Planting container ponds
Tips on planting a patio container pond with small varieties of water plants that will provide a water gardening container feature in a smaller garden space.
The 'portable pond' by Pam Ayers on BBC TV Chelsea Flower Show 2011.
To buy a container pond go to pond products.
     
What container can I use to create a miniature patio pond?
Our range of fibreglass containers for a portable pond are featured on the pond products page and are available in 2 sizes and a choice of colours and finishes but any container that holds water can be used as a miniature container pond. In the illustration above there are metal, ceramic and fibreglass ponds. Some may need to have the drainage hole sealed over as most containers are manufactured with drainage but this can easily be done using a patch of pond liner adhered using either waterproof glue or mastic sealant (for sealing around the bath). Better to use our fibreglass containers that are delivered without a drainage hole and are not vulnerable in frost as we have designed them to be used as a miniature pond. See pond products page
How do I position the plants in the container?
You need to create some form of shelving to be able to place the plant baskets at the correct depth. In our round containers we can provide a Plant support ring that sits in the container so that the rim of the basket and the crown of the plant are situated 1" - 2" below the water surface.
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The plant basket will then locate in the grid which means it will be positioned correctly and also that it will be firmly located and tall plants will not blow over in the wind. Any pygmy or miniature waterlily that is to go into your container should be located in a greater depth of water - in a small container it will sit on the base of the container below the grid and then the leaves will grow up through the grid to the surface.
The 80cm container has a support ring with extension bars. The ring will go inside the container rim with the bars closed and then the extensions need to be pulled out by 1 1/2" each to allow the ring to sit higher in the container. When the ring is sited correctly the top of the plant basket should be 2" below the expected water level. The cable ties can then be tightened. |
Any other shape of container that you decide to use for a miniature patio pond will need some form of 'engineering' to enable you to place and keep the plants at their preferred depths.
What combination of plants should I choose for my container pond?
Every container needs the same combination of pond plants as a full sized pond ie. Oxygenating plants for beneath the waters' surface to use mineral salts and add oxygen to the water, surface cover plants to shade the water and give stability to the water temperature as well as producing interesting textures or flowers and emergent plants that will give you colour in different seasons and interesting plant form.
Choose smaller varieties of plants and those that are less vigorous for your container. We have put together some suggestions for different sized containers on our Planting Scheme page if you would feel happier choosing a ready prepared combination that will give you the right balance and spread of interest throughout the year.
Each of our planting collections contains oxygenating plants, suitable plant cover across the water surface and a selection of emergent water plants to give a spread of foliage and flower interest across the seasons to enable the container to achieve a balanced look and remain healthy.
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Planting scheme for a 60cm container pond in the sun |
Planting scheme for an 80cm container pond in the sun |
Planting scheme for an 80cm container pond in the shade |
The planting schemes containing miniature waterlilies and Iris are for containers in the sun and interest from foliage and texture are for a container in a shady position. (Planting schemes shown are numbers 2, 6 and 9)
To choose you own planting scheme
Plants for oxygenation: Hornwort, Starwort, Isolepis cernuua, Myriophyllum spicatum
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Plants for surface cover: |
Miniature waterlilies (pygmaea) in red, white or yellow for the tiny pond
Dwarf waterlilies - Aurora, Perry's Baby Red, Hermine, Walter Pagels for the 3' (1m) pond surface area
Annuals - Frogbit and Salvinia natans for the tiniest pond and Water Hyacinth for the larger patio pond container |
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Plants for upright texture and flower: |
Choose plants from shelf 0 or shelf 1 categories
Keep to plants that do not grow taller than 2' 6"(75cm)
Use plants that are described as small, delicate or slow growing
Choose a selection of interest throughout the year - Spring, Summer & Autumn.
Choose some that raft across the water surface as well as those that grow upright. |
Should I let my patio container pond freeze over with ice?
The water level in the container should be lowered by an inch so that any ice can expand upward rather than forcing itself under the rim and becoming trapped hence reducing the stress on the container. The surface of the container can freeze over but you must avoid the whole container freezing solid. If you have a miniature waterlily in the container then they will not thrive if they are in frozen conditions. So if you are in a very cold area or anticipate a cold spell of weather either move the container to a protected spot or wrap it in fleece or bubblewrap for protection. Alternatively the waterlily could be moved from the container and placed in a bucket of water in a greenhouse for the winter months.
80cm bowls dressed at this years Shows to give you ideas
Harrogate Chelsea Chelsea NEC
60cm bowls at this years Shows
  
Chelsea Chelsea NEC Harrogate
Can I do a specimen plant in a container?
Yes that is a good idea. Especially if the plant is a vigorous variety that might otherwise grow rapidly in the pond. Another good reason for containerizing some taller plants is that they can be kept more upright in a container full of water whereas in a small basket in proportion to their height they can easily blow over. Some pond plants have sharp root stock too and this can be fatal in a liner pond - by keeping these in a container(metal or fibreglass) you will protect the pond liner from being punctured.
Equisetum hyemale and Typha latifolia Variegata in solid containers held upright by the weight of the container filled with water despite the Typha being 5 ft tall.
Will my container go green with algae?
To help inhibit green water or algae use the Extract of Barleystraw product that is the concentrated liquid form of the barleystraw control that has been used in ponds for many years.
Do the plants in my patio container pond need feeding?
Yes, after their first season they will need additional feed as they will not have the benefit of natural sources of nitrates that would be available in a pond with fish or wildlfe. Try aquatabs pushed into the plants' compost or liquid aquatic plant food plus - both available on pond products
Does the water in a patio container pond go stagnant ?
No - as long as you include sufficient oxygenating plant in your planting scheme for the container then the water will remain fresh.
How should I care for the container I bought?
The fibreglass containers do not require maintenance but need to be handled carefully so that the surface does not get scratched as like any painted surface they could be damaged. You should protect our earlier metal containers with extra coats of clear spray lacquer (lacquer for metal finishes eg car spray lacquer) so that they are coated against the elements.
How often should I change the water in my container pond?
You will want to check the condition and growth of the plants so once a year do both jobs together. One annual maintenance day involving cutting back, propagating and checking the water and plants in early Autumn. You should always make sure the water level is kept topped up in summer and that leaves do not fall into the container in Autumn.
To view an article reproduced from The Garden Magazine entitled Ponds in Pots see the pdf on the downloads page
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