Ponds in pots - planting a container pond bowl

What container can I use to create a miniature pond in a pot?

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 - metal, ceramic and fibreglass. You may need to seal the drainage hole in a container that has not been designed for using as a container to hold water by using a patch of pond liner and a waterproof adhesive available on our pond products page.

Simpler 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 miniature ponds. See pond products.

80cm fibreglass container in Granite planted with a scheme for a sunny position

60cm fibreglass container in Gunmetal planted with Perrys Baby Red waterlilies for a sunny position

Weeping Red finished 60cm fibreglass container bowl planted with a selection of plants for a shaded position

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.

The plant basket for an emergent plant will 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.

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.

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 bowl below the support ring and then the leaves will grow up through the grid to the surface.

If you only plan to use only waterlilies in your container pond you will need oxygenating plants too but will not require a ring unless the plants cannot sit on the base of the container at the correct depth.

What combination of plants should I choose?

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 of plants and spread of interest throughout the year.

Planting scheme for a 60cm container pond in the sun

Planting scheme for a small container pond in a sunny position

Planting scheme for an 80cm container pond in the sun

Planting scheme for an 80cm container pond for a sunny situation

Planting scheme for an 80cm container in the shade

Planting scheme for an 80cm container pond in a shaded situation

The planting schemes containing miniature waterlilies and Iris are for containers in the sun and interest from foliage and texture are for containers in a shady position. (Planting schemes shown are B, G and J)

To choose you own planting scheme:

Plants for oxygenation Hornwort, Starwort, Isolepis cernuua, Myriophyllum spicatum

Plants for surface cover:

Miniature waterlilies (pygmaea) in red, white or yellow for the tiny pond
Dwarf waterlilies - Aurora, Perry's Baby Red, Candida, Walter Pagels for the 3' (1m) pond surface area

Floaters - Frogbit and Salvinia natans for the tiniest pond and Water Hyacinth for the larger patio pond container

Plants for upright texture and flower:

Choose pond 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 and 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 of our design of containers hence reducing the stress on the walls of 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 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 warm greenhouse for the winter months.

Would an 80cm container be large enough to overwinter a dwarf water lily?

An 80cm container should be large enough to overwinter a dwarf waterlily dependant on where you are in the country. The problems would come if you were in the Highlands of Scotland or high up in the Peak District or Cumbria where night temperatures and ice formation are more long lasting than in towns and cities in lowland areas. The waterlily will not survive if the water in the container froze solid for any length of time. The rhizome is hardy protected in water not trapped in ice.

How often should I change the water in my container pond?

We recommend that you avoid changing the water in your container as this means you will be refilling with fresh water where the water already in your container has gone through a maturing process. To avoid changing the water you will need to check your container pond in Autumn and cut back dying foliage and remove falling tree leaves. If the water turns green or grows algae or blanketweed then add Extract of Barleystraw on a weekly basis. Propagate and feed the plants in Spring if necessary then keep the water level topped up from the water butt in summer.

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 or turn green with algae?

No - as long as you include sufficient oxygenating plant in your planting scheme for the container then the water will remain fresh.

Extract of Barleystraw added throughout the Spring and Summer will help inhibit algae growth

It could turn green if left but 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. One 250ml bottle should last one season if you dose with 10ml fortnightly in Spring and Autumn and weekly in Summer when the water is warmest.

Can I plant my container with a single plant type?

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 cotrol the roots.

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.

Equisetum hyemale contained in a metal pond in a pot

Typha latifolia Variegata safely contained

Or alternatively you could use miniature or dwarf waterlilies as the feature in a container (along with the oxygenating plant that would be under the water surface).