Soil question

What kind of soil do you use to pot plants you are putting in the pond? And where do you get it? I read on another thread that hostas can be placed in the pond bare root. What other plants can grow in the pond without soil?

What about cannas and elephant ears? do they need soil? My pickerel and water lily are in soil and it is heavier than potting soil. I am redoing my pond and the pickeral and the water lilly are the only things I have right now. My pond was FULL of water pickeral and only one water lily. We are only putting back a small amout of the pickeral. It is pretty but it can take over. Any ideas on some good plants for ponds?

Here is a pic of my pond only partway finished. We ran out of rock, but will get more tomorrow.

Quite a few water gardeners use the cheap generic no additives kitty kitter. When soaked it forms a clay which provides a decent aquatic growing medium. In addition it's usually pretty cheap. Try WalMart. Get a small bag first and soak some to try it out. The quality of kitty litter clay does vary from region to region, even from the same national store.

I put almost everything in a pot. But there are some very experienced water gardeners here who can grow the darndest things in a pond, many without soil. You will get lots of good advice.

Thanks Snap! I will check that kitty litter idea out.

Snappple hit the nail on the head. Make sure you use the cheap litter from WalMart that has no filler, scent, or additives. It's JUST clay only! ( I think it's in the red bag, Snapple, do you recall?)

I also use the water planter baskets, filled with black river rock instead of soil. I've tried just about everything from black aquarium gravel to sand, everything has worked EXCEPT for sand, it makes a mess in your water. I also use small black plastic waste paper cans from the Dollar Store, as well as colanders. I put my plants in and fill with kitty litter or river rocks. The plants pick up the nutrients from the water (aka fish fertilizer) and help keep the water clear. I would recommend kitty litter for water lilies though, they need a little extra nutrition for blooming. I've never used any sort of fertilizer tabs, and all plants seem to be overly healthy, and I usually have to whack them back a bit.

Thanks, Mary! That is some useful information. What kinds of pond plants do you like and where do you get them. I doon't remember seeing them in the nurseries except maybe water lilies at Lowe's. I already have one and I don't think I can use another as they spead out a good bit. I was thinking i used to have some water forget me nots and
some long underwater stuff that is used in aquariums but I can't remember yhe name of it, the fish like to eat it. I think it starts with an a...

If you have heavy clay soil you might try that as well. Do not use the good stuff like potting mix or amended garden soil. It may sour in the water from the organic material that is in it. I have read various places that the heavy clay does have a lot of minerals in it, it is just too tight for normal plants to get through. Having it underwater eliminates that problem.

I don't have much clay here. There may be a spot that might be though. I will check that out.

I grow everything I can in water here! Florida sun and heat are very intense, so I try to stretch the "zones" by planting some of the more northern plants in water. I have hostas in vases with water and tadpoles...I grown cannas in my pond (no soil) as well as umbrella plants....elephant ears....impatiens.....lotus.....all in gravel and no soil. I've used the half-sized cement blocks as underwater vases/planters, filled with the plant and rocks.

I'd like to plant some water forget-me-not that I have, IN the pond, in a pot. If I submerge it in a little water, can it live. I'm glad you all mentioned clay; I have plenty here and will use that.