Lockdown Day 8: Set Up An Amazing Balcony Pond Today With These Tips
Water gardens are a delight to have; they are refreshing, adds beauty and offer a cool and soothing atmosphere. But with the concrete jungles taking up space, it is virtually impossible to have a garden, let alone a pond in the garden.
That’s where mini-garden ponds come into play. You can have them anywhere, like your balconies or terrace or even the window sill. All that is needed to accomplish it is a watertight container and sunshine, apart from a few caring tips.
You can increase the beauty by scattering around several mini-ponds in the available area. That way you will have a wider variety of aquatic flora as well as a wider spread of beauty. Small pots filled with water plants can take care of themselves so long as fresh water is added from time to time.
The main thing to remember here is to add water periodically and to prevent the growth of algae as well as mosquitoes from breeding. A well-maintained mini-pond can be an oasis for butterflies and birds as well as a few fish if you drop some in.
Select the Perfect Pot
You will need a non-draining, non-porous pot that can hold water. You can get these from the market, made from different materials like ceramic, porcelain, sealed cement or plastic. You can also fashion one from wash tubs or old plastic containers.
Reusing old water tubs that are sealed and repainted can make for innovative water ponds. Wooden containers and barrels are not advisable as they might act as a harbour for bacterial growth that can damage the aquatic life.
The size of your mini-pond depends on how much of available space you have. If you have a large area, then either go for a big tub or scatter little pots around. Also, use tubs depending on the number of plants you want to garden.
Location and Plant Selection
When placing your mini-ponds, determine the amount of sunlight it will receive at the spot. Optimal locations include places that are hit with the morning sun and partial sunny spots. Mild environment would protect the plants from getting burned by the direct rays. The direct heat would also harm any fish you place inside the ponds.
When choosing partially sunny locations, go for plants like the water hyacinth, umbrella palm and tall horsetail rush. When you mix the water garden with tall and short varieties, it keeps your display interesting.
Moreover take care not to crowd the water garden. Keep a little space between the plants and ponds for a peaceful effect. Also the space allows them to grow freely.
Pot Maintenance
Mini-ponds require minimum of maintenance. The main thing is to keep the water level in check and to replenish the pots with fresh water periodically.
During winter, the pots would do well indoors. Depending on the climate and the environment’s heat, you would have to top off the pot as and when required.
Water plants get most of their nutrients from the water and the soil, so use fertilisers only if required. Another important thing to look out or is the growth of algae.
Use a bubbler in bigger pots to keep the water in motion. This discourages mosquitoes. You can also place mosquito doughnuts in the pot to prevent the insects from breeding.
