Here is a website that is from Tx A&M with good info.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/homelandscape/watergarden/main.html
MUD HOLE
Oh I did add 5 small gold fish. I think there will be enough good bacteria between the fish, the dirt and the plants. I have kept aquariums for years so I have some experience with maintaining a balanced environment.
C
Then you won't freak when you get the new pond algae bloom. LOL!
Cheryl, I think it is lovely! I am unhappy with mine (second attempt) and wish it looked like yours!
On the clay thing... once in awhile I actually go over to the pond forum, and picked up a tip on there. Walmart carries a cat litter, their own brand (Precious Kitty or something like that) that is pure clay, no additives, and very inexpensive. Before reading that tip, I had bought outrageously expensive "pond soil" to use. That worked well, but gosh, it was so expensive--something like $20 for ONE large pot--more than the plants! Ever since that tip, which I guess was about 4 years ago now, I have used the cat litter for everything I put in my pond. I have yet to have anything fail in it. On the contrary, I have a hard time keeping up with the growth. The water lilies especially love it. I'm sorry that I can't remember the name of it, but it is a big red bag that only comes in large sizes. It pours out in little kitty-litter pebbles, which makes it easier to pot up a new plant. Once it's wet, it settles into the smooth clay muck like we all have in our yards.
I will try that for any future plants. I have some corkscrew rush but because its a watering trough there are no shelves for mariginals. I guess I could elevate the pot(s) on bricks to plant them at the the edges. I had read about kitty litter but have never used it before. Since its not expensive I can pick up a bag and see how it works.
C
Thanks for mentioning that Pattie. I was also using the expensive aquatic soil, I will give it a try next. One question, does it stay in the mesh pond pots, or does it need solid pots?
Sheila, once it's thoroughly wet, it stays in the pots, because it's so heavy. If I'm using a mesh pot, I lose some on the ground while it's still dry. It's also very dusty. You need to wet it before you put it in the pond, because it will lose a lot of the dust into the water. But, once it's wet, it gets very thick and mucky and stays put. Did I mention that it also smells pretty bad later when you get ready to re-pot? Like a bog. That doesn't seem to matter to the plants. But I wear latex gloves when repotting from that stuff, because I can't get it out of my nails and cuticles.
This was recommended for water lilies, which apparently love heavy clay. But I have put all my water plants in it. Everything I've put in it has thrived. You know that blue pickerel you gave me a few years ago? I divided and repotted it in May. Both are now the same size as the one. I don't think I've fertilized it this year.
I also have a few marginals that grow in a shallow cascade tub with no soil at all. Two different EEs, water zinnia, primrose and, this year, obedient plant. My EEs didn't survive this last cold winter unpotted. But the others are fine without soil, as long as the water stays moving.
This message was edited Aug 20, 2010 9:42 AM
Sounds great! Glad to find something. I scrounged around last spring when we cleaned and I had to separate my Water Lilies. Most are just weighted down with rocks now. I don't have koi, or they would be floating my plants!
When you fertilize the plants growing in litter, how often, how (diluted or ?) and what do you use?
Well... um... looking around and shuffling feet... I break my organic program for my water plants. That's because I haven't figured out a good way to get any organic fertilizers in the pond without making a mess.
So, I just use pond tabs that I get from Texas Water Lilies every spring. I try to remember to use them once a month, but usually it's more like, "Oh, the water lilies aren't blooming, time for a tab." I think everything else would be fine without them.
One thing I do NOT.ever.forget. is the skeeter dunks, for my unfiltered pots. Between those and the toads, the mosquito problem is almost at an acceptable level.
Interesting ~ thanks. I have been growing some flowers and vegies in shallow standing water for the past two years. I know they require more fertilization and I was curious if cat litter could be a viable medium for me. Also curious on your fertilization schedule. For the mosquitoes, I have had success with garlic cloves chopped up and added to the water weekly. The tadpoles and frogs don't mind it and it repels mosquitos. Now if it would work when the resident cats/dogs drink from the water... I mean to repel fleas not pets. I know the mosquito dunks won't hurt the pets but I use them in the rain barrels instead.
Since my water lilies are under two foot of water they don't get fertilized....and don't bloom much. Pattie do you have a recommendation for me?
I am imagining what sort of tool/device you might use to deliver a tablet or 2 to a pot under 2 feet of water...hmm
C
A little tiny robot submarine
waders- trouser style
I think my design will start with a piece of pvc pipe...now how to close and open the end...
If my dogs see me wade in the pond and put something that looks like a treat in the pots....my WLs are history! LOL!
Well, Sheila, you know that the water lilies are supposed to be that deep, right? Mine aren't. When I rebuilt my little pond, I tried to fill in some areas and ended up with a lot of sand spilling down to the bottom, and never could get it all out. So mine are only down about 18 inches. They do bloom, though. The white one blooms non-stop.
There are injectors you can get. I think the PVC idea is a great one. Until now, I've always just pulled mine out and done it by hand, but... ew... yuck. LOL. I have a lot of PVC lying around here and may try that myself.
Pod, I really don't know how veggies would do in the clay litter. Interesting that you grow them in water. I never would've thought of that. But then I'm always surprised at how many things will grow in water.
I may experiment with cat litter vegies next season ~ thanks!
I have resisted my very own "MUD HOLE" lol
Tell me, do you leave the pots in water all winter or do the plants need protection?
Same here. it is intriguing but overwhelming to get all the elements correct. I can barely keep a water fountain going!
I think I could make a PVC injection tool. Got me thinking.....if I take a one inch tube and then a smaller solid broom stick, rebar or something longer than it. I could place the first tube, drop in a tablet and then force it into the pot with the solid by pushing on the second one. Might give that a try.
I have a picture of where my baskets are located in the pond somewhere. I think I have six 12 " baskets.
Pod, I have always left all of my plants in the pond. I leave my filter/pump on year-round so it doesn't freeze, and they're fine. I did lose my exposed EE's last winter. It was a cold winter and they were just loose in a very shallow spot. I'll either plant them or pot them up this winter.
Most of the rest of them... don't think you could kill them if you tried. The primrose in particular. I let it grow a couple of years ago because it was a great ladder out for the emerging baby toads. It covered the whole pond and started on the surrounding beds. I cleaned it all out and composted all but one little stub. Buried it 2 feet in the compost. Pulled it up from eating the compost pile and threw it away a month later. If y'all hear anything on the news about The Primrose That Ate The Garland Landfill, don't tell anyone where you heard this.
If you are even considering building one, I hope you will. I have gotten way more enjoyment out of mine than I ever dreamed.
I am 'baited' ~ perhaps someday I will get mud here to dig in or maybe Cheryl will come dig it...
I did not know primrose could be that invasive. I am sure you keep the small one in check these days. LOL the Primrose That Ate The Garland Landfill ~ my lips (and fingertips) are sealed. 8
It's actually not what we usually think of as primrose. The common name is primrose creeper, although mine sure does more than creep! I'm not sure of the Latin name. Here's their photo, though. LOL--they conveniently didn't show the 4-foot long stems and branches this petite little thing grows!
Very pretty though. I would have never considered Primrose as a water plant.
Apparently there were a lot of cosmos seeds lying dormant and waiting to be dug up.
That looks really pretty Cheryl.
Very nice.
Cheryl, what did you do with the pump?
Looking great!
The pump is in the pond, off to the side of the little water fall on a brick and the tubing runs up and under the rocks.
C
How about the plug? Is it underground?
No, its running in the flower bed then up a trellis, along another flower bed to an outlet! LOL its a long journey and it needs to be worked on. I am going to hide it under mulch and plants. Done this before with no problems so I think it will be ok. The outlet is outside and the cords are rated for outdoor use also.
C
Wow, that was quick. It looks like it's settling in nicely.
I have horsetail reed that likes water and I'm probably going to dig up and seperate my yellow water iris this year if you need some.
I appreciate the offer, do you come to the RU's in Arlington? I was planning on the one in the spring.
C
I used to and would like to again. I can't make the fall one cuz I'm going to a different one. Do you know when the spring one is? I will check my calendar. I'm up there a few times a year though.
It was May 2nd last year. Hope we see you in the spring.
Cheryl
The date for the spring RU hasn't been set yet. We wait until Josephine gets the info on the other venues she is involved with. But it will be late May or early
April more than likely. Glad you are considering joining us again. It is in a differnt park....much easier access than the last place.