On 17/08/2014 23:02, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Spider" wrote

Bob Hobden wrote:
"Spider" wrote
Thanks, David, that's a good tip. I've usually lined my aquatic pots
with torn up old tee shirts (there's a limit to how many dusters one
can use!), which keeps the soil in place, but I'll investigate cabbage
nets.
I'm not sure I'd want to eat and paddle in water I'd just soiled! At
least chick poo pellets are sterilised. I'll not be too worried, then.

A pet beef of mine is the pots they sell for water plants covered in
holes so the soil washes out. Do water plants need drainage holes? I
think not. Recently I have seen some lily pots that are solid so don't
need a liner at all, actually you could use a bin from a pound shop, I
have on occasion. For example RHS Wisley and others use half dustbins.



I know what you mean; it is rather frustrating. On one hand, I see
the roots growing through the mesh pots and am pleased the plant is
growing and flourishing; on the other, when I come to pot on that
plant and have to tear many roots to free it from the old pot, I am
not so pleased. I'd always assumed the 'escaping' roots were searching
for oxygen or food, and wonder if they could do that efficiently
enough in a solid pot. However, if you're seeing water lilies in
solid pots, then it makes me wonder.

My wee little water lily doesn't need anything like even half a
dustbin! It's a tiny one (Nymphaea Odorata Firecrest) to suit my tiny
pond. I also have a Nymphoides peltata and the ubiquitous Iris
pseudoacorus. Although the pond is on two levels, it's quite small, so
I'm doing well to get that much plant material in it. In the lower
level, which is very shallow, I have a few marginal/bog plants.

I do wish I had a huge pond, so I could have more fish and lots more
plants, but short of digging the house up, I'm not sure where it would
go!


Iris pseudoacorus is a bit of a thug and can get to be a problem
especially in a small pond. I composted my "variegata" and got some nice
smaller water iris. Iris laevigata comes in many colours and forms and
is never invasive and will look more in keeping with a small pond.
Nymphoides peltata can grow quickly and may become a problem eventually.




Yes, I know about Iris pseudacorus and its thuggishness. This
incarnation is a split from a much bigger clump and I'm keeping an eye
on it, you may be sure. The Nymphoides hasn't become a problem yet, in
fact it's struggling a bit this year.
I'm suddenly very interested in Iris laevigata! I must have a good
Google and see what's available. I do have Iris sibirica, but I can't
grow that in permanently wet soil, or the pond, but they are lovely. I
just love seeing Irises by water, but they do have to be the right kind.
Thank you for your considerable input to my learning curve, Bob!

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay