Cattails are pretty tough plants, so if they're done growing this year, they should be fine until repotting in spring. You can always trim some out and put them back in the pots until then, too.

Typha angustifolia is hardy in zones 3-11, so they'll be fine where you currently have them, in water up to 12" deep. :)

Brenda

Went out and measured the pots. Actualy only 5 1/2" at the top. The plants have roots growing out the bottom of the container and a fur collar of what are probably roots around the top. The slightest breeze will knock the plants over they are so top heavy. Have a 12" x 12" ledge around the perimeter of the pond so the cattails are blocked up on the ledge, top of pot 2' below water surface.

I wasn't sure if I divided the plants now this close to cold weather if they would be to vulnerable to overwinter in the pond.

youreit: As I understand it, leave the pots on the ledge and let them freeze. MN ice depth will definately freeze solid below that depth. Also, the pond is below the upper deck and accumilates a LARGE mound of snow on the pond ice. Any part of the plant extending through the ice will likly be crushed. Trim them now or wait till Spring and trim them then?

Last year I cut my potted cattails down and put them into the pond with about 10 inches of water over them. They both made it through. I'm going to divide and repot next spring.

If you're worried about dividing them now, just repot into bigger pots. OR pull the plants out of the pots, root prune them, then cut some of the tops off. With root pruning, you want to leave a sufficient ratio of roots to above ground/water greenery, so the pruned roots aren't working overtime trying to keep a bunch of greenery alive. OR you can try dividing some now, and see what happens. :)

Your cattails will withstand freezing temps such as is found in a zone 3 environment. If you're worried about them, you can do as Beth described, though.

Brenda

Thanks Brenda & Beth,
Sounds like I should be OK to divide them and go into a larger pot. More root space and more stable base. Any issues with using Osmocote around the roots when I divide.

While I'm at it....I bought a couple Bog Arum late Spring that were about 18-24" tall with beutiful white blooms. After the blooms died off and leaves, the second growth is only about 12" tall, no new blooms. Plants get 4 - 4 1/2 hours of full sun, the rest is filtered. The plants look badly root bound and thinking I should divide them also. Will the Bog Arum winter by sinking them in the deeper water or should they go inside?

I'm not sure about Osmocote and fish....I am very careful what I use to fertilize my pond plants, as I don't want to hurt the fish. Plus, cattails in the wild aren't fertilized, so I hadn't planned on adding anything to the pot when I repot mine.

I'm thinking that if you fertilize them now, they'll put out new growth that could easily compromise the plant if cold temps hit while it's exposed and tender. So no, I wouldn't fertilize.

Also, I've heard of people using Osmocote within the soil of some pond plants, so next year, it should be fine to use. Just make sure it doesn't make direct contact with the water so as to cause an algae bloom.

The bog arum is hardy down to zone 5, but it can supposedly be frozen in the pond. You can sink those down (as deep as possible) this winter, and they should be fine, though.

They probably won't be doing any more growing, so if you can manage, I'd wait to divide anything this late in the season. Any new growth is going to get trashed when your cold weather hits. Not that I know what cold weather is...:D

Brenda

Brenda, if cattails are so tough, why can't a green thumb like me keep the minatures growing? I did get some graceful cattails this year for the cost of postage. I will have to see how they do.

Happy ponding,
Scott

We all have our Achilles' heel, Scott. At least we all know what NOT to get you for Christmas. :D

And you won't have to worry about what to do with the graceful cattails over "winter". :D

Brenda