Alot of us will be potting and repotting.......What works for you?

[Desertponder]

Shanna-what is the name of the topsoil you get at HD?

Its called EarthGro Top Soil. Its in a white bag with red and green lettering. Its right at $2.00 per bag here. Its not the deep, black loamy soil like most bagged top soil. Its more clay and sand.

[slackjeep]

Thanks Shanna.  We have that brand here.  I'll have to try it.

[jerryg]

How do you use oscote if you don"t have to repot ?

[Joyce]

Welcome to the forum JerryG.

The few times I have been to lazy (or ill...battling cancer here) to repot,
I lifted the whole rootball out of the pot, and added more Osmocote to the bottom of the pot.
Then I plopped the entire plant back into the pot, pressing the edges of the soil firmly against the rim.
I use pots without drainage holes so the fertilizer stays in the pot and doesn't seep out into the pond,
at least not without first seeping up through all the roots of the plant.

If you can not do that, try making a hole with a wooden dowl (round out the end with a rasp so there is less damage to the roots of your plant) all the way to the bottom of the pot. Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons into the hole, pushing the Osmocote to the bottom with the dowl, then fill the hole up with fresh soil, tamping down firmly, using the same dowl again.

[barb]

I use pots without drainage holes so the fertilizer stays in the pot and doesn't seep out into the pond,
at least not without first seeping up through all the roots of the plant.

I have been wondering about just that!  Last year was my first year with my new pond and I didn't fertilize the few potted plants I have. I thought for sure the fertilizer had to be bad for the fish.  You have cleared that up for me Joyce, now to find some pots without holes...I think I may start off fertilizing with tomato spikes though, that sounds easier than measuring/pouring Osmocote.  Do I stick them all the way down below the soil and rocks, or leave them sticking out?  Sticking out seems like it would foul the water.  (I plan to buy the aquarium gravel mentioned, what a great idea!)

Editing to say your fish are indeed irresistable, Debbie!  And I'd love to see more pics of your pond.   

[enzo]

I use regular sand and osmocote in containers. I use containers to control the size of the plants.