what are some plants to grow in a container that i will keep very wet? like a bog area--i have elephant ear and horse tail so far--would toad lily like that? oh--it is in the shade--but i could move it to sun if i need to
bog plants
sagittaria http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SALA
Common rush http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=JUEF
Pickerel Weed http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=POCO14
Spiderlily http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HYCA9
These mostly like sun exept the spiderlily is supposed to like part shade but I see it growing in full sun here
thank you--i like the spider lily a lot--
i am making a small bog garden in a long narrow planter--it isn't too deep-maybe 8 inches-and so don't have room for any big plants--maybe i could go bigger next time--so i think i will ask my question for small water bog plants--but the spider lily might work--now to find one!
cannas, passiflora, some species of hibiscus(marsh mallow types) are other options.
i have cannas --in a sort of dry area --i will move one into the "bog"--thanks
as for passiflora--i think i have some of those too--a vine with a big unusual flower? don't think i will put it in the bog since i don't have anywhere for the vine to climb
-will look into the hibiscus idea
Hi,
don't laugh but when I buy sets of clay pots with no drainage holes, instead of going through the trouble of drilling/trying not to break the pot, I will use one of the bog plants instead. Works like a CHARM :)
There are two Spider Lilies that grow around here, one is a bog lily and the other is a dry lily. The bog lily blooms in April and May and the dry lily blooms in June and July. The bog lily must stay moist and the dry lily must stay dry. I have seen the dry lily bloom at old homesteads in pure sand and they have not been watered in 50 years and still bloom every year. The strange thing is they look like the same plant, bulb leaf and bloom but they can not change places. I know where some of the swamp lilies are but I would not want to wade through this swamp to get them.
well that is sort of what i am doing! this planter does not have holes and i am making my own mini bog! and behind it i have a beautiful tall blue ceramic pot with no drainage and am going to use that too-might put the tall canna in it!
we seem to think alike!-----and i bet you enjoy having bog plants for a little contrast to the dry arizona type plants!
cross posted with you ken --thanks for the interesting info on the wet and dry lily!--sure you don't want to go wading for me? just kidding!
This message was edited May 22, 2010 5:46 PM
There is a canna that is a different species that is adapted to live in wet conditions. I am not sure a reg. one would. corkscrew rush is a small and attactive plant that likes to be wet.
C
regular ones are fine as well as they do love water. However, if you are in a very cold zone, then don't water them in winter months.
where do you buy the bog plants? lowes? home depot?
I keep lizard's tail in a container with no drainage holes: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/627/
in Katy, Tx there's Nelsons Watergardens, sometimes FishRUs in Conroe has miniature water plants, u might try those suggestions? I am sittin in Indy today and abt to make a run back to Minneapolis or I would research this up
better
I have gotten most of my water plants either from Sheila, or from http://texaswaterlilies.com/. Don't know what all they have this time of year, but they usually have a pretty good selection of marginals.
I love water gardening. My little water feature is small, so I got the idea from someone else to grow lotus in big pots. It has to be a BIG pot, but it works. They are so unusual, they're really conversation pieces. I do have to keep skeeter dunks in them, though.
This message was edited May 24, 2010 2:38 AM
Did you ever think of some pitcher plants for your bog, they are very interesting plants to grow.
C
Hi pbtxlady,
may I see a photo of one of your lotus plants? I am also considering doing something similar in arizona.
lovetropics, I just took a look through all my photos, and it seems I don't have any good pictures! My camera was broken last year so I didn't get too many photos of anything. I'll have to go out and take you one later today. My big one is not blooming yet, but even without flowers, they are still very beautiful and unusual plants.
Here is one photo taken of the first bloom I had, 2 years ago. We had a lot of wind that year that just beat it to death, so I hope I can do better this year.
There is a minature crinum that loves water..only get about maybe 8 inches high or so..mmm.. need to post a pic of mine I got in a pot...
beautiful sight. How big was your container?
Oh, man--I am not sure. 25 gallons, maybe? It's in the same size pot that I put a big 5-year-old hibiscus. Maybe you can guesstimate it from the photo below.
The method I read to plant these is to fill them entirely with compost, not soil. Potting soil is too light and will float. (Of course I had to check this out myself and learn the hard way, LOL.) Personally, though, I use the Wal-mart pure clay kitty litter for all my other water plants, so I mixed some of that into the compost. You fill the pot up to about 8 inches from the top. Place the tuber on top of that, and gently cover it with an inch or so of aquarium gravel or pea gravel. Then fill the pot up to the top with water. The gravel will hold both the tuber and the potting medium. Once planted, it's pretty maintenance-free. Once the plant comes out of dormancy, it will keep the water fresh. I just top it off as needed, add mosquito dunks and plant tabs once a month.
In past years, I've had trouble getting this one, Mrs. Perry D. Slocum, to bloom. I don't have a good place for a pot that big that will get enough sun without frying it.
thank you very much for your advice. i have a plastic pond I bought from Lowe's. I am going to reuse it as a lotus pond above the ground on my patio. Hopefully this will work. Otherwise lotus have very hard time here due to our dry weather.
Do you have the round black one? I think that would be about the perfect size for the standard or large lotus.
Another thing. I have a smaller lotus in my front yard, in full blazing sun. That's the one with the flower above. It does not do as well as the one in the second photo. Last year the leaves just burned and burned. So far, it looks better this year. But I think they do better with a little protection during the hottest part of the day.
i was thinking that a small ammount of water in texas would get really hot! that can't be good for a plant can it?
I have a bean shaped pond. I think lotus roots are fine in heat. It is the leaves(way above water) that need moisture which we don't have in AZ. Covered or shaded may be ok which I will try. I heard that they grow very fast--I may just go with one plant and see how it does.
Yeah, I don't think the warm water bothers them. My little water feature is in full afternoon sun, and I worried it might get too hot for the fish. But it never seems to bother any of the plants or critters.
Hey Linda....I have Lizard's Tail, Pickerl, and Sweet flag grass in my pond. I have enough to share, also have a water lily extra I am sure. I have been to your house now it is your time to come to mine!
oh i would love to come! i am off work in another week --will you wait for me??
Of course! I have a RU on the w/e of the 5th, so after that we will get together.
great!!---i will have lots to ask you too--my garden is wild and wonderful --but i need to get it somewhat in control---
thanks everyone for the bog plant ideas--my teeny tiny bog is doing good--it might give me the confidence to try bigger some time
Where did you put it in at Linda? Since I have been over I am curious.
right next to my patio--it is very small---maybe i am not even right to call it a bog!! maybe a wet pot would be better : )
but---if i get more i have some nice ceramic pots that don't have drainage holes and i will make it a bog area!
Make sure to keep some dunks in them for mosquitoes.
Copied from San Marcos Growers Website about the plant.----- Crinum 'Menehune' (Red Bog Lily) - A small growing bulbous perennial that forms clumps to about 24 inches tall with deep burgundy-red 1 to 2 inch wide leaves and large deep-pink flowers that rise on dark red stalks from early summer to fall. Plant in full sun to light shade and irrigated occasionally to regularly - this plant can be grown in the pond margin and in water up to 6 inches above the crown but is surprisingly tolerant of drier conditions. Listed as hardy to USDA Zone 8.
