Water Plants (forum)

TMary starts with ...
I bought this planter hoping to turn it into a water garden. It is 1.2m x .45m x .45m made of fibreglass unfortunately with holes drilled into the bottom. Is it possible or not a good idea?
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Time: 10th April 2014 1:26pm

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About the Author TMary
Neutral Bay NSW
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sternus1 says...
Easiest thing ever. Simply superglue squares of plastic cream bucket over the holes, allow to dry, then silicon over the top of this. Use selleys, not some crap brand. It'll never leak.

s

Time: 10th April 2014 1:44pm

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About the Author sternus1
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MaryT says...
Thanks, sternus1 - but what are "squares of plastic cream bucket" ? And would I need to use a pond liner as well?

Time: 10th April 2014 2:47pm

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sternus1 says...
well, any sort of PET plastic will do--soft drink bottle, ice cream container,yoghurt, anything. Just so long as the patches you cut out are flat to sit flush with the surface you'll be fine. You could even buy some kind of polymer paste which sets as hard as metal/plastic and just plug the holes with this.This would probably be easier and just as cheap tbh, get the stuff they use to plug holes in water tanks. No need for a pond liner.

http://www.bondall.com/titerange/aquaputty.html

It occurred to me later that you're better off patching it from the inside, otherwise it might not sit even on the ground and will be more full one side than the other.

Time: 10th April 2014 3:19pm

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About the Author sternus1
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TMary says...
Thanks s1; this is what the inside looks like. The paste sounds like a good idea.
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Time: 10th April 2014 3:35pm

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About the Author TMary
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sternus1 says...
Yeah, for a job like that get the putty. Doesn't have to be the brand I linked, cheaper bunnings varieties will work.

Time: 10th April 2014 4:04pm

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About the Author sternus1
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MaryT says...
Thank you, s1; will do. I can see I will need to make out a shopping list to turn this planter into a water trough. Will have to wait till my next lift to Bunnies so have time to plan.

Time: 10th April 2014 4:10pm

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JohnMc1 says...
Those holes look small enough to fill with silicone or polyurethane. You can get a tube for $5 to $6 and a silicone gun for under $5. Polyurethane is more expensive, from $11 to $16/tube. The cheap version is exactly the same as the more expensive version, same with silicone, get the roof/gutter, neutral cure.

Time: 10th April 2014 8:21pm

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About the Author JohnMc1
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MaryT says...
Thanks for the suggestion, JohnMc1 (and only) :) I am grateful for the tip. It's getting exciting. I bought two of those planters from eBay; delivered. I thought I'd make one into a water garden and the other maybe a ginger bed.

Time: 11th April 2014 8:54am

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sternus1 says...
Just be aware mary that caulking guns do require a bit of wrist strength. The putty you can just pare off with a knife and use to plug the holes with fingertips.

s

Time: 11th April 2014 9:02am

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About the Author sternus1
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MaryT says...
Thanks, s1 - I will take it into consideration as I cruise around Bunnies. What fun. :)

Time: 11th April 2014 9:10am

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JohnMc1 says...
Yes, it is still fun, especially when I wear a red polo shirt. I'm there on an almost daily basis because of a reno I've been doing in town for the past 12 months and nearly everyone knows me by my first name, I'm a Bunnies tragic.

Time: 11th April 2014 3:29pm

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MaryT says...
Funny; JohnMc1. The best part of any project is getting 'stuff' from Bunnies. :)

Time: 11th April 2014 4:31pm

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sternus1 says...
I always walk out with at least 5 things I had no intention of buying. Good for us consumers, not good for the local hardwares.More money to the evil empire of woolworths (they actually own a lot of poker machines, FYI).

Time: 11th April 2014 5:13pm

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About the Author sternus1
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MaryT says...
Back to water plants: any suggestions anyone? I want to keep some fish for mosquitoes but I don't want to run pumps and filters.

s1 we don't have local hardware stores any more but the discount stores are doing well providing the basics at low prices. They don't have the best quality but often stock stuff that would do the job.


Time: 12th April 2014 7:33am

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About the Author MaryT
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Diana says...
Hi Mary,

We've got several small ponds, mainly recycled old aquaria and large containers with pond liner for water chestnuts, lebanese cress and kangkong. Also they have pond weed in them. Most have Pacific blue eyes in them (and tadpoles). They do a great job and are compatible with frogs. Goldfish will do the job but eat frog eggs and small tadpoles. We don't feed our outside fish. One container with water lilies has a small solar fountain (picture). The solar panel is on a pole at the end of a bean trellis, but it can go on the ground. This fountan is from Brookfield produce- a local family-owned produce and hardware shop that is very popular. We are lucky to have it nearby. I'm always in there buying things for the garden and animals.
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Time: 12th April 2014 8:46am

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About the Author Diana
brisbane
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sternus1 says...
My mother used to keep swordtails with water plants in an old concrete feed trough.No filter, but you have to change the water obviously. They're hardy and attractive, and you can get them delivered to your door.The advantage they have over goldfish is that they graze less, and won't dirty the water as quickly. Might be too cold for them in Sydney, not sure.



Time: 12th April 2014 8:54am

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About the Author sternus1
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MaryT says...
Thanks, Diana and s1; lots to think about. Having edible water plants would be great; I grow kangkong in self watering pots. I would like to grow water chestnuts as well.

Now that I have given up the idea of relocating, I am going ahead with plans that I have shelved and a water garden is the first thing I want to make. :)

Time: 12th April 2014 9:16am

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About the Author MaryT
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JohnMc1 says...
Is there an easy way to peel water chest nuts? I gave up on growing them after a couple of years, they are next to impossible to peel.

Time: 12th April 2014 9:41am

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sternus1 says...
Woody corms are mostly owing to the plant being in shifting water levels/ periods of drying and flooding. They really do need to be submerged 100% of the time.

Time: 12th April 2014 10:46am

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About the Author sternus1
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MaryT says...
Water chestnuts needs to be peeled with a sharp knife or large peeler - much like the way you would peel an apple - a certain amount of flesh must be sacrificed.

Time: 12th April 2014 10:50am

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Julie says...
Mary, one of the best plants for keeping the water oxygenated is Vallisneria - ribbon weed or eel weed. You won't need a pump if you plant this.

I have tiny fish for eating the mozzies, but I'm not sure what they are called - maybe mountain minnows? I also have lots of little frogs, and sometimes a motorbike frog, so they all live happily with each other.

The water is partly shaded with azolla, which I rake off each week for a high-nitrogen mulch for my pots.

If you are going to keep fish (and you need some for the mozzies) I would recommend you put the container where it is shaded from the afternoon sun. As it is only 45cm deep, it could get pretty warm in summer in full sunlight.

You might be able to get plants and fish from a local paper, or even Gumtree. Here's a link about pond fish.

http://www.runwildtv.com/how-we-do-it/introduction-to-frog-friendly-fishes/

Time: 12th April 2014 7:06pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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MaryT says...
Thanks, Julie. I'll keep that in mind and make sure my fish don't get cooked. It won't be in full sun in any case. My jacaranda makes sure of that.

Time: 12th April 2014 7:25pm

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Diana says...
Hi Mary,
I think this group gave a talk at BOGI about which native fish and plants promote frogs. I bookmarked it when I was setting up ponds.

It it Brisbane focused- I'm sure there is an equivalent in Melbourne you could find on the web too.

http://www.qldfrogs.asn.au/01_cms/details.asp?id=15

Time: 13th April 2014 7:26am

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About the Author Diana
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MaryT says...
Thanks Diana - I already have frogs in the garden but though I hear them I'd never seen them. :)

Time: 13th April 2014 7:38am

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Linton says...
Fishpond just being installed now so the information here has been very timely.

I dug the hole before the rain came which has now half filled it but the pond has sunk on one end so I will have to take it out and make it level again.

Then I will be looking for some fish and some plants. Read that the Eel Weed doesn't grow in colder climates, please confirm.

A few days ago I saw a beautiful red Taro plant growing in water at Gardenworld. Tempting....but it was a whopping $70 for 1 plant! The more common Taro is much cheaper but I don't think it can grow underwater, isn't it?
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Time: 13th April 2014 10:45am

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About the Author Linton
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MaryT says...
How important is it that the pond is level?

Time: 13th April 2014 11:13am

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Linton says...
Hi Mary

It doesn't show clearly in the picture but the far right hand side is about 2 inches lower than the rest of the pond. It doesn't have to be perfectly level but I would like it to be a bit better than how it is at the moment.

Better to get it right at the start than trying to do it later - after the fish and plants have been added.

Time: 13th April 2014 11:32am

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About the Author Linton
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MaryT says...
I see, Linton. It's just that I don't have a level ground for the container, either. There's a bit of a drop to one side and I thought I'd let it be.

Time: 13th April 2014 3:34pm

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Julie says...
Linton, one thing that worries me about your pond is that if an animal, eg, a lizard, fell in, there is no easy way for it to climb out. Could you put a big rock at one end?

My pond, which is not all that big, is a hole in the ground lined with heavy duty black plastic. I put a ledge around the edge and added rocks, as there are lots of goannas and bandicoots around here, and I'd hate to drown one.

Time: 13th April 2014 7:21pm

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Linton says...
I still have large rocks waiting to be put in on the ledges that will be above the water surface like "islands" plus lots of plants like lotus that they can climb on to.
cheers.

Time: 14th April 2014 8:49am

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Julie says...
Good to hear!

Time: 14th April 2014 7:17pm

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TMary says...
Julie I have a pair of lovers on three brick for any drowning lizards to climb on :). In the end I put a liner in the container but still have to solve the problem of the ugly edges. I can walk to a local aquarium but they only have gold fish for outdoors so that's what I have. No frogs but better than mosquitoes. Still a work in progress.
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Time: 29th May 2014 3:25pm

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Julie says...
Sweet!

Time: 29th May 2014 9:06pm

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TMary says...
Thank you everyone for your input; I have now completed my pond project, if such things are ever completed. I have nine fan tails in it and a dozen plants. Although initially I wanted to grow food (water chestnuts, kangkong etc.) I decided the container is not big enough with that number of fish in it. It does not have a filter or pump but so far all's well; I have been taking water from it when I add fresh water so I can water my kangkong and Vietnamese mint and rice paddy herbs with the nutrient rich water. It is a fertiliser factory! Cuttings of those plants float happily on the surface and grow roots as well. My crazy clay figures are happier in their new home too. They were buried under the Erigeron daisies.

I hope you are all enjoying this brilliant Autumn day - blue sky, crisp air and sunshine. I feel quite blessed. My nine new pets are having a ball.
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Time: 3rd June 2014 1:07pm

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