What does everyone use as pedestals for their aquatic plants?
Our water garden has a few pockets/shelves built in to the sides, and the previous owner used concrete blocks on the bottom to place plants at the right level.
However, I'm not really strong enough to haul those things all around and I'm wondering if there are alternatives.
I know I've seen something like that online, but I can't remember where, and I'm thinking of using milk crates, which will allow water and fish to go through. . .
Once I get things arranged, it won't be so much of an issue--I'm not one of those people who moves the furniture every month!--but right now since we're new to this, I know I'll want to move things around until they're 'just right'!
Any suggestions or experience would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Teresa
Pedestals for aquatic plants?
Plastic crates or plant stands can be used to set pots at the depth that you want, assuming your pond is reasonably level to stand them on.
Bulky pots are not so difficult if you can set a plank across the pond to take the weight and assemble the bulkier plant pot as close as possible to where you want it, rather than move it about the garden...
A plank across the pond makes it easier to slide the pot over the area that you want it, to lower it into position with less effort. You could stand well balanced in the water, where you can take the weight in the awkward moment the hefty pot slides from the plank and into the water
When a bulky pot is in water it is less weight to move about. A pedestal within the pond might be useful, to stand an empty pot in the water where you fill it with dirt and the water is high enough to make it easy to transfer the weight to its depth
Fiding a volunteer to do the lifting and lowering, might be an alternative...
Regards, andy
This message was edited Jul 28, 2007 6:12 PM
I think plastic milk crates would be a great idea. They are easy to move if you need to and provide security for your fish. You might also check in the housewares dept of Wal-Mart to see what kind of storage containers they have that could bear the load of a pot sitting on them. That will give you some options as far as height is concerned. I really like the board idea! Thanks Adavisus. It can be very difficult to move those heavy posts around without tipping them and fouling your water.
I just discovered that Lilypons sells a 'plant stand' designed just for aquatic plants:
http://www.lilypons.com/catalog.asp?action=showitem&id=345&subcat=7
I'm leaning more and more towards milk crates!
Teresa
I use sort of milk crates. They are the black file folder crates that look like milk crates, and I buy them at the office supply store, or even at Wally World or wherever youcan find them. They are very lightweight, but the plants hold them down, and they are great places for the fish to go and hide.
What is the correct depth for water plants? such as water lillie and star grass.
Hi LouC... I'm no expert, so I'm bumping this up for others with more knowledge than I, but most of our pond plants are we have situated so the pot rim is just below the surface (except water lilies, they will grow to the surface, however far it is...). Then we put river rock on the top surface of the potted plant, and build the river rocks up to just above the surface, so the baby turtles have a place to climb on for sunbathing!
Thanks , Brenda, I'm afraid a little turtle couldn't get out of my *fish pail*.
I love your fish pail!!! I have one sitting in the yard waiting for me to make it into a pond like yours...
:)
Your adventure is what made me finally go ahead and put this together. Of course now I want another in the ground and large......understand that is the way it always goes...............
Good Morning, enjoy your day.
LouC
Water plant depth varies quite a bit from one variety to another, some plants are very very picky about the depth they will thrive in, others are tough as boots wherever you put them
Some like a position just above or below the water level, right through to waterlilies of which some look and grow their best with several feet above them
A lot depends on the climate that you live in, where excessive heat, or freeze depth can dictate what a plant can do.
If you don't know the name of the plant, you are into taking a 'pot luck' guess as to what position is likely to be reliable
Star grass I never tried, waterlilies, you really need to know the name to estimate the best depth.
Among the hardy waterlilies, a Helvola might be best at 6" depth, an Attraction would be better at 2-3' depth, tropical waterlilies, some of which can be very very fickle plants can be completely hit or miss though 6" -12" tends to be a safe bet for the varieties which are known to be reliable.
Regards, andy
http://s93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/adavisus/
Thank you,Andy. Your photos are beautiful. I will look at mine tomorrow and try to determine just what I have. Purchased them a very reliable nursery but water plants are just a small sideline and they didn't know any more than I did. Two kinds and they blooming when I bought them in mid-june. Have put in fertilizer tabs but still no blooms. sun to part shade. 3 baby koi.....like to nibble.