Bog and underwater plants

[Marietta Ray]

Can I plant bog or underwater plants in a pot with pond rocks, or do they need soil?

 

[JRS]

Rocks/gravel are usually fine. Strong root feeders like water lilies typically do better with some type of soil or kitty litter and fertilizer.

 

[Marietta Ray]

Rocks/gravel are usually fine. Strong root feeders like water lilies typically do better with some type of soil or kitty litter and fertilizer.

Thank you for the response. Tell me, what kind of soil should I use if I go with the soil option....regular plant soil?

 

[Laaf]

I use pea gravel in basket type pots.

I do not wash off the dirt the plant comes with, if it came in soil.

I add fertilizer tabs in growing seasons.

 

[j.w]

Thank you for the response. Tell me, what kind of soil should I use if I go with the soil option....regular plant soil?

A lot of us use unscented kitty litter w/no additives, just 100% clay type. I have gotten mine from Walmart in big bags called "Special Kitty". The clay is actually beneficial to the water and it can cloud up a lot at first but it will dissipate and the cloudiness will not hurt the fish. Much lighter to work w/than rocks or dirt and easier to divide when needed as the roots separate better from the litter. Must add fertilizer (I've used osmocote granules put in a small piece of a paper towel wadded up and crammed down in the litter as far as I can w/my finger each Spring). The osmocote dissolves slowly throughout the Summer and won't need replaced till the next Spring. The paper towel will disintegrate eventually. Also I would put some flat stones on top of the kitty litter to help keep the fish from digging into it as they love to rearrange all the pond furniture that they can