I have been thinking about getting a small live stock tank and putting in the yard to use as a water feature. I was wanting to put some EE's in it for decoration. It will be in the direct sun and needed to know some types of EE's that would work the best in it.
The best Elephant Ears to grow in water.
Black Magic, Nancyanna and Illustris have done the best for me and are easy enough to find. There are others that are supposed to do well but I normally don't have many so I chicken out. LOL
They will actually grow in water?? Or do they have to be potted and then put them into the water?? Sorry, may sound dense but I have them growing in my yard but never thought of them in water!
Bev
Bev.....I grow some of my variaties directly in water. I have black ruffle, illustris, and black stem in my koi pond. The roots are only in pea gravel, and they are doing just fine.
Big Dipper, Black Magic and Runner, 'Fontanesii' and Illustris are my water favs.
Here's a few shots.
We grow them in ponds, bowls and Ice Tea Dispensers (my favorite).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/8670054/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/8669768/in/set-215184/
Ric
Oh I forgot that plain old C. esculenta does really well in the water once it's warmed. It has been my experience though, you won't get a bulb back out of the water as it rots but you will get big plants with a mass of roots! Most of the time, I just put the ears in a pot of gravel where the water comes out of the pump and the gravel and roots help to clean the water.
Last year I wanted to try something so I used a spade bit to put holes in styrofoam and I put a bunch of really small ears through the holes. I did not experience one bit of wilt on those even though there were mailed from *somewhere* down south and plopped on this piece of styrofoam. This was right after I did it.
This pic is from one month later.
So if I do put them in water, they won't return because the bulbs will rot?? I have a large pond and then i have a smaller one. I think they would be beautiful around the edge of the large one! But if they rot out I will have to plant the bulbs every year! And also, do you start them in a pot until you see leaves or do you just plant the bulbs and viola?? Thanks for all the advice you guys, I am learning something here for sure!
I always use pups, starts and mature plants in the Water Gardens.
If the water or soil are warm though bulbs would work just fine.
I start many food store bought taro tubers in shallow pans of water.
I was kinda sceptical of Badseed's setup at first.
Having seen it in operation though I can tell you it's really a viable way of doing water starts.
REALLY impressive.
Ric
I don't start the bulbs in water, but once the leaves emerge and they have a healthy root system, I do infact grow the plants in water and pea gravel. The colocasias usually can handle tons of water if they get sun...alocasias can not.
I only have one EE, I bought it last year. It looks like military camouflage. It died back during the winter, but has grown two leaves now. The leaves are very tiny compared to those that were on it when I bought it. I gave it Osmacote but maybe it needs more water? Do they need as much water as my Cannas? It's in dappled shade.
Pati
Hey MM!
Hey Pati!
Sounds like Hilo Beauty to me.
If these are the first leaves from dormacy don't worry or do anything special.
They will get bigger as each new leaf comes out.
Ric
Happy spring to you Ric! (well it's alllllmost spring for you!)
Pati, I agree with Ric, it sounds like a Hilo....they tend to grow a bit slower than some of the others, but once the weather and soil BOTH stay warm consistently, it should perk back up.
Thanks for all the help and info, I am going to try a couple of mine that have leaves first off. Yeah I am a chicken! But thanks again!
Bev
I think I will go ahead and get a live stock tank and put some in to see how they do. I have Nancyana, black magic and illustris. I will leave them in there pots and set them on a cement block and set in the water. I really hate the ideal of them rotting, but I can pick up some more for next year.
I picked up a small stock tank a few years ago.
The rigid black Rubbermaid one.
Good choice for a pond/water garden.
The black color warms up quickly in the Spring.
We leave Louisiana Iris and Water Lilies in it all year.
The EE's we move in as the weather warms.
Ric
I know my husband said they also had rubbermaid ones instead of the galvanized one. Your Iris and water lilies don't freeze out in winter? Since we are in the same zone I do beleive the Rubbermaid one would be the way to go. I know my BIL has a big galvanized one that he keeps perch in, but he said after a long period of time they will rust out.
Thanks for the tip.
Linda
I have one of the big gray plastic ones. I use it as a veggie filter. We rigged it to the pond so that the water from the pump goes into the bottom of the trough, through the pots of gravel and over the side like a water fall and back into the pond. When the gravel and plant roots are all dirty, I can disconnect the hose at the bottom of the trough and run clean water through the top. It was neat when I grew the ears in the styrofoam because I could lift that piece of styrofoam and rinse the roots. I couldn't do that though after they got big. LOL
Ric and Badseed do either of you have a picture of your stock tank filled with water and plants?
Lemme go see. :) I know I do but where?? LOL I remember MollyMc I think, joking about my bathtub. I have to find it early in the season before it disappears. :)
Here ya go! See it? LOL Really, it's in there, over on the left. LOL
Geesh! I tried to send this like and hour ago and it wouldn't go!
Finally! Here is a December picture, once it was empty and all the tender plants were pulled out of the trough and gardens.
WOW Badseed that is so neat. I really like it. Unfortunally I won't be able to put mine in the ground. We live on a flat bed of lime rock. You dig so deep and run into the stuff. Mine will have to be above ground. I bet you are going to miss it, it was located at the old house? Are you planning on putting one in at your new place?
I'll find a shot of ours when I get home 2pugs.
It's a bigger version of Chele's.
In fact we both bought them at TS if I remember correctly.
Ours had a crack so we got it at less than half price.
Ours IS above ground entirely.
It backs one of our inground ponds looking like it feeds into it.
It has never frozen deeper than 6".
At over 24" deep there is plenty of good water above the Lilies.
The Louisiana Iris and Cattail can take a full freeze.
They are wired to the top on the backside.
Here's the Iris. You can just make out the tank.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/2558296/
Ric
Here you go 2pugs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/7566267/
Ric
Ric so far what I have seen I like.
Prepare to laugh I put in gardens and rented a bobcat and dug a new pond before we ever moved in. LOL The new pond is 10x15x4 with a bed about 6 feet wide on three sides. I am putting a second level behind and above that one for lilies and lotus. I just have to wait until I have time and more cinder blocks. I already have the liner.
The house needed built up a bit at the foundation so I killed two birds with one stone. I used the escavated clay to make a wedge of soil all the way around the house.
"You go girl." I can't believe you Chele, you are such a hard worker. Besure to take pictures and send my way.
It's either work or gain weight. LOL I keep waiting to take more pics until I get things done but I just keep bopping from one project to the other. Geesh! I need a nanny or an employee. Anybody??
If I lived a little closer I would come over, I would have to play the part of a nanny, but I could also work with you, but I'm getting a older and the work part wears me out just thinking about it. I am monograming some towels for my son with my embroidery machine. I am sitting hear listening to it go 90 to nothing, and I am getting tired just listening to it. Now I am getting old. LOL
I'd be glad to have you! The girls would be thrilled to have some extended family. They don't know what they are missing really but they'd so much enjoy some aunts, uncles and grandparents. :)
Umm, you might be getting a little impatient if your machine is ticking you off. LOL If you decide to lay your head down, don't do it by the machine. I'd not want to hear the story about the hair stylist that had to cut someone's full initials out of their hair. ROTFLOL
With my short hair cut it would be my scalp.
Or you'd have a really pretty dreadlock. LOL
2pugs,
Well as I could find no shots of our stock tank I went out this evening and took a couple.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnranimals/135635385/
Usually the cinder blocks are capped w/ limestone.
Ric
This message was edited Apr 26, 2006 8:34 PM
Ric what a clever ideal using the cinder blocks with the limestone laying on top. I kept imaging one in my rock garden but just seeing the tub and not really liking it. But doing something like you did, I really like that. I can't wait to get started on one now. Thanks a bunch for the pictures.
Linda
Edit to ask Ric is your tank a 150 gal?
This message was edited Apr 27, 2006 9:04 AM
Thanks Linda
We're thinking of getting some cultured limestone and facing the cinder blocks.
From about now to late Fall you can't see them.
But they look a bit ugly thru the Winter. lol
Ric