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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 10:34:26 GMT 1
Yes I know, but they come bare rooted, as does most water plant places online. I have been impressed with them though, except for their lack of floaters. They come quickly, well packed and well labelled. They are probably smaller plants than you would get at the G/C as well, but good quality. I have used them a few times with no complaints. I think The witch's site is OK, but the site doesn't work very well for me. When I click on a plant it comes up with an error!!
Keith
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 10:38:39 GMT 1
I think large plants take longer to settle in anyway Keith and prefer smaller ones I have a selection of pond baskets atm from potting on plants I have bought just need to get more pond "Compost" I have run out again! I was given a bucketful of frogs yesterday by a neighbour whos wife is scared of them  I want them to stay, any suggestions for plants that will make them feel at home? |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 10:42:13 GMT 1
They need cover mainly and plenty of oxygenating plant. What plants have you got now?
Keith
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 10:58:30 GMT 1
When we moved here, I buried one of these (the larger one of the two) and put in a water lily, some water hornwort, some water starwort, and an iris, overplanted, on bricks so that the top of the pot is level with the top of the rim. Within two days we had two frogs living in it. I know they are 'supposed' to prefer native plants, but as long as they have cover and somewhere to spawn and can get in and out easily, frogs will come and stay. This 'tub' is now home to most of the tadpoles I rescued from the main pond, as the fish were eating them!! Keith |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 11:00:54 GMT 1
Oh, the lily is too big for the tub, but is being kept for the wildlife pond I am hoping to build this year! It was a cutting from the lily from our previous pond!
Keith
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 11:03:46 GMT 1
Iris, waterlily canadian pondweed wossname........palustris Arum hang on Ill show you.....just nipping to the pond, back soon |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 11:14:15 GMT 1
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 30, 2007 11:26:00 GMT 1
You want to aim at having 2/3 of the pond surface area covered with leaves. That will reduce the light and therefore the photosynthesis that promote the algae.
The tadpoles will love it though as they eat algae. When the pond is balanced it will clear. Mine was green a month ago.
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 11:39:04 GMT 1
Thanks Sleepy the Waterlily is yet to reach the surface, I have moved it onto a shelf to encourage it a bit and will lower it when it gets the idea, it covered about a third of the pond last year so I think Ill need to get another one to go with it then!  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 11:40:56 GMT 1
Oh, the lily is too big for the tub, but is being kept for the wildlife pond I am hoping to bild this year! It was a cutting from the lily from our previous pond! Keith Please post instructions re waterlily cuttings Keith! Id like to give that a go! ;D |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 11:47:08 GMT 1
That was quick!! Like Sleepy said, aim for 2/3 surface coverage. This could be via a water lily, floating plants, G*d forbid, plastic lily pads, or any plant that has leaves that go over the surface. Algae (green water) needs light, nutrients and heat to grow, so reduce these and things will improve. Can't do much about the heat!! Nutrients will be taken up by the plants, especially oxygenating ones and reeds. Have you got a water lily or is it still coming up and how much coverage does this give you? You could try some floaters as they are available now. Have you got a shelf all the way around the edge? Shade can be achieved by plants outside the pond as well, as I think I have said before. I used to know someone who used a fishing umbrella to do this as well! I even thought , should I do this in one of my ponds, but thought it would look silly and used a Rheum Palmatum instead. When I told the guy at the G/C why I wante the Rheum he thought it was a great idea!  BTW, it is only us who want clear water, so we can see wildlife in ponds. This is why pondfishkeepers like UV's, so they can see the fish. Only drawback is that the fish can suffer sunburn (they can, honest) and it is easier for predators to see them, so yes as you said, frogs don't mind green water. Now stagnant water is another thing!! Keith |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 11:48:37 GMT 1
I see you have answered one of the questions already, while I was writing!!!
Keith
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 12:00:59 GMT 1
I built a wide shelf all the way round the pond but as yet have only got plants on two sides and of course the waterlily which normally lives in the middle The Arum may be a good shade plant going on the pics The witch showed, but as yet its only a baby, time will tell.  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 12:06:15 GMT 1
And there is a huge Canna coming up in the barrel next to the pond that will help!....... just remembered that, it will get to about 8ft including the planter, and cast a lot of shade between 12 and 4 over the pond area, is that any good?
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 12:09:33 GMT 1
Oh, the lily is too big for the tub, but is being kept for the wildlife pond I am hoping to bild this year! It was a cutting from the lily from our previous pond! Keith Please post instructions re waterlily cuttings Keith! Id like to give that a go! ;D Right water lily cuttings! It is best done in early summer. It is basically through division of the root really. You have to first know what rhizone you have, whether vertical or horizontal. All the ones I have done have been horizontal, but the operation is similar. Think how you split perrenials and you will understand the procedure. Take the lily out of the pot and wash off the soil and put lily on a piece of plastic or what I use an 'old' washing up bowl. You MUST not allow the lily to dry or it will die. ou can have a spray can handy with POND water, to help here. Make sure you get some growth or 'eye' as they call them, with some root attached, cut it off from the main plant and pot up into some aquatic compost, as you would normally do. I put the new plant in a bowl of water and keep it in a coldframe until roots are formed and it is growing well. I think you are told to put the new plant in the greenhouse (if you have one) over it's first winter, but if it is growing OK, I just put it either on the shelf of the pond or in that container I showed earlier. I believe the books will tell you to dust the cut surfaces with sulphur, but I have never done this. I will see if I can find a site that explains it with pictures and get back to you, but this is what I have done. Keith |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 12:16:09 GMT 1
Im severely allergic to sulphur Keith I wont go near it, its possibly fatal next time they said, I get a sickly feeling if someone strikes a match anywhere nearby!  Ill have a look at my waterlily , I have a felling its a little small yet but its worth a look. |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 12:37:49 GMT 1
I expect it will be, wait for it to be either not flowering or congested with leaves/flowers coming out of the water. I did mine, last time, at the wrong time of the year. Remember the Lucky story? It was August time and there were three to split up so to give Lucky room to swim about. All plants survived and I put the bit I have now in the pot mentioned, just in case. When we knew we were moving, I am glad I did keep that bit. If I could get it into some deeper water it may even flower this year!! I have two large ones (different varieties) in the big pond as I know they are at the right depth, not sure if this one would cope, as I don't know which one it is. But then again, there is only one way to find out, isn't there? BTW, have you got different plants in one container? This is just a personal thing, but I prefer to keep mine in there own pots, so if one takes over (or dies as it doesn't like your water conditions) it is easier to sort out. Like I said, this is just a personal thing! Keith |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 30, 2007 13:14:42 GMT 1
I bought that last year, Keith it was a ready- planted large basket, and it filled a corner of the pond very satisfactorily! But this year there are more plants in there than there was to start with. At least two plants I never saw last year. I have had a look at last years photos in case I had just forgotten them, but they arent there. I will be dividing the basket as soon as I get some more compost and spreading the plants out around the shelves. This was, in part the plan, when I bought the basket in the first place. |
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Post by madonplants on Apr 30, 2007 13:55:50 GMT 1
I bought that last year, Keith it was a ready- planted large basket, and it filled a corner of the pond very satisfactorily! But this year there are more plants in there than there was to start with. At least two plants I never saw last year. I have had a look at last years photos in case I had just forgotten them, but they arent there. I will be dividing the basket as soon as I get some more compost and spreading the plants out around the shelves. This was, in part the plan, when I bought the basket in the first place. I see them for sale regulary and always say to myself, why put that with that with that as well, when in a years time, if not sooner, it will need splitting. They are fine for instant impact if you don't have the space and you have visitors coming, but on the whole they make life harder later on. I have even seen ones with water mint in!  We all know what that can be like if left to get away. Great plant if kept in check though.  Keith |
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Post by The witch on May 1, 2007 7:59:32 GMT 1
How deep have you got that, The witch as I have been wanting one for ages? I know it really is a deep water plant, but can be grown as a marginal. I have been looking at them over the last few weeks, but just can't make my mind up if I have the right conditions for one. Keith I have it at about the depth recommended in your link Keith. |
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Post by The witch on May 1, 2007 9:51:00 GMT 1
Just checked Keith and it's about 4 - 5" deep. |
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Post by madonplants on May 1, 2007 10:02:57 GMT 1
Thanks The witch? Maybe there is hope for one for me afterall. Did you buy it bare rooted or from a G/C, as you say it has taken some time to flower? When we were at a G/C a few weeks ago we spotted some at ~£12 and I remember telling OH, I could get one for £4. She said get one online then, but thinking if it is going to take that long to flower, might as well get one out somewhere! Keith |
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Post by The witch on May 1, 2007 10:06:22 GMT 1
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Post by madonplants on May 1, 2007 10:16:29 GMT 1
Thanks The witch. When you click on picture to enlarge do you get an error, I do everytime? Not that I really need to see an enlarged pictured, but just wondered!
Keith
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Post by The witch on May 1, 2007 10:24:30 GMT 1
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We all know what that can be like if left to get away. Great plant if kept in check though. 