Watercress in pond

LizaJ

I read a thread on here a couple of weeks ago about Watercress being a great oxygentor for ponds so I've bought some and it's doing really well, already sending out roots. What I want to know though is, will it die off in the Winter and grow back or will I need to replenish it next Spring? 

Dovefromabove

It’ll die back in the winter but re-shoot each spring. 😊 

Fairygirl

If it's mild enough, it can over winter and stay green, but as long as it's rooted in there, it'll come back, although not always as vigorously. 
It's very useful, especially if other plants are yet to get going, and keeps the surface covered when the water's warming up. 

philippasmith2

Agree with @Fairygirl -  it will depend on your location and the site of your pond as to whether the watercress will remain in leaf thru winter or not.
Mine remains green in SW coastal area.

nutcutlet

If you let it flower and seed it stays with you but it's not an oxygenator, its leaves are above the water line

AnguisFragilis

Water cress is a useful plant in any pond but particularly new ones where you will likely suffer from "new pond syndrome" i.e. algal blooms. As said above its not much of an oxygenator (rigid hornwort is what you want) but they are nutrient hungry so will help with removing nitrogen and phosphates (algae food).

Fairygirl

It's useful for removing some of the nutrients which the algaes etc feed on, but it's also useful for shading the surface. It's not for oxygenating the water. 

Uff

Thanks for the rigid hornwort tip @johnpemberton16