Last updated April 2018
Water gardeners and fishkeepers (especially Koi keepers) are easy to buy presents for when they are your nearest and dearest – you just have to make mental notes of their wish lists and scrutinise their specialist magazines to find out what they’re talking about.
- Pond (aquatic) plants
- Pondside plants
- Bog and moist soil garden plants
- Garden ornaments (statues, decorative mushrooms and animal figures etc) from Crocus
- Solar lighting for pond and pond-side lighting from Bradshaws Direct and Pondkeeper
- Long-sleeved pond gloves from Bradshaws Direct, Keen Gardener and Pondkeeper. For hands-on water gardeners with up-to-your-elbows skin protection. Prices vary widely, and they are mostly one size ie men’s, which of course doesn’t fit all. For smaller sizes, try a Google search for ladies or small versions.
- Pond netting to keep leaves out in autumn, from Bradshaws Direct and Pondkeeper
- Long-handled pond net to remove debris/algae (from Bradshaws and Pondkeeper)
- Blanket weed remover (from Bradshaws Direct and Pondkeeper)
- Pond grabber/tongs/pliers (from Bradshaws and Pondkeeper)
- Pond scissors/secateurs/clippers/shears – long reach (from Bradshaws Direct, Pondkeeper)
- Pond vac (from Bradshaws Direct, Pondkeeper)
- A subscription to a gardening of fish-keeping magazine
- An encyclopedia or how-to book for the enthusiastic fishkeeper (from Foyles or Waterstones) or water gardener (from Foyles, or Waterstones).
- Fish handling net – but be sure to choose a net to catch fish, not one for cleaning the pond.
- Automatic fish feeder from Bradshaws or Pondkeeper.
- Fish disease identification book (from Waterstones).
- Fish disease identification DVD (from koi specialists such as Absolute Koi.
- Microscope and fish parasite identification kit.
- Accurate (digital) scales for weighing out fish medications and water treatments
- Fountain and pump from Bradshaws or Pondkeeper.
- Air pumps, oxygenators and airstones (from Absolute Koi, Bradshaws or Pondkeeper.
- Bottom drain aerator for koi ponds from Absolute Koi, Koi Zone.
- Pond thermometer – these range from basic dip-it-and-see (from Bradshaws Direct and Pondkeeper) to sophisticated digital monitors with remote sensors and alarms (from koi specialists such as Absolute Koi..
- Anti-ice device – various designs that stop ice forming in a small part of the pond, from Bradshaws Direct and Pondkeeper).
- Cat deterrents – electronic detectors, water jets or various scents that are unpleasant for cats, from Bradshaws Direct).
- Heron deterrents (but not a plastic heron – herons like a crowd!) – trip wires, alarms and other devices, from Bradshaws Direct and Pondkeeper).
- Outdoor junction/switch boxes (3-6 way), some with remote control, for electrical equipment from Bradshaws Direct and Pondkeeper.
- Fountain and pump from Bradshaws or Pondkeeper.
- For the patio or conservatory – a self-contained water feature with integral pump, from Pondkeeper.
Easy option – vouchers
Ornamental items for ponds and water gardens
Pond cleaning and tidying items
Pond test kits and fish care
Enjoying and caring for fish
Pond aeration, temperature monitoring, ice prevention
Fish predator alert and control
Electrical equipment for pond gifts
Easy options
If you really can’t think of something for a pond- or fish-keeper, then you can always fall back on gift vouchers – either general garden vouchers or ones that are accepted by a favourite mail order or online supplier, or water garden centre.
Plants tend to only be available during the main growing season, but other items are on sale all year round. Make a start by browsing Bradshaws’ Direct (including Koi-keeping items) and Pondkeeper for ideas for water-gardening related goodies.
Ornamental items for ponds and water gardens
Pond cleaning and tidying items
Pond test kits and fish care
Pond test kits
Pond test kits (from Bradshaws Direct) reveal water quality and range from the inexpensive throw-away kits to the more expensive digital devices.
Enjoying and caring for fish
Gift ideas – aeration, temperature monitoring, ice prevention
Oxygen
Essential for fish, with a range of devices to aerate all sizes and types of pond. For example:
Temperature monitoring; ice prevention
Gift ideas – predator alert and control
Electrical equipment