Is it still okay to feed my fish?
(written 10/25/26 in Zone 5 in Colorado)
The most common question I get this time of year is: Is it still okay to feed my fish?
Right now, yes. Today the water in my pond reached 60 degrees, and the overnight low of the pond water was 54. At those temperatures your fish are still active and can digest their food. I like to make sure I don’t stop feeding them too early because they aren’t going to eat all winter!
A few feeding tips:
- Feed during the warmer part of the day. That gives your fish time to process their food while the water is at its warmest. (But remember to only feed what they will eat in 3 to 5 minutes. Yes, You have to stay and watch them and make sure that food doesn’t go into the simmer! .)
- Feed less as it gets colder. As the nights cool down, the water temperature will slowly drop too, and your fish’s digestion slows with it. It’s not mandatory, but you can switch to a cold-water, wheat-germ-based food. It is easier for them to digest.
- Keep an eye on your water temperature. You may notice that on most mornings now, the water in your pond is warmer than the air. Water holds heat longer than air does, so it cools more gradually.
A net over a pond or water feature can save your pump from getting clogged!
Should I go ahead and cut all the leaves off the lily pads?
When the Lily pads are still green, they are processing nutrients to the tuber of the plant. Remember, the pads and stems will turn brown, get mushy and die back for the winter but a healthy Water Lily plant will come back next spring. You want it to get as much nutrients as it can before the leaves die back.
You can see some of the floating plants have been damaged by frost, while others are sill doing well.
What about other pond plants? Should I remove them now?
Plants are THE BEST water filtration you pond has. Seriously. So with that piece of information, I advise that you let the plants continue to do their job as long as possible. Sometimes plants will not be harmed by the frost because the warmth of the pond keeps them from getting frost bitten. I want until they are actually dying off before removing Floating plants. Other plants who roots are in the water but whose foliage is in the air (For example: Forget Me Nots, Pickerel, Obedient Plant, Impatiens).
Once some floating plants die, pull them out. But leave the others that are doing fine!
How often should you be checking the skimmer?
Many of us have nets over our ponds to keep leaves out, which is always helpful. If you don’t have a pond net, check your skimmer daily. If the water flow looks slower than usual, check the skimmer net or basket and the pump to make sure nothing is clogged.
Last year we planted Mums just behind our waterfall (about this time of year) . All summer they grew and were green. But this fall they BLOOMED! We can’t believe how large they are and their beautiful Fall colors!
Kristi's Tips
If you have fish, make sure you have a pond de-icer and that it works, ready to go! It doesn’t have to go into the pond right this minute, but better to be ready.
Did you know if you spray your jack-o-lantern with a mixture of 10 parts water to 1 part vinegar. (For example, 1 gallon of water to about 1½ cups of vinegar.) that it will last longer? It WILL! Keep some in a spray bottle and spray it every couple days.
Remember that when you irrigation system is blown out, you may need to add water to your pond/water feature by hand. If you are adding more that 2 or 3 inches in a week, your system may be losing water.
* This blog was NOT written by AI. This was written by me. I am not a professional writer, I am a pond person. Therefore, if you see a typo, please forgive me!
*No koi were harmed in the making of this content.