Hello all,

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of
soil or media to grow in.

Any suggestions ?

I have been using potting soil with gravel on the top of the pot to
prevent soil from escaping. My pond is reasonably clear, I would be
curious about other better options.

On 28 Apr 2005 09:14:24 -0700, "JamesG" wrote:

I have been using potting soil with gravel on the top of the pot to
prevent soil from escaping. My pond is reasonably clear, I would be
curious about other better options.

Use strips of weed fabric between the soil and the gravel. Keeps the gravel
from settling into the soil, beside hold the soil from floating away when
putting in pond. ~ jan

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

"CanadianCowboy" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of soil
or media to grow in.

Any suggestions ?

You can use bentonite clay, if you can find a source (drilling supply companies
are one. Pump supply companies are another). You can also use a product called
Schultx's aquatic plant soil mix, which is actually baked fullers earth that has
been granulated. I hope this helps. Note: Bentonite will swell to up to 20
times its dry volume when it gets wet, so it is a good idea to thoroughly wet
the clay in a tub first, using small amounts until you get the volume you need.
It is very slippery when wet, so don't get it on the ground where anyone can
step on it and slip and fall. After you've made up enough to plant your plants,
mix a little aquarium gravel in with it and simply plant your plants in a
planter, and submerge the whole thing into your pond. It won't affect your
water clarity if you do it this way.

George wrote:

"CanadianCowboy" wrote in message
...

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of
soil or media to grow in.

I plant bare root, where possible. When a medium is needed:

You can use bentonite clay, if you can find a source (drilling supply
companies are one. Pump supply companies are another).

For the amounts used by the average ponder, 20kg bags of kitty litter
(unscented clay) work well. It _is_ bentonite.

After you've made up enough to plant your
plants, mix a little aquarium gravel in with it and simply plant your
plants in a
planter, and submerge the whole thing into your pond. It won't affect
your water clarity if you do it this way.

You could use the gravel; I wouldn't bother. kitty litter does need a good
rinse to get rid of the dust.
--
derek

"CanadianCowboy" wrote:

Hello all,

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of
soil or media to grow in.

Any suggestions ?

I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.


San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Goldfish, a RES named Colombo and an Oscar.

"We need to make a sacrifice to the pond gods, find me a young virgin... oh,
and bring something to kill"

I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just
be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.

........also remember to take the cat out first ;-)

Peter

"2pods" wrote in message
...


I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.

.......also remember to take the cat out first ;-)

Peter

And make sure the cat hasn't used it first. :-)

2pods wrote:



I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just
be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.

.......also remember to take the cat out first ;-)

Doh! That's what I forgot...
--
derek

San Diego Joe wrote:
"CanadianCowboy" wrote:


Hello all,

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of
soil or media to grow in.

Any suggestions ?


I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.

Where do you find it? I'm in San Diego too and have yet to find cat
litter without deodorizers or antibacterials.

TIA!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Walmart

Elaine T wrote:

Where do you find it? I'm in San Diego too and have yet to find cat
litter without deodorizers or antibacterials.

"Elaine T" wrote in message
. ..
San Diego Joe wrote:
"CanadianCowboy" wrote:


Hello all,

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of
soil or media to grow in.

Any suggestions ?


I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.

Where do you find it? I'm in San Diego too and have yet to find cat litter
without deodorizers or antibacterials.

TIA!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Pure, unadulterated cat litter is simply betonite. You can buy bentonite at any
drilling supply or pump equiptment dealer. In your case, you should have a
local, free supply of it, because bentonite occurs in the Otay Bentonite
Deposit, in San Diego County. Now all you have to do is find out where it crops
out in your area, get permission from the land owner, and have a bucket and
shovel handy. The easiest way to find bentonite in your area would be to
contact the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Survey, your county extension, and ask
for a free copy of the parts 1 and 2 (whichever you part of the county in which
you live) of the county soil survey, and ask them to help you locate
bentonite-rich soils on the map shown in the survey). Once you've done this,
you can do a little drving to find out where the best location is to collect
however much you need.

George wrote:
"Elaine T" wrote in message
. ..

San Diego Joe wrote:

"CanadianCowboy" wrote:



Hello all,

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of
soil or media to grow in.

Any suggestions ?


I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.

Where do you find it? I'm in San Diego too and have yet to find cat litter
without deodorizers or antibacterials.

TIA!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com


Pure, unadulterated cat litter is simply betonite. You can buy bentonite at any
drilling supply or pump equiptment dealer. In your case, you should have a
local, free supply of it, because bentonite occurs in the Otay Bentonite
Deposit, in San Diego County. Now all you have to do is find out where it crops
out in your area, get permission from the land owner, and have a bucket and
shovel handy. The easiest way to find bentonite in your area would be to
contact the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Survey, your county extension, and ask
for a free copy of the parts 1 and 2 (whichever you part of the county in which
you live) of the county soil survey, and ask them to help you locate
bentonite-rich soils on the map shown in the survey). Once you've done this,
you can do a little drving to find out where the best location is to collect
however much you need.


Whoa...cool! I have some friends on large properties out east, so maybe
they'll have some. Thanks!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Well if you were in this area I could load you up with all the
bentonite you could carry for free. I just got a heap of it for free
yesterday from a well drilling company as well as a free pond relining
with bentonite.........I have bentonite in powder form of 220 and 300
mesh size, in granular and also pellet form.......a form to cover
virtually all needs.......all in 50# bags. In all reality bentonite is
probably cheaper than dirt would cost. I can buy calcium bentonite
here (southern type) for my foundry use for under $6.00 a 100#
sack......but cacium does ot swell up like sodium bentonite does. ALL
well drillers use sodium bentonite for their slurry mix.

==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!

"Elaine T" wrote:

San Diego Joe wrote:
"CanadianCowboy" wrote:


Hello all,

since this is my first time introducing live plants to the pond,
I wanted to know what can be used instead of soil for plants to grow in.
I believe the soil will muck up the clarity of the pond.
I was given some plants that love to grow in water but need some kind of
soil or media to grow in.

Any suggestions ?


I use plain old cat litter. It's very cheap and doesn't float away. Just be
sure you get stuff that is just the clay, ie: not deodorizers.

Where do you find it? I'm in San Diego too and have yet to find cat
litter without deodorizers or antibacterials.

TIA!

I bought some at the local von's store in clairemont.

San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Goldfish, a RES named Colombo and an Oscar.

"We need to make a sacrifice to the pond gods, find me a young virgin... oh,
and bring something to kill"