New Obsession: Water Lillies and Container Water Gardens. I’ve started one of my very own, which started as a wee root sitting in a huge container on my porch. I purchased a lightweight 20inch container from Home Depot (to make sure the lilly could be submerged 12-18 inches) and a lilly plant. I put the plant root into the aquatic soil I bought at Home Depot and made sure to really limit the “organic material” ie soil in the water, as soil can cause algee. I left it alone for three weeks, making sure to keep the water topped up. After about two weeks of very little action, lilly pads started poping up! Then, I added an aquatic iris and star rush plant, which I may have done too soon, as the water turned 100% slimmy algae and smelled 100% like a pond. I let it sit like that for a week or so, and then changed out about half the water and the algae cleared up. I then added guppies and two snails, who seem very happy. Now I’m waiting for the lilly to bloom!
Update: Here is some great ‘how-to’ on water gardening from Home & Garden TV.
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After my initial skepticism that this would turn into a world renowned mosquito breeding ground, I have to say I am beyond impressed at how amazing the water garden is. It is actually my favorite part of the beautiful container garden extravaganza Abbey has created. The fish (aka Lone Wolf) eats the mosquito babies, the snails (aka Click and Clack) eat the algae and we have real live lily pads on a terrace in the city!
There are a lot of mosquito babies…
This is such a cool idea! Look forward to seeing the blooms.
well it looks like you are looking forward to spring time! aren’t we all…. thanks for the reminder that the warm days are just right around the corner
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