My pond runs all winter, zone 2/3

[callingcolleen1]

Sorry about the heater Colleen. Just glad you have another one. With ice on the ponds, does the temp. stay stable? Or does the water under the ice keep getting colder? Thanks,

Hi Barb! Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Been busy with my mother...
The water will always be slightly above freezing, except on the top when the water turns to ice. Pond water cannot get any colder or it would all turn to ice. No such thing as super chilled water in a pond, as you need pure water to get super chilled water. Pond water has too many minerals to be super chilled. The water will be ice cold and barely above freezing, and if it does freeze, only the top of the water will freeze and turn to ice. The heater will stop the ice from getting too thick. Fish will sleep all winter as their metabolism drops and they move very slow. They do not eat until the water warms up. In the early spring they will eat pond greens such as algae and hornwort as that is carbohydrate food that is easy to digest in winter.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Update on all the hornwort in pond and the greenhouse.
Hope everybody had a Very Happy thanksgiving in the States, we had our thanksgiving last month here in Canada.

 

[j.w]

Your little Summer home hidden away from old man winter looks so pretty!

 

[BarbO]

Hi Barb! Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Been busy with my mother...
The water will always be slightly above freezing, except on the top when the water turns to ice. Pond water cannot get any colder or it would all turn to ice. No such thing as super chilled water in a pond, as you need pure water to get super chilled water. Pond water has too many minerals to be super chilled. The water will be ice cold and barely above freezing, and if it does freeze, only the top of the water will freeze and turn to ice. The heater will stop the ice from getting too thick. Fish will sleep all winter as their metabolism drops and they move very slow. They do not eat until the water warms up. In the early spring they will eat pond greens such as algae and hornwort as that is carbohydrate food that is easy to digest in winter.

Thanks Colleen, very well explained. Many people here, where we have mild winters compared to you, ask me how I can leave fish in a pond all winter. I have lots of info. to share with them now.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I hardly can believe that I still have GUPPIES outside and alive in December!

Update, been working on insulating my greenhouse and my Christmas decorations, over the last two days. Finally got myself out of this rut I have been in. Its been hard the last few months as I watch my dear sweet mommy slowly lose her mind to dementia. Its ok now, learning to accept it and need to keep busy around house so I don't get depressed again. Going to do a Christmas update soon, finally decorating the house nice.

 

[BarbO]

Wow, that is amazing Colleen! And the Creeping Jenny looks good too. Would you believe that a friend in Mississippi, a LONG way south of you, had over 4" of snow yesterday? Way more than you have now. They almost never get snow there. It is cold and rainy here for several days. So dark that my solar lights in the yard don't light up at night. Looking forward to some pics or video of your Christmas decorating!

 

[Lisak1]

Thinking of you and your sweet mom @callingcolleen1 - she is a lucky lady to have a daughter who cares so much for her.

 

[j.w]

That's really amazing they are alive and active too

 

[callingcolleen1]

I heard about the snow way down south. Strange weather and up here it's been mild the last couple weeks and no end in sight to this warm spell here. Maybe that's all the winter I will get? It was colder than normal in October and most of November, but now warm winds from the south keeping cold at bay for now.

 

[j.w]

You keep thinking that and maybe a miracle will happen Colleen

 

[callingcolleen1]

Everything going well here, expect I had the flu twice in the last two weeks... Bad year for flu or what!

I discovered a new way to insulate my greenhouse, with bubble wrap! Works really good and I get the bubble wrap for free too!

 

[sissy]

I have used bubble wrap around my potted plants that stay outside

 

[BarbO]

Good idea to use bubblewrap! Your little greenhouse looks so cheerful and cozy!

 

[brokensword]

and just imagine in the spring when you can have all that fun popping the bubbles! Oh, sorry, the kid in me escaped again; I'll add another lock...

 

[addy1]

I love stomping on the big air bubbles they sometimes send with packages, make a real good loud pop!