Phoenix homeowners (especially those from back East or the Midwest) are sometimes confused by the fact that our waterfalls and ponds here don’t turn into ice sculptures during the winter months like they do in other parts of the nation. Yet their Phoenix ponds still tend to look a bit sad and dreary December thru February, and the fish seem to be hiding on the bottom of the pond. “Winter” in Phoenix is a bit different.
WHAT IS WINTER IN PHOENIX AS IT RELATES TO PONDS?
First of all, you need to realize that every pond is an individual, and your pond may react differently to the dropping temperatures than others. Some differences might include: age, size, depth, filtration, fish load, additional wildlife load, exposure to sun and wind, adjacent terrestrial plant life, as well as the aquatic plant life and a plethora of other microclimate variations. Add to this how much food gets thrown in the water (Any? A lot? None?), and it all combines to make up the body of water that is your pond.
Winter in Phoenix is characteristically our reward for having braved the heat of the summer months. The temperatures are mild by comparison to a lot of the country: high 30s to mid 40’s at night; low to mid 60’s during the day. Always keep in mind that the pond water temperatures follow nighttime temperatures, NOT daytime temperatures. So, your pond water is going to be around 40 degrees, give or take. That’s not enough to freeze it, but it is enough to cause your aquatic plants to go dormant, frogs and toads to hibernate, and your pond fish to hang out around the bottom of the pond, where it’s a bit warmer. If you want to know the exact temperature of your water, drop in a pond thermometer.
And then there’s the algae bloom that traditionally accompanies all of that because it’s the only thing growing during the winter. If a pond is mature, it will typically have less than a new pond.
WHAT DO I DO FOR MAINTENANCE IN THE WINTER?
Maintenance practices in winter are pared down quite a bit. Your skimmer basket should still be checked regularly for debris, especially when it’s windy out. Some cold-adapted plants may need tending to occasionally, as they continue to grow. And you might need a water treatment product for algae or cloudy water, should it happen.
Winter is the ideal time of year for draining & cleaning your pond, especially if you have fish over 6” in length. Your fish being in their dormant phase protects them from an otherwise stressful situation of being pulled out of your pond, housed in a temporary holding tank while the pond is being washed down and mucked out, and then re-introduced into their home. Cold water, and fish dormancy, assures maximum fish safety.
WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING FOR MY POND FISH IN THE WINTER?
Once the water dips below 55 degrees, we recommend that you stop feeding your fish commercial high-protein fish food, unless it’s specifically formulated for cold water. In colder water fish don’t metabolize high-protein food like they do in the summer and if it goes through their digestive system too slowly, it could begin to rot inside them and result in a fish kill. We get a couple of calls every winter from people who have literally fed their babies to death, and it’s a horrible experience for everyone.
What you CAN do for your fin babies is give them a variety of fruits & veggies to sustain them through the winter. We know that they continue to beg! We’ve had great success with melons, lettuce, oranges, and frozen peas.
WHAT ABOUT THAT ALGAE IN THE WINTER?
Another issue that comes with the colder temps is filamentatious algae blooms. Organic ponding relies on a healthy ecosystem full of microorganisms and zooplankton to keep the water healthy and clear. In a healthy ecosystem pond, zooplankton are very active and do a great job in the warm weather, but they go dormant in colder water. So, the good guys are asleep, and your aquatic plants are dormant, allowing algae to go wild.
There are water treatments for the algae, or you can simply hand-weed it out and use it as a mulch if it gets too unsightly. Many people just enjoy the green fuzz on the rocks and let the pond fish graze on it during the winter – kind of like eating their spinach. One trick you can use is to sprinkle the fish food (if using cold-water formulated) on top of the algae and let the fish do their job.
MY AQUATIC PLANTS ARE ALL DEAD!
Aquatic plants look pretty sad during the winter, but they’re not dead! They will bounce back in the Spring and fill your pond with lush life again in no time, provided you care for them properly. DO NOT over-trim/thin your aquatic plants once the water gets cold! Not only do your frogs and toads (and other aquatic life) use dead plant material and algae for winter blankets, but that dead plant material will protect the growth point (node) of your plants from any frosts/freezes that might come along. Yes, we do get those in Phoenix, some areas of the Valley more than others.
Once Spring arrives, and the aquatic plants start growing again, you’ll be able to tidy the place up again.
HOW CAN I MAKE MY POND LOOK BETTER DURING WINTER?
One way to add a bit of life to your dormant pond during the winter months is by planting winter annuals in the stream or waterfall areas for a pop of color. These can be purchased at any plant nursery or big-box store (we recommend flats of small plants). Rinse the fertilizer off (so that the fish don’t think that’s food floating around in the water) and pop them into shallow areas of your waterfall or stream. Plant them with the roots half in and half out of the water, and then cover the roots with stones for protection.
And you can always add some holiday décor around the water feature, as well, or install color-changing underwater lighting.
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
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