Since they are all hardy in your area, wait until the water reaches close to 50F to plant. For tropicals it's 70. The spindly growth is from being inside, and will likely die off when exposed to sun because they are not hardened off. That, of course, is hard to do with water tubs, moving them in and out every day. I would cut them off and let the future new growth replace them. The goldfish could go out now as long as you place them in a plastic bag and let the inside water get to the same as the pond water over a few hours before releasing them.

Hello cranberry. A question to consider: if your plants are all hardy to your area and beyond, why the need to remove them for overwintering in the basement? Just sounds like a whole lot of extra work for no reason to me..

Fair question. My pond is only about 20 inches deep. In Wisconsin, that will likely freeze all the way down. I was worried enough about having to purchase new replacement plants that I went to the trouble. I may try leaving a few this coming winter.

Thanks for the response, makes sense now. I allow my hardy plants to die back naturally, then cut off the dead stuff and sink to the bottom of the pond to overwinter in place. However, the most extreme freezing I get is thin surface area and that really only in odd years. Didn't want to assume anything in your climate. Of course, here, my fish overwinter in place as well. I just cease feeding when temps consistently drop and ease back into it when temps rise in the spring.

The most difficult thing I've ever had to deal with is stopping the hubs from feeding the babies throughout the cold months. For a while there, though I was going to have to hogtie the boy, lol. Seventeen yrs later, he's an old pro and guards the pond like a hawk. Happy ponding to you.