Small Indoor Water Gardens

About Small Indoor Water Gardens Android App

As anyone who has snorkeled can attest, the cool aquamarine light underwater casts an enchanted glow on everything in its domain. Perhaps this explains the allure of water gardens. Small freshwater gardens are fun to create and simple to care for. And all you need are a few floating or submerged greens in a vintage aquarium, an apothecary jar, or a sleek glass cylinder. You'll find appropriate containers at antiques shops, garden centers, or in your own cupboards.
When choosing plants, keep in mind that some will need twelve hours or more of bright light daily. Place these beneath fluorescent grow lights from an aquarium supplier. Avoid using incandescent lights, which can overheat the water and burn foliage. A few species, including sweet flag and arrowhead, can survive on a bright windowsill. Some water-garden favorites, including lace plant (Aponogeton) and sword plant (Echinodorus tenellus), have difficulty setting down roots in soil; place them in gravel or in other loose substrates available at aquarium suppliers.
Rinse gravel thoroughly to remove dust, which can cloud the water, and salt, which can damage roots and leaves. Spread the substrate in the bottom of the water garden before adding ordinary tap water. You should first leave the water in an open container for at least one day, though, to let any chemicals evaporate. With the water garden half full, place plants directly in the gravel. Make sure their crowns are not covered; this will impair growth. The crowns of marginals should be slightly above the surface of the water when the container is filled.
After a few weeks, begin fertilizing the plants with tablets made specifically for water gardens. If the water becomes murky, be patient; an initial algae bloom may correct itself. If algae persists, use a natural product, such as Pond Saver, which is available where you buy plants. Never use soap to clean the glass; even a trace of detergent in the water makes it difficult for a plant to breathe underwater. As attractive as aquatics and semiaquatics are, keep in mind that a few of these vigorous plants can be invasive. Enjoy them at home, but never introduce them into a pond outside.