How do I keep my container water garden clean?

Hi-
I'm new to container H2O gardening, and I could use some help!
Last year, the water stayed clean all summer, and only started smelling funky in March while stored in my heated garage. (I was hoping to overwinter the papyrus). This year, the water looks yucky.
Now, last year my lotus came with some hitchhikers, and I'm guessing they were the key to keeping the water clean? I tried water lettuce this summer, since none of the tadpoles survived the winter in the garage, but that didn't do much.
It has been an irritatingly cool summer, so could that be it?
Thanks so much for helping me.

Here's another pic. It's kind of hard to see, but the water surface is scummy.

Do you have fish in there and how big is the container? You need to let some water set to get clorine out and get all the rotted parts of your plants out because that helps scum grow. Change the water and that should help. BEV

Hi, Bev-
The container is a 144 gallon aluminum trough. I have been cleaning out rotting plants, which was mostly the lettuce (and here I thought that stuff was indestructible!) I do have to top the water off every so often, but I haven't tried changing the water.
No fish, which I suspect is why this has become such a problem. Do you think that keeping fish in the tank over the winter would help?

You really do need a few fish in it for mosquito larva if nothing else. If it is above ground will it freeze solid. My fish are ok all winter only 18 inches below ground in my pools. I put a stock heater in to keep a hole in the ice. BEV
It doesn't heat the water just keeps ahole in it. I don't feed my fish from Oct. to April and have had it that way for 25 yrs.

If you do not have any fish just get rid of the old water altogether and use a fairly strong stream from the water hose to knock a lot of the rotted gunk off of the plants. You basically have stagnant water which encourages rot. Do you have access to electricity where you are planning to have it? If so, a small water pump and/or air stone to help circulate the water would be very helpful. If not, plan on doing some frequent partial water changes. You might also want to consider repotting any plants that you have to get rid of the sludge that is now in the pots. A good thing to pot them up with would be heavy clay garden soil or the special kitty brand cat litter from wal-mart. You can either use fertilizer tabs meant for long term feeding or make up your own small packets by putting a teaspoon of fertilizer in a peice of cheapie paper towel or toilet paper and pushing it down into the pot. Best to get the cheap stuff because you want the paper to fall apart so the plants can get to the fertilizer.

If you do not have a way to circulate the water stay away from fish as they would quickly die and add to your water problems. You are correct that the tadpoles helped with the water quality.

I have an animal water trough that holds about 300 gallons. Took the fish out before I had surgery so DH would not have worry about them. We still have the pump and small fountain going and the water is pristine. Thinking you just need to keep the water circulating so the oxygen is available. The plants are doing great. Last year I just submerged them and wrapped the whole thing with frost cloth we got from HD. The plants even grew.

Christi

Plantaholic: We are too far away from one another-maybe we can do some plant swapping in the future??? Get a pump and pump the water out and refill the container. Go to Menards and get a cheap pump to pump.
Mothermole-Deer Park/Barrington

MM, what is Menards? I saw a sign the other day that one is being built nearby.

Thank you all so much! It's getting cold enough here now that I'm going to move the tank into my heated garage for the winter, which means everything will get cleaned thorougly. I'm also going to bop on over to get a pump.
BEV- what a pretty garden! Last year the fish and tadpoles seemed to take care of the mosquitos, but this year I had a billion ladybug larvae crawling all over the lotus and water lily leaves! Still wasn't enough for the staggering amt. of mosquitos this year. I'm praying this winter isn't as wet as last year.
mothermole, you are on for plant swapping! Barrington isn't far at all.....
Thanks again.

Cold already?? It is still 90 degrees in the day and maybe 60 at night. Usually doesn't cool down until mid November. Hope the pump helps with your problems. BTW. Mosquitos won't lay their eggs in moving water.

Tetleytuna. Menards is a home improvement store. I consider it to be a step above Home Depot and not quite to Lowes level. Unlike HD it is adequately staffed with knowledgeable and very helpful people. Their garden section is very well maintained and the staff actually knows something about gardens and gardening.

90s in the day? I'm so jealous! I think we hit the mid 80s for a total of two weeks this summer. It was very cool, and I don't mean that in the good way. I like to sweat when I garden. We're getting into the 45 degree nights now, so it's definitely time to move the papyrus inside. Do I need a lot of circulation? I'd rather have the water as still as possible. Otherwise, I'll have to find some tadpoles and tiny fish somewhere....

Tet: NOT ALL MENARDS ARE CREATED EQUAL!!! I think Zorba must have the "new and improved Menards in her neck of the woods. . . They are a home improvement center-but they tend to carry a lot of other "junk" as well (they don't always seem to know what business they are in actually). Their staff varies from helpful to vacant but their prices are great. I think the chain started in WI. They are in the process or building super stores in and around Illinois. Not all carry garden center items/plants. They do have pond supplies and they are on clearance here in the midwest-something to think about Plantaholic. . . BTW Plant: I meant to write that we aren't too far apart. I type too fast and miss keys!
LouC: We in zone 5 hate you! My fish are near enough dormant already . . .

Sing along: "Save big money at Menard's"! I haven't checked one out in a long time, but I do know that Lowe's has topsoil for $1 a bag! Now if only they carried pine bark mulch for less than $6/bag....
mm- garden visits!

Well, ladies and gentleman I have to wade into the Menards discussion. Apparently the quality of garden plants varies widely from region to region because the one located near me is DREADFUL! I compost better looking stuff than what they sell. And, whoever manages this one has apparently never heard that plants in pots need water from time to time. They get the lowest grade plant material of any garden retailer in the metropolitan area. The knowledge of the staff is equally commensurate with the quality of the plants.

The only reason I go in there is to make myself feel far superior in my purchases elsewhere and because they do carry the Schultz line of fertilizers. Schultz has some products that are better than anyone elses.

I think that can be said of all the big box stores. HD and Lowes can be totally different in one side of the town or another.

Christi

Actually, the Calloway Nursery is the same.

Of the Big Box stores here Lowes would rank first and HD second. Lowes had some killer coleus here this year.

I totally agree that quality can vary greatly from one home improvement store to another, even within the same brand. I went to a Home Depot to get some hardware cloth for screening dirt. Couldn't find it! So I asked one of wandering clerks (this one wasn't drooling as bad as the others). He looks down his nose at me and replies with considerable disdain "Home Depot does not sell cloth!" Up here in the tundra region I have to drive at least 75 miles to find anything except HD. HD is my last resort! The Lowes and Menards that I frequent are both new (under 2 yrs). It seems that the newer stores get better management and it certainly shows in every facet of their operations. Even some of the bigger garden centers have to suffer fools! I was looking for castor beans and this fuzz cheeked yo-yo directed me to the vegetable seed section. I assured him that castor beans would not make a particularly wise vegetable choice. One small problem with Lowes is they sell plants in my Zone 3a that are definitely NOT zone 3 and even sometimes not even Zone 4. So you have to have a general idea of what will and will not grow in your zone

A lot depends on the manager of the store, their revenue generated and their regional management. One of the Home Depot's near me had this great "old time" gardner running the department. He really loves the whole process and it shows with the quality of plants, the uniqueness (he special orders them) of plants and the ability to mark stuff down.

I still like Lowes the most, although there isn't one close to me. They REALLY discount plants there! Who doesn't love a bargain!

MM