Planting Pond Plants - soil vs bare root ??

[Kristin F.]

A woman on another Forum gave me the hint to plant my Irises bare root in my pond, so I removed them from the "ugly & visible" pots and now they are much better looking

Do you plant bare root in your ponds?
I know the Lilies need soil and therefore plant them in baskets or pots.. I've read that some of you plant them in dishpans and I'll definitely do that next time I'll repot & divide them

BUT, what about other plants such as Oxygenators, Marsh Marigold, Variegated Sweet Flag & other "stuff"???

I would appreciate if you would share your knowledge on this

The pots are in my opinion so ugly and want a more "natural look" in the pond. Now that the pond water is crystal clear, everything in there is so visible ..

Any suggestions?

[LeeAnne151]

The only thing I do not plant bare root is waterlilies. Everything else is bare root among the rocks.

[Kristin F.]

Thanks Lee Anne
-tell me; do you have Marsh Marigold (Calthas Palustris) planted bare root in your pond?
..I just want to be sure before I remove it from the soil and plant it bare root 

[Esther]

I have even heard where people bare rooted the lilies.

[Bonnie]

The only thing I do not plant bare root is waterlilies. Everything else is bare root among the rocks.

Same here.

Kristin you might want to check this post out:
http://www.americanponders.com/forum/index.php?topic=2167.0

[happyoutsidegirl]

Hi Kristin, I have bare rooted lillies! I have some mini's left from my little pond so I divided them and had a bunch of left over so I just tucked them in some rocks and sure enouge they grew but didn't bloom.

[andrew davis]

Just about every aquatic plant will grow better bare root, I can't think of many that don't. Perhaps some of the slower growing, fleshier rooted plants such as golden club, marsh marigold, lysichiton, gunnera, arrow arum which really like a firm grip on very deep soft mud

Question is, is it desireable...

Crayfish, turtles, koi and a host of peckers can have a field day at the more tender succulent varieties. Some aquatic plants have evolved pecker proof roots, others haven't

Some plants growth rates are all too impressive. Yellow flag iris, large waterlilies, lotus, cyperus can hog a fertile pond rather fast. You might want to find a pot big and tough enough to confine them, or start saving up for a crew of labourers packing chainsaws

Some varieties are tetchy about being confined if the soil is too heavy and thick, lotus can fail...

Some varieties really need anchoring, aquatic iris especially, many is the time a light breeze has carried off a pretty plant to merrily emulate the final voyage of the Titanic in Davey Jones' locker.

Tiddly ittybitty hardy (buoyant) waterlilies can drift out of their pot to an uncertain fate if not pegged down adequately

Regards, andy
http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.html

[Kristin F.]

Thank you all so much for your replies
-and thank you Bonnie for the link - I just missed that great thread .. lots of info 

[emm]

Kristen,  I have some marsh marigolds in my gravel filter and while they grow well enough they are not lush.  I don't think they are getting enough nutrients, my fish load is quite light.  Another marsh marigold growing in my soil/peat bog does very well and I plan to move the plant that is in gravel into the bog area.  I realize that this is not exactly what you are asking but if my observations are correct the marsh marigold may need more nutrients than it can pull out of the pond water if the fish load is light.  The same is true of the 2 types of iris and the sweet flag that I have.  Other plants do just fine.  The various "oxygenators" grow to be large and healthy in the pond.  They are weighted down under lily pots or rocks.  Some are just left alone, they float for a while and then sink to the bottom of the pond.  I often have to thin the oxygenators out.  Hope this helps.  emm

[marla]

My marginal are all bare rooted in the pond.  I have a few lilies that have so out grown pots I'd call them bare root.

[Kristin F.]

Thanks Emm! That was exactly what I needed to know - thanks bunches

and Thank you also, Marla

[LeeAnne151]

Yes, I have Marsh Marigold bare root. Blooming it's head off right now

[Kristin F.]

Thanks Lee Anne, that's great!
-I'm going to remove my Marsh Marigolds from the pots and plant them soilless

Thank you all

[Vickie]

I put water iris-and water celery and water hyicent, in my vegetable filters. I put the water iris in mesh wastebaskets and set them in the vegetable filter. I use it to filter the water and they grow like crazy. But they are in a preformed pond not in my water garden. I want no holes poked in my liners.

[luvmyasagis]

All of mine except the waterlilies are without soil and do 100% better.