Time to Winterize!

Winter Care of Outdoor Waterbowls

Evergreen water plants can be used to provide winter interest.  Or without plants your bowl can act as a “rain catcher”.  Waterbowl fish & snails should be over-wintered indoors or placed in an outdoor pond.   Tropical plants must come indoors or to a heated greenhouse for the winter.

When a hard freeze is expected, waterbowls should always be drained to protect them.  Pressure from frozen water can easily crack plastic, pottery or even concrete.

With the exception of the evergreen varieties, hardy plants require the “downtime” of dormancy to produce healthy growth the following spring.  After they die back to a dormant state in fall, lightly trim dead foliage, then either place them below the ice level in an outdoor pond or store them in a garage or other space which is cool but not freezing.  Semi-tropical plants can also be allowed to go dormant and stored with the hardy plants.  Unless they are in standing water, check the plants periodically to be sure they stay moist. 

Hughes Water Gardens

25289 SW Stafford Road, Tualatin, OR 97062

(503) 638-1709

Monday -Friday: 10 am - 5 pm

Saturday: 10 am - 3 pm

Sunday : Closed