Cheap bog plants

[Dogcatlady]

I'm nearing the end of constructing my first big pond and bog. It is recommended to have 1 bog plant per square foot, but I have a 48 sf bog! There's no way I can buy 48 bog plants. Can anyone suggest a cheap/plentiful source of bog filtration? Even a temporary one until my carefully chosen bog plants have a chance to grow and fill the space?

I won't have many fish, but I will have birds using the pond for bathing so there could be lots of bird poop so I do need the bog up & running early on.

Thanks!

Ann

 

[JamieB]

Pothos. If you’ve got one, they are common house plants, take cuttings and put them in the shadiest part of the bog. Iris and day lillies apparently do well in very shallow bog. Mint does well shallow as well.

 

[addy1]

impatiens, creeping Jenny, mint, rush, lirope, you can pick up the small plants from the box stores and get them going.
What area do you live in? Cold or hot?

 

[JamieB]

Addy is the bog master. I’m learning from her example, if you go read over the articles about bogs, it’s sure to give you ideas.

 

[Lisak1]

Everything @addy1 mentioned plus watercress. And you certainly don't need to start with one plant per square foot. Your plants will grow so fast that you will quickly have an overgrown bog! Start with what you can afford and let nature do her thing!

 

[mrsclem]

I start out with watercress every spring. Just go to the grocery store and get a bag or bunch and tuck stems in your bog. It will root and take off like crazy.

 

[Dogcatlady]

I start out with watercress every spring. Just go to the grocery store and get a bag or bunch and tuck stems in your bog. It will root and take off like crazy.

GREAT idea! Watercress is one of the things I wanted anyway!

 

[Dogcatlady]

Everything @addy1 mentioned plus watercress. And you certainly don't need to start with one plant per square foot. Your plants will grow so fast that you will quickly have an overgrown bog! Start with what you can afford and let nature do her thing!

Thanks Lisa!

 

[Dogcatlady]

impatiens, creeping Jenny, mint, rush, lirope, you can pick up the small plants from the box stores and get them going.
What area do you live in? Cold or hot?

Addy, I know mint and creeping Jenny can be invasive! Impatiens is annual here, so that might work. (zone 7) I think between the watercress and impatiens, I think you've solved my problem!

 

[addy1]

They are a bit invasive here, esp mint I have it popping up here and there. The bees love the flowers so it does not matter to me that it does.

 

[Lisak1]

Creeping Jenny does creep, but I wouldn't consider it invasive like mint. Mine has always stayed pretty well where it should. And it's easy to pull up if it wanders too far. Mint, on the other hand, does what mint wants! But like @addy1 said, the bees love it so I've put up with it from time to time. Then I'll rip it all out, dig it all up and say NEVER AGAIN! Ohhhh... what's this? CHOCOLATE MINT?? Why NOT! Haha!

 

[addy1]

lol I have mountain mint, water mint, surprise mint, not seeded by me. It is a great fall nectar for the bees.

 

[MajorDan]

I start out with watercress every spring. Just go to the grocery store and get a bag or bunch and tuck stems in your bog. It will root and take off like crazy.

Great info on watercress, why didn’t I think of that. To the grocery store I go.

 

[Dogcatlady]

I got a bunch of watercress at the local Asian market. there are already some roots starting! Too bad it tastes like poison....

 

[Lisak1]

Too bad it tastes like poison....

We actually like it! We juice it or throw it into a salad. It's kind of peppery tasting.