I potted several small Trudy Slocum water lilies in a container 7 inches
deep and 24 inches in diameter. I used a light weight potting mixture from
Lowe's and put a layer of sand on top. About a week later I looked at my
pond and the whole container was floating upside down! Not quite all the
soil and lilies had fallen out yet but most of it did when I turned the
container over and pulled it out of the pond. What a mess! I had potted my
other lilies the same way, but in 7" by 18" containers, and they seem to be
OK. I always pot my lilies this way, but this is the first time I've used
such a large container.

I called the local pond supply and they told me I should have put rocks on
top instead of sand. Would this have made a difference? I don't like to
use rocks because it makes it so difficult to insert fertilizer tabs.

Unlike the 18" containers, the 24" container was actually sold as a small
pond, not as a plant container. Can I use it? What can I do to prevent a
repeat of this disaster?

Thank you for any suggestions and/or words of wisdom.

Harriett