Still need help, Questions about Pond Plants............

[Ann505]

Well not too many people posted to my last question, but thank you to
the three who did:) However I'm still confused, I went to look for pond
plants at Walmart and home depot as someone suggested, and I now
realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond? It
seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?
I also have just a few questions about my filter, what else might a
place like home depot call a Bulkhead fitting? I just couldn't find it,
maybe this is the wrong kind of store?? The person I asked said that he
hadn't heard of it?? And I didn't see anything there like the online
picture. About the lava rock, I got a bag of this today and it's very
small like gravel, and very heavy? It's the only one they had, but I'm
not sure how this would stay out of the sediment area of the filter?
Sorry for the confusion, but I'm very new to this and have no clue when
it comes to pond plants. Ouida

[Reel Mckoi]

"Ann505" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Well not too many people posted to my last question, but thank you to
> the three who did:) However I'm still confused, I went to look for pond
> plants at Walmart and home depot as someone suggested, and I now
> realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
> take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond?

## Which plants? Most need to be in soil or finer gravel to thrive. What
would hold them up and in place if you just dropped them into your pond?

It
> seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
> I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?

## Any good garden soil not to loaded with organic matter. I use the soil
from behind our house. It's a red clay and the plants thrive in it. I only
fertilize my water lilies.

> I also have just a few questions about my filter, what else might a
> place like home depot call a Bulkhead fitting? I just couldn't find it,
> maybe this is the wrong kind of store?? The person I asked said that he
> hadn't heard of it?? And I didn't see anything there like the online
> picture.

## Try ACE Hardware or any farm type of store.

About the lava rock, I got a bag of this today and it's very
> small like gravel, and very heavy? It's the only one they had, but I'm
> not sure how this would stay out of the sediment area of the filter?

## That's the wrong size. You need the lava rock that's 1 to 2"s.

> Sorry for the confusion, but I'm very new to this and have no clue when
> it comes to pond plants. Ouida

## Google is your friend. There are hundreds of pages out there that cover
all kinds of water/pond plants. :-)
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm

[Ann505]

Yes I have been learning a lot more about pond plants, but it seems
some of the (I Guess) most basic things are hard to find. Or should I
be more honest and say the time to google can be hard to find. Thank
you very much for your response, I thought this aquatic garden soil was
much different for potting soil. Now I still would want to put the
plants in pond planters, that look like strainer baskets, right? Again
thanks, Ouida.

[Gareee©]

A few things I've learned from the group....

if you are planting plants in the pond, you can put soil in if you choose,
but what also seems to work well, is just putting some rocks on top of the
bulb, or around the plant to anchor in it the pot.

You can use regular plastic pots, or the "screen" type.. each work well. The
planst will grow like crazy though, and when you remove them for splitting
them, you'll have to cut the pot off around the roots.

I prefer black or dark green plastic pots, because they cannot be seen in
the water for the most part.

Lava rock is a PITA to clean... if you must use bought bagged rock, use
smooth stream washed rocks.. they are easy to clean. Think rocks that'll fit
in the palm of your hand.

To get some plants in the ater right away, go to the grocery store, and buy
some watercress, and just dump it in the pond.. no preparation is needed. If
it's cheap by you, buy enough to cover like 1/4 of your pond's surface.. if
not, just let it grow some.

Most places are at the end of the growing season, stock wise. My local
walmart will no teven be getting any more topsoil in until next year!
Finding pond plants will be har dbecause of this.

Many people in the group have plants going crazy, and will gladly ship you
some for the cost of postage.. water lettuce, and water hyacynth are the
ones that will grow the fastest.

And if you are still building the pond, build it twice the size you think
you want.. otherwise next year, you'll be increasing it's size. You'll
always want more and more, and larger ponds are easier to maintain then tiny
ones.



Hope some of this helps!

--
Gareee©
(Gary Tabar Jr.)
Gareee's Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/ellison/86/mainframe.htm

[Reel Mckoi]

"Ann505" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Yes I have been learning a lot more about pond plants, but it seems
> some of the (I Guess) most basic things are hard to find. Or should I
> be more honest and say the time to google can be hard to find. Thank
> you very much for your response, I thought this aquatic garden soil was
> much different for potting soil. Now I still would want to put the
> plants in pond planters, that look like strainer baskets, right? Again
> thanks, Ouida.
========================
I only use those pond pots for my water lilies. I use regular cheapo
plastic pots (with drainage holes in the bottom) for all the other pond
plants. I place a piece of plastic from an old grocery bag on the bottom to
help keep the soil from leaking out underwater. I cover the soil with about
1" of any size gravel for the same purpose. The only plant that really
wants fertilizer other than my lilies are the arrowheads and the lotus.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[George]

"Ann505" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Well not too many people posted to my last question, but thank you to
> the three who did:) However I'm still confused, I went to look for pond
> plants at Walmart and home depot as someone suggested, and I now
> realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
> take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond? It
> seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
> I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?
> I also have just a few questions about my filter, what else might a
> place like home depot call a Bulkhead fitting? I just couldn't find it,
> maybe this is the wrong kind of store?? The person I asked said that he
> hadn't heard of it?? And I didn't see anything there like the online
> picture. About the lava rock, I got a bag of this today and it's very
> small like gravel, and very heavy? It's the only one they had, but I'm
> not sure how this would stay out of the sediment area of the filter?
> Sorry for the confusion, but I'm very new to this and have no clue when
> it comes to pond plants. Ouida

Here is a link to an online source of bulkhead fittings:

http://www.watergardengems.com/pvc/bulkheads.html

Pond plants will come in "soil", usually heavy clay soil. If it is in
potting soil, you want to remove it from this soil, clean it, and re-plant
it in heavy clay (you can use bentonite clay if you have access to a cheap
supply - well drillers supply companies and industrial pump companies
usually will sell you a 100 lbs bag for about $7.00). Others here will no
doubt provide more detailed information than I can right now. As for the
lava rock, I'm not sure what you are trying to do with it, unless you plan
to use it for a filter substrate. I don't know how your system is set up,
so I can't answer your guestion.

[Ann505]

Thank you very much. I will look for some watercress as soon as my pond
is up and running. It should be up this weekend. That's just what I
needed, some ideas to get me started:) But my pond is just 220gal
performed (with 30gal veggie filter), I had a bigger one but never put
plants in it. We had to remove it when my daughter started to walk. I
only had it for a year or so and it was never really finished. So I am
hoping this pond will get hubby excited to dig a bigger one, again. LOL

[Charles]

On 10 Aug 2005 09:33:37 -0700, "Ann505" >
wrote:

>Well not too many people posted to my last question, but thank you to
>the three who did:) However I'm still confused, I went to look for pond
>plants at Walmart and home depot as someone suggested, and I now
>realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
>take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond? It
>seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
>I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?
>I also have just a few questions about my filter, what else might a
>place like home depot call a Bulkhead fitting? I just couldn't find it,
>maybe this is the wrong kind of store?? The person I asked said that he
>hadn't heard of it?? And I didn't see anything there like the online
>picture. About the lava rock, I got a bag of this today and it's very
>small like gravel, and very heavy? It's the only one they had, but I'm
>not sure how this would stay out of the sediment area of the filter?
>Sorry for the confusion, but I'm very new to this and have no clue when
>it comes to pond plants. Ouida


In addition to what others have posted, the "Pond Soil" you saw sold
is something I posted about here some time ago. People responded that
it can destroy a pump, so be very careful with it. We just use dirt,
clean dirt, no toxics added that we know of.

[Lar]

In article . com>,
says...
:) Well not too many people posted to my last question, but thank you to
:) the three who did:) However I'm still confused, I went to look for pond
:) plants at Walmart and home depot as someone suggested, and I now
:) realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
:) take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond? It
:) seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
:) I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?
:) I also have just a few questions about my filter, what else might a
:) place like home depot call a Bulkhead fitting? I just couldn't find it,
:) maybe this is the wrong kind of store?? The person I asked said that he
:) hadn't heard of it?? And I didn't see anything there like the online
:) picture. About the lava rock, I got a bag of this today and it's very
:) small like gravel, and very heavy? It's the only one they had, but I'm
:) not sure how this would stay out of the sediment area of the filter?
:) Sorry for the confusion, but I'm very new to this and have no clue when
:) it comes to pond plants. Ouida
:)
:)
I have a month head start on you and here is what I have observed...the
pond (water) plants at Home Depot are seasonal..what they may have you
will find discounted but are in bad shape...I bought a number of things
at Lowes for a buck each and most seem to be growing good/ok now. Those
and a few other plants bought at a water garden store have the soil with
pea gravel on top of the soil...In the Vegi filter bare roots I have
Cana Lily, Caladium bulbs, 2 hibiscus and a couple of sweet potato that
are thriving...I also have some Cana and 2 hibiscus in the main pond,
but just covered with pea gravel. One hibiscus died, the other looks
rough but is putting on a couple of buds and the cana is not growing as
fast as the ones in the VF but is putting out new growth.

You might check with a swimming pool store on the bulkheads. Though, I
got mine from a water garden specialty store.
--
Lar

to email....get rid of the BUGS

[Mark and Kim Smith]

Ann505 wrote:

><snip>
>

>Or should I
>be more honest and say the time to google can be hard to find.
>

><snip>
>
>
>
Careful. Some folks might get offended that you don't have time to do
the research but have the time for them to do it for you. Look up some
water garden web sites. A lot of them have the information you are
looking for. Go to a book store or library and find a book on water
gardening. Find the time to read them. I found time a few years back
when I took a few books to read on a plane flight to Hawaii. I know
it's not easy sometimes as work, kids, pets, TEENS and etc. are always
wanting a piece of your time. But the information on the basics is out
there and it's allot easier to get it all in one place than piece by
piece from us. After that, it's all about what works best in your
particular situation. After all, we don't all live in the same zones.

[Ann505]

I hope NO one thinks I want them to spend time researching something
for me. After all we all have time limits, and almost every question
asked on this board COULD be researched by the person posting if they
knew where to go and had the time to do it. I just wanted some of the
abundant knowledge the "Pond People" have gain from their time with
their gardens. I just don't have any, as my pond doesn't even have
water yet. LOL. But when I can officially join "The Pond People" by
having some pond care knowledge I will reply to others who don't have
the time to first figure out if what they are asking is important and
then where to look for the answer. Not all of us are computer savvy
either, my husband is a google master, but I take awhile to find the
right search words. Thanks for the tip, Ouida

[Charles]

On 10 Aug 2005 13:26:25 -0700, "Ann505" >
wrote:

>I hope NO one thinks I want them to spend time researching something
>for me. After all we all have time limits, and almost every question
>asked on this board COULD be researched by the person posting if they
>knew where to go and had the time to do it. I just wanted some of the
>abundant knowledge the "Pond People" have gain from their time with
>their gardens. I just don't have any, as my pond doesn't even have
>water yet. LOL. But when I can officially join "The Pond People" by
>having some pond care knowledge I will reply to others who don't have
>the time to first figure out if what they are asking is important and
>then where to look for the answer. Not all of us are computer savvy
>either, my husband is a google master, but I take awhile to find the
>right search words. Thanks for the tip, Ouida


Here's a site i like for plants:

http://www.azgardens.com/

some people have complained about them, I've had good luck.

When you get into books, my current all time favorite is "encyclopedia
of Water Garden Plants" by Greg Speirchert and Sue Speichert.

Border's book store sometimes has very inexpensive water garden books,
a good excuse to go to the store.

[[email protected]]

The main function of potting aquatic plants in a heavy soil is not so
much for fertility, as to provide the plant with stability, to anchor
them. Quite a few aquatics put out considerable top growth through
their season, it does not take much imagination to see the yacht like
foliage of a handsome iris sailing briefly into the sunset to sink in
the deepest part of the pond one windy day, when a suitable breeze
whisks a small pot from it's moorings

Any ordinary heavy soil is fine, any mix of clay, sand and heavy loam
will work for most aquatic plants. The main function of potting any
aquatic plant is to anchor the plant and to protect the vital feeder
roots while they establish and get a good grip.

Many aquatics main source of fertility is foliar feeding, they rely
rather little on roots other than to anchor them, typically the
waterlilies and submerged aquatic plants such as hornwort, anacharis,
water poppy, water poppy etc

Any heavy dark loam, sand, clay combination will work well for
aquatics, stuff that stays where its put in a pot. Fairly easy to find
if you don't mind using a shovel... If you dig down a foot deep in an
area where soil is fertile and deep and take soil at about that depth,
that usually has the best fertility and consistency

One caution, make sure the organic content is low within a pot.... any
leaves or roots are likely to decompose fast in water, within the
confines of a pot that is likely to get a bit yacky, creating a
chemical reaction where acidic levels can become strong enough to
'burn' roots

A school of thought on fertility I'm following is mainly mineral rich
(clay with a dark loam), fertility poor early in the year, adding
fertility by liquid feeds to the water as algae's diminish, if it looks
like blooms need a nudge (which they don't usually)

Evidence for me of the 'school of thought' working was indicated here
this year by a shy blooming waterlily variety (Aurora) forming blooms a
lot faster than it is supposed to. The minerals get the root structure
up to speed, without the grief of algae blooms diverting and locking up
pond fertility (pet theory)

Regards, andy
http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.html
----------------------------oo--------------------------------

Ann505 wrote:
> realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
> take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond? It
> seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
> I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?

[devil dog]

Ann505 wrote:
> Well not too many people posted to my last question, but thank you to
> the three who did:) However I'm still confused, I went to look for pond
> plants at Walmart and home depot as someone suggested, and I now
> realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
> take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond? It
> seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
> I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?
> I also have just a few questions about my filter, what else might a
> place like home depot call a Bulkhead fitting? I just couldn't find it,
> maybe this is the wrong kind of store?? The person I asked said that he
> hadn't heard of it?? And I didn't see anything there like the online
> picture. About the lava rock, I got a bag of this today and it's very
> small like gravel, and very heavy? It's the only one they had, but I'm
> not sure how this would stay out of the sediment area of the filter?
> Sorry for the confusion, but I'm very new to this and have no clue when
> it comes to pond plants. Ouida

[Hal]

On 13 Aug 2005 03:35:07 -0700, "devil dog" >
wrote:

>
>Ann505 wrote:
>> Well not too many people posted to my last question, but thank you to
>> the three who did:)

I'm sorry you didn't get what you were looking for on the first try,
but how you post a quoted message? It looked old to me and I usually
ignore such messages. It would help if you limit the number of
questions in a message too. Put new subjects in new messages because
people tend to overlook the parts they don't address and it becomes
lost as the thread changes.

However I'm still confused, I went to look for pond
>> plants at Walmart and home depot as someone suggested, and I now
>> realize that the plants are not in "water", but soil:) So can I just
>> take these plants and shake all the soil off then put in my pond? It
>> seems they would die? I did find a list of plants to try. Also what can
>> I use as "soil", pond soil is very exspensive, 6.47 for a small bag?

Depends on the plant as to how well it will adapt to "wet feet".
Some don't, canna is tough and you can shake the dirt off and tie it
to a rock or put it in a bucket/net/ bag of rocks and place it in
water to a depth just over the root. Other plants require more TLC
and some like water hyacinths are floaters and just tossed into the
water. I like parrot feather as a filter plant because it grows year
round for me and I start it by placing a few cuttings in a 10" flower
pot filled with river pebbles and put the pot on the bottom of the
tank. I start a new pot in the fall and by spring the 4x8 pond is
covered.

Soil in my pond usually comes from one of my flower beds, but a pond
planting medium depends on who you want to listen to. Everything
from kitty litter to stone is used by different people. Some swear
by clay for lilies and others tie lilies to a rock and toss them in.
(Fish will eat the new shoots so don't do this in a pond with fish.)

>> I also have just a few questions about my filter, what else might a
>> place like home depot call a Bulkhead fitting? I just couldn't find it,
>> maybe this is the wrong kind of store?? The person I asked said that he
>> hadn't heard of it?? And I didn't see anything there like the online
>> picture.

I bought my bulkhead fittings online because my local building supply
houses didn't carry them either. Do a Google search for bulkhead
fittings and you can probably save some money, but here is a place
that has most anything you need for ponds. I went to the bulkhead
search:
http://aquaticeco.master.com/texis/master/search/mysite.html

Since bulkhead fittings are so expensive some use NPT (national pipe
taper) threaded fittings and GE Silicone sealant on smaller pipe
sizes. I have 4" PVC and spent the money for bulkhead fittings.
No regrets.

About the lava rock, I got a bag of this today and it's very
>> small like gravel, and very heavy? It's the only one they had, but I'm
>> not sure how this would stay out of the sediment area of the filter?


Sounds like you may have gravel. Lava rock is very porous with air
spaces in the rock and is light for it's size compared to gravel or
stone. A 5 gal bucket of gravel or river rocks will weigh around 80
pounds. You won't be able to get 80 pounds of lava rock into a 5
gallon bucket.

Lava rock although providing a lot of area for helpful filter
bacteria to attach, has a couple downsides that plastics don't. It
sheds, and it is more difficult to clean. I avoided it and perhaps
someone who uses it will answer your questions if you start a new
header something like "Lava rock questions" and try to explain how you
are using it.

>> Sorry for the confusion, but I'm very new to this and have no clue when
>> it comes to pond plants. Ouida

Most of us here are open to new ideas about plants and there are many
that benefit the pond. My lilies are grown in large pots with garden
soil and stones covering the soil to keep the fish from vacuuming
through the soil looking for edible delicacies. I fertilize them and
doubt they reduce the pond nutrient load, but they do cover a large
area and provide shade for the fish and help keep the water
temperature down during summer. There are other potted plants that
some find beneficial, but I think of them as shade or decoration.

Floating plants are probably the most beneficial nutrient removers
because of their fast growth and nutrient requirements to support
growth. They grow and absorb nutrients produced by fish waste and we
toss them out when they become too numerous thereby removing nutrients
from the pond.

There are also the so called "oxygenators" plants that live underwater
and contribute to the reduction of nutrients and produce oxygen. (My
favorite is anacharis.) All plants produce oxygen when they
manufacture food using sunlight, but when the sun goes down they use
oxygen and produce more carbon dioxide. Since they grow more slowly
than floaters and don't do as well with floater since the sunlight is
reduced by the floaters above them, I favor the floaters. I still
keep a 10' pot of stones to anchor a few anacharis, simply because I
enjoy looking at the plant and especially their tiny bloom, that pops
up on top of the water.

Regards,

Hal