The sound of water has a very calming effect, which is probably the reason why people like to have a small water garden at home. Whether it's just a small container on the patio or a big pond in the backyard, homeowners are fond of creating their own mix of plants and fixtures that would help make their garden look more appealing. 

The wrong choice of water plants can lead to a disaster, not of the apocalyptic sense, of course, but disaster nonetheless for the average home gardener. If you have a pond in your backyard, the bareness of the water and rocks can be an eyesore. Adding water plants will help the pond blend with its surroundings. Plus, the right combination of plants can provide the proper oxygen in the water, help keep the water clean, and help maintain the balance of the mini-ecosystem in the pond.

You need to consider the number of plants you will be planting in the pond as well. To maintain optimum balance with its surroundings, your plants should not cover no more than 2/3 of the water's surface. Anything more than that will create problems later on since overcrowding your water garden cuts the flow of oxygen. Without sufficient ventilation, the plants' health would suffer with the plant themselves being more susceptible to plant diseases.

Generally, the types of water plant are the submerged aquatic varieties, the deep-water aquatics, the marginal plants, and the free-floating plants. A word of advice, when choosing plants for your water garden make sure that you get one from each major category. Not only will it keep the ecosystem in check but will be balanced aesthetically as well.

The free-floating plants are plants that float on the surface of the water and have roots hanging underneath the surface. You place or "plant" these kinds of plants by simply placing them on the water's surface. Free-floating plants don't need that much special care. They grow fast and can adapt quickly to the given environment. Some of the most common free-floating water plants include the Water Lettuce, Water Hyacinth, Sensitive Plant and Parrots' Feather.

Marginal plants, on the other hand, are plants the likes of Zebra, Corkscrew and Horsetail Rush. These kinds of plants have their their roots and lower parts of their body submerged underwater. Although, marginal plants can survive in deeper waters, these plants are more often planted in shallow areas or even in moist soil at the edge of the pond. Other marginal plants include the black taro and sweet flag as well as the aquatic Canna, purple or pink Pickerel Rush, variegated Water Celery, Cardinal Flower and Dwarf Cattail.

Meanwhile, submerged plants or the so-called oxygenating plants are submerged completely underwater. Their roots, leaves and bodies are underwater. Submerge plants help keep the quality of the water and produce oxygen which is important for the water plants and fish in the pond. Moreover, the nitrogen from decaying plant material and fish waste products deprive algae of nutrients. These plants include the Cabomba, Anacharis, Hornwort and Jungle Vall.

Finally, there are water plants that are referred to as deep-water aquatics. The roots of these plants are submerged in 18 inches deep or more of water. The leaves of these kinds of plants come out of the surface or float on the water's surface.