Water Gardening in Containers

Enjoy water effects without a major commitment

Water gardening in containers is another way to enjoy your garden up close and personal. You can use a tub or other container on your patio, deck or balcony.

They are a good way to try water gardening without building a larger, more permanent pond. It doesn't cost nearly as much as is easier to maintain.

When I bought the house where I currently live, it had a small pond with a spitter and a couple of live goldfish. It was an unending battle fighting algae in that little pond. It was in the direct sunlight and algae grew like crazy. I tried chemicals but nothing helped for long.

At that time, I didn't know algae just needs two things to grow - sunlight and a food course. Wouldn't you know it - algae love fish waste! I had the perfect algae growing climate in that little pond.

Eventually, I gave up and drained the pond and filled it in with gravel and soil. I have a fountain surrounded by containers of knockout roses and spirea in its place.

I know now that I probably could have controlled the algae with water plants.

Lots of container options

All kinds of bowls or pots can be used for water gardening in containers. They can be made with about anything - large glass bowls, plastic or ceramic planters, metal buckets or tubs - I have a friend who has one in an old bathtub that is really neat. Just make sure that whatever you use is water-tight and if you do find some great tub or pail and it has a leak, use some clear caulking to plug those up. Let the caulk set for a couple of days before you add water. (The garden to the left is from pebble path gardens.)

Most container materials will work too - except for terracotta. It will absorb water and the structure of the pot will weaken. If using gardening pots, plastic or ceramic would be better choices.

Water gardening in containers works great in a 15-25 gallon container, although if you plan to have just a few plants, you can use a big bowl. It depends on what type of plants you choose, and how much water they need to be "planted" in.

Dark colored containers, or containers with a dark interior are best because they make the container appear deeper and discourage the growth of algae.

Sunlight

Water gardening in containers requires six hours of sun per day for success. Most aquatic plants need full sun. Less than six hours will decrease blooming.

Planting

Water plants are grown in pots in heavy, clay garden soil. They are placed, pot and all, into the container for the water garden.

Before you place your plants, add 1/2 inch or so of pea gravel to the bottom of the container to help keep soil in place in the water and to give a little weight to the container to keep it where you want it.

Fill the tub with water and set your plants in place. Some plants will need to be placed at certain depths. You can raise plants if needed closer to the top of the water by setting them on something like bricks.

A nice water garden contains two to three potted plants and some floaters. You can follow the guidelines for container gardening design by choosing tall plants, trailing ones, etc.

Water

Most of us use water from municipal water supplies that is treated with chlorine. It's a good idea to let the water in your container sit for about 48 hours before placing plants. This gives the chlorine a chance to evaporate. You can also buy chemicals to counteract the chlorine at stores that sell pond supplies.

Remember this when you need to add water to the garden after evaporation.

A sample garden

This diagram from the Denver Cooperative Extension Service at Colorado State University shows how you might set up a container water garden.

You can add a small pump to the water garden, especially if you want to have a fountain effect with water sounds. It's not necessary though.

I had assumed that water gardening in containers would be a breeding area for mosquitoes. That's not the case - the plants moving around keep the water from becoming stagnant.

If mosquitoes do become a problem, try the small fountain, or skim the water to get rid of larvae.

Wintering the garden

Plants in small water containers will need to be brought in for the winter. Lift the potted plants out of the water and store in water filled tubs somewhere cool and dark - a basement is good.

Floaters can be kept indoors in aquariums with lights but it's just easier to treat these as annuals and buy new ones each season.

Recommended water plants

There are three types of aquatic plants that you can use when water gardening in containers. These are submerged plants, emergent plants, and floaters. They each add something pretty or practical to the water garden. But don't overdo the plants. Water plants will multiply and grow, and you don't want to completely cover the surface of the water.

Submerged plants

Submerged plants grow completely immersed in water. They get their nutrients from the water through their leaves, not through soil. Submerged plants help control algae growth by using nutrients in the water that would feed algae. They also add oxygen to the water. If you have fish in your water garden, submerged plants provide them with food.

Try these submerged plants in your water garden - from left to right below: fanwort, anacharis and vallisneria.

Emergent plants

Emergent water plants for containers are also called marginals. Roots are attached to soil and portions of the stems or their flowers emerge above the water. Irises and water lilies are marginal plants.

Bog plants are also considered to be marginals - they grow in moist to soggy soil in ponds, or in standing water. They can also be planted in a container water garden. There are many types that vary in height, texture and foliage. Bog plants don't need as much sun as most water plants - 3 to 4 hours a day is enough so if your container water garden won't get much sun, try these plants.

Here are some marginal plants to try in your container water gardens: from left to right below:arrowheads, blue flag iris, corkscrew rush, dwarf papyrus.

Other emergent plants from left to right: parrot feather, water bluebells, water mint

Floaters

Floating plants are not rooted in the soil, but float freely above or below the water surface. Some floaters can become invasive - if they multiply too much, just scoop out the extra plants.

Here are three favorites from left to right: Water hyacinth, water lettuce and water lilies.

Water gardening in containers will make the biggest design impact when you try to use some of each type plant in your garden. Maybe just one of each type is needed - don't put too many plants in your container water garden - leave about 1/3 of the water surface open. This photo of a container water garden from pebble and path gardens is a great example.

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