I've been thinking of setting up a container "pond" this year, using a half whiskey barrel or similar sized container. Maybe I'll do as Kris said, and not even get real pond plants, but see what happens when I grow some stuff emersed.
Instead of endlers, I might put some of my rosy barbs in for mosquito control. They might breed a little bit less prolifically.
I don't do summer container ponds anymore, but most of my deck plantings are emerse bogs*. That widens the choice a good bit especially toward the largish plants I favor. Cannas (wonderfully gaudy and a good screening plant), Taros, Crinums of course. All of those are full sun to very light or partial shade and can be stored dry (in peat) through the winter in a cool area. For shade, nothing tops the Alocasias (a couple like some sun, the most striking foliage ones want good shade - the plants may be dried over the winter (cool again) but for me do best indoors in low light but not a dark corner - they are much slower growing than their taro cousins.
*Fiberglass or styrofoam planters as already mentioned, no base drainage but drain holes drilled about at 1/2 the potting medium depth. Easy care, dramatic plants, no standing water so no unwanted livestock. All planted in commercial potting mix (I use Miracle Grow planter mix for best results). Most of these plants want heavy feeding in active growth.
Mosquitoes - I had no fauna in those containers except frog but I will introduce some livebearers this year and that should eliminate that issue. As a side note, I did not experience an increase in Mosquitoes due to the setup.
Die off in winter - I left it all outside and lost it all. Didn't really care last year but will think about storing some throughout winter this season. Especially lily bulbs !
krisw wrote:I'm up for a MAN (Maryland Aquatic Nurseries) Trip. Only thing, is that in the past, if we wanted a tour, we would have to come later in the summer because the owner's too busy with the pond season blitz beforehand. So, we'll just have to decide when to go, and if we'd want a tour or not.
The 'tour' isnt much since there isnt much going on behind the scenes.
Its just fun getting out there, enjoying the weather etc and this year I'm actually thinking about setting up a couple of containers like Jay did.
Also kinda cool to see 'aquarium plants' there growing emersed. And
who know - we may find the next HOT aquarium plant by accident.
You can use any container. Whiskey barrel or standard small pond containers are available in Home Depot, Lowes or at your local Pond shop. Although visually I enjoyed containers that I had last season, I want to do something more interesting this time around. Different containers, different shapes, different colors, different plants etc ...
Jeff, If you don't care about blooms, there are a few things you can try like floating water hyacinth, creeping Jenny (a great little plant), acorus grass, some of the siberian water irises and japanese iris, and I'd try pickeral weed..... I'd probably also try dwarf papyrus for kicks...
As long as there is some sort of bright light, you'd be fine and probably wouldn't have to top off as much either....If you want Creeping Jenny and possibly acorus grass, let me know. I've always got some in the summer garden.
I am only working off of the light that I have seen currently, I am assuming that in the summer it gets afternoon light based off the direction it faces.
The other Jeff
Master of growing algae and getting better at plants
In that case you may even want to try a tropical water lily.... Beautiful plants, but some of them don't require the intense sunlight that the hardy lilies need....
I grow red root floater, Echinodorus 'Kleiner Bar', Spiranthes odorata, as well as some of the typical, aquatic iris' and hardy water lilies in my 55 gal "pondette", and whiskey barrel liner.
As Jay and Robert said, the foam pots you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot without drainage holes make great mini gardens. My Hemianthus put on the best growth I've ever seen.
This year I'm going to put some of my hardy CP collection in a single container like this.
