Um, how do you plant water plants?

[Lynnski]

This might be a real duh question, but how do you keep your plants at the right height/depth? I have some rushes tucked into the holes of an upsidedown milk crate, and that seems to keep them floating pretty well so far. It's still too early to see any growth so I don't know how that will work longer term. Just got some elephant ear and calla lily bulbs, and they want to be submerged except for the crown. So I'm in the process of sewing little "pockets" for them out of the black landscaping fabric stuff; I tuck each bulb into the pocket and leave a long tail that's secured under a rock outside the bog. I think this invention is either pure genius or pure idiocy.

I'm an experienced dirt gardener with lots of plants to experiment with, but I don't really understand what goes on inside a densely growing bog. If you're planting hosta or iris, for example, do you put them in pots filled with dirt or gravel? How do you keep your plants from sinking or floating or turning onto their sides? Obviously I'm new to water gardening thanks

 

[Hound Heaven]

In the pond I have a water lily, hyacinth, watercress and creeping jenny stuck between rocks. In my bog (with all of the dirt removed) and tucked into the gravel I have several. It's been a sort of experiment to see which ones like to be submerged or partially elevated, but I've had lots of fun trying. It seems a few didn't make it through winter, but several did. I have Japanese Iris, Hostas, hibiscus, Lizard tail, corkscrew rush and some carnivorous plants so far this year. I'm about to stick some more cannas and callas back too.
Have fun!

 

[BKHpondcritters]

Most of my marginal plants are on shelves at the edge of the pond, so I just fill in the gravel to create the depth necessary to keep the crown of the plant at the optimal level.

 

[Laaf]

Get your bog up and running and you will see what depth to "plant" your plants in the gravel.

In the pond, if you have a shelf at the right height, the pots fit. If no shelf, you might need a way to put in blocks or stones to raise pots to the right height. Of if the shelf is too deep you can put stones under the pot.

 

[dinm]

I've planted most plants just in gravel. If you are using soil, then do not make the mistake of putting garden soil, or soil that is not meant for water though, you'll regret it.

I planted Impatiens earlier this week, both of those are blooming. Just roots in water anchored (not even anchored really, just so it doesnt fall over). Marsh Marigold, no soil, growing as well. Chameleon as well. Honestly soil is pretty messy, even ones meant for aquatic plants, if it gets on the liner I'm not sure that it'd be very easy to clean. And I have plenty experience with dirty liner in the past, it was not easy to clean. Unless you wanted to empty it and clean it all, but that's not something you want to do every time you plant.

I guess just be careful about the depth, that's key. Only plant I have in a pot is a water lily, but I might want to get a newer one or just anchor it in gravel somehow... It's 25th and I see it growing but slow.

 

[Laaf]

When I said "pots" I meant aquatic plant baskets that I filled around the plant with pea gravel, not soil. Though I left some soild the plants came with. I figured the open baskets allowed more access to fresh water and nutrients.

 

[j.w]

I use 100% clay cat litter w/no perfumes or preservatives, no chemicals. Walmart has a 25 lb bag called Special Kitty. Lots here use it. Not as heavy as gravel. And cheap!

 

[WaterGardener]

I use pots with river rocks in them to plant most of my pond plants.

For taro plants that I take out of the pond in fall and put back in when spring arrives, I put kitchen scrubbies in at least the bottom half on the planters, then the rocks on top.

I plant in the rocks and they support the plants. The scrubbies cut down on the weight of the pots since they have to be moved inside in cold weather, and they can provide more surfaces for the growth of beneficial bacteria, as do the rocks.

I use sand for water lilies.

If a pot is too deep on the shelf, I will use sturdy empty pots turned upside down to raise them to the right level. Or ceramic dog bowls turned upside down and maybe a couple stacked if necessary. Anything that will the plants to the desired height.

 

[poconojoe]

Great input by everyone.

Another option is you can buy or make floating rings to support your plants. They just float around.
Use your imagination.
Maybe make a floating "island". Something with holes where the plant roots will be in contact with the water. Maybe a mesh material underneath so the fish can't eat the roots.
Use plain cat litter or pea gravel as a medium or just bare roots hanging in the water.

 

[Tula]

I love the idea of scrubbies to cut down the weight in floating baskets.

I use the aquatic plant baskets and zip tied black pool noodles to them. Some are free floating and others I keep anchored by rope closer to the pond's edge. I use oil plans for my lilies and I plant everything in clay kitty litter.

My pond has straight sides so either floating baskets or using blocks to raise pots to desired height works.

 

[GBBUDD]

i'm of the vote for gently washing off the dirt from the roots and then planting.

 

[dinm]

i'm of the vote for gently washing off the dirt from the roots and then planting.

Yeah. That has worked for me pretty much every single time.