Bunched or Potted Oxygenators?

Bunched or Potted Oxys?

What’s the Difference Between Bunched and Potted Oxygenators?

When it comes to oxygenating plants (or “oxys” as we like to call them), you’ll often see them sold in two forms: bunched or potted. Both have their place in a healthy pond, but they serve slightly different purposes and suit different planting needs.

🌱 Bunched Oxygenators – Fast and Free-Floating

Bunched oxygenating plants are sold in weighted bunches, usually with a small clip or weight to help them sink.

✅ Great for:
- Immediate oxygenation
- Floating or mid-water planting
- Smaller ponds or wildlife ponds
- Seasonal use or topping up in spring

🌱 Popular bunched native oxygenators include:
- Hornwort – free-floating, will find its own level in the water
- Water Crowfoot - lightly anchored, pretty white flowers
- Starwort - Oval-shaped leaves favoured by newts for egg laying

Bunched oxygenators are perfect for giving your pond a quick oxygen boost and creating cover for tadpoles and pond life. They don’t root into baskets and many will move with the current or settle on the pond floor.

Allow 2 to 3 bunches per sqm

🪴 Potted Oxygenators – Anchored and Long-Term

Potted oxygenating plants come pre-planted in aquatic baskets, often in mesh pots with aquatic compost. These are rooted varieties that will stay where you plant them and slowly spread over time.

✅ Great for:
- Deeper or structured planting areas
- Formal ponds or those with shelves
- Long-term coverage
- Keeping oxygenators in one spot

☘️ Common potted oxygenators include:
- Crystal Confetti - mottled green and cream-toned leaves
- Mare’s Tail – bottle-brush like stems, that rise above the surface
- Dwarf Hairgrass - Low-growing tufted grass, creates underwater meadow

Potted oxygenators are ideal when you want structure and permanence, especially in larger or more formal ponds where you don’t want plants drifting around. These plants often produce foliage both above and below the waterline, creating brilliant shelter, shade and hiding places for pond life, frogs, newts and aquatic insects, making them a fantastic choice for wildlife-friendly ponds.

Allow 5 x 1ltr plants per linear metre as part of your marginal planting

Starwort - Bunched oxy with leaves perfect for newt eggs
Dwarf Hairgrass - Fine-stemmed potted oxy for soft pond meadow

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💧 Do They Work in Different Ways?

Yes and no! Both types oxygenate your pond by photosynthesising - taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the water.

However:
- Bunched oxys tend to work faster, great for spring algae control.
- Potted varieties grow at a slower pace, delivering ongoing, consistent oxygenation

Using a mix of both is often the best solution - bunched for an instant hit, potted for long-term planting.

🐸 Which Should You Choose?

Think about your pond set-up when choosing:
- No shelves or containers? Go for bunched oxygenators
- Want long-lasting structure? Potted plants are the better option
- Wildlife pond? Use both for maximum habitat and water clarity
- New pond? Start with a few bunched oxys for immediate effect while potted plants establish.

As always, if you need any advice choosing the best plants for your pond, then just email us.