog traffic I am getting in my little preform puddles though. Loose soil, sand, and leaves spread around your pond would be great for toads to overwinter in. I have noticed that when the weather is hot my toads go into a wooded area and can be found around wood piles that I have and that they burrow underneath things such as logs. Can't hurt and the more protection and welcoming habitat you provide, the better your chances are that you may get tadpoles next spring which is really awesome.
You might want to consider planting your pitcher plant in a more appropriate setting. There is a thread here right now on start up bogs that will better explain why to you and it is somewhere here in the water gardening forum. That pitcher plant most probably will not survive if you don't move it. Dependent on what type of Pitcher plant you have, you may be able to overiwnter it outside. If it is not hardy in your zone, you are going to have to get a light set up to insure its survival. If you have the botanical name that came with the plant, that would be a great help in determining which Saracenia you have.
Your Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus) will probably survive right there in the pond but you could easily bring it into your garage and simply place it in front of a window to avoid expensive lighting. That's a pretty hardy plant that is a native to the best of my knowledge.
Cattails, what can I say. They will probably come back ten fold next year no matter what you do. Those sure are aggressive plants. You could toss those in your garage next to the Lizard's Tail if you were concerned but I have seen those come back after having been frozen in solid ice.
Here's a basic link on your Lizard's Tail-
http://www.2bnthewild.com/plants/H87.htm
The plant really should do just fine overwintering outside.
Gosh, have fun! I'm really excited for you. I hope you post next spring if you get any toad or frog tads. I love those little critters.