I'm going to grow some plants in containers that like an "always wet" soil. Plants that would grow along the edge of a lake, for example. Their roots are always moist, but not flooded with standing water.
I could just set pots of plants in a tub of water, but that doesn't seem like a very attractive approach. The open water is also likely to become a mosquito factory in the area where I live. Putting screen on the top of the tub and around the pots probably wouldn't be very attractive either.
I'm looking for some ideas on how to do this. Something that would have a good size water reservoir so that it doesn't have to be watered every day, that would be attractive in its own right, and that wouldn't become a mosquito factory.
Possibly rigid plastic trays for underneath washing machines? That's what I've been using for marginal, fen, and bog species. I buy them at Menards. They're cheap enough but bright white and about 3' x 3'. Depth is about 2.5" so if you get a deluge, you don't have to worry about a marginal species drowning as the water will never go higher than 2.5" in the tray. If you want a lower water level, drill holes around the edge at a lower height. Then try plopping in little broken off bits of mosquito dunks (BTi). Those will not harm your plants, wildlife, pets, or you. Target specific.
This kind-
https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/mosquitodunk.htm
I do use this system too, just not outside-
https://www.hhydro.com/cgi-bin/hhydro/HH00552.html
The washer trays are only around $14 and the price of the above with shipping and handling is a tad much unless there's a good reason to buy them.
This kind-
https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/mosquitodunk.htm
I do use this system too, just not outside-
https://www.hhydro.com/cgi-bin/hhydro/HH00552.html
The washer trays are only around $14 and the price of the above with shipping and handling is a tad much unless there's a good reason to buy them.
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imagardener2
- Senior Member
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:55 am
- Location: Three Rivers, TX
I'm not sure this will fit in with what you have planned, but I wanted to tell you about them just in case...
I recently found these at the Dollar General for $6 each.
The great thing about these is they have a drain hole with a built in plug.
Although I have daylilies planted in the planters above I plan to plant water irises in some others.
I'll plant the iris in gal containers filled with kitty litter, then put the containers in these trays filled with water. To keep the mosquitoes at bay I plan to put a layer of sphagnum moss over the top of the containers and tray.
After that all I'll have to do is periodically check the water levels or put them near one of the in-ground water sprinklers in my yard and let them be watered that way.
I recently found these at the Dollar General for $6 each.
The great thing about these is they have a drain hole with a built in plug.
Although I have daylilies planted in the planters above I plan to plant water irises in some others.
I'll plant the iris in gal containers filled with kitty litter, then put the containers in these trays filled with water. To keep the mosquitoes at bay I plan to put a layer of sphagnum moss over the top of the containers and tray.
After that all I'll have to do is periodically check the water levels or put them near one of the in-ground water sprinklers in my yard and let them be watered that way.
Your post created an interesting idea! 
I could plug up the bottom drainage holes on any planting pot, and then make new drainage holes about half way up the sides of the pot. The bottom half of the pot would become a water reservoir, and the top half of the pot wouldn't be water logged.
Now I just need to figure which kind of media to put into the pot. Something that would drain through the top half of the pot reasonably well. And yet still draw up enough water from the bottom half of the pot to keep the top half constantly moist.
I could plug up the bottom drainage holes on any planting pot, and then make new drainage holes about half way up the sides of the pot. The bottom half of the pot would become a water reservoir, and the top half of the pot wouldn't be water logged.Now I just need to figure which kind of media to put into the pot. Something that would drain through the top half of the pot reasonably well. And yet still draw up enough water from the bottom half of the pot to keep the top half constantly moist.
grb1 - That looks like a great idea! Easy to fill a nice large reservoir, constant supply of water to the plants, but the roots wont be immersed in standing water.
Would you put the side drainage holes at the top of the reservoir or somewhere higher?
Any particular potting mix that has worked well for you?
Would you put the side drainage holes at the top of the reservoir or somewhere higher?
Any particular potting mix that has worked well for you?
NEWisc,
I'm growing a tomato plant in my bucket, so I'm planning on drilling the drainage hole right where the reservoir meets the bottom of the bucket with the potting mix. This is roughly a 1 gal. reservoir.
I'm not sure what kind of plants you want to grow, but that is where I'd put it. Anything higher would saturate the potting mix.
I'm using a potting mix that I got from one of the companies that I ordered my container boxes from. You can use something like MiricleGro with moisture control or something that has good drainage ability. Just make sure you use potting mix, not the potting soil. Potting soil will get too compacted and the roots won't be able to grow.
I'm growing a tomato plant in my bucket, so I'm planning on drilling the drainage hole right where the reservoir meets the bottom of the bucket with the potting mix. This is roughly a 1 gal. reservoir.
I'm not sure what kind of plants you want to grow, but that is where I'd put it. Anything higher would saturate the potting mix.
I'm using a potting mix that I got from one of the companies that I ordered my container boxes from. You can use something like MiricleGro with moisture control or something that has good drainage ability. Just make sure you use potting mix, not the potting soil. Potting soil will get too compacted and the roots won't be able to grow.
NEWisc wrote: I'm looking for some ideas on how to do this. Something that would have a good size water reservoir so that it doesn't have to be watered every day, that would be attractive in its own right, and that wouldn't become a mosquito factory.
NEWisc,NEWisc wrote: I'm still looking for some ideas on a single container design, something that doesn't involve placing a pot in a tub or tray. Something that would look much like any other container planting.
If you want a better looking container, I got my self watering bucket idea from https://www.earthbox.com. They run around 30 bucks ea. plus shipping costs. Each box is 2.5 feet long and 15 inches wide. It holds 2 cubic feet of potting mix and has a 3 gallon water reservoir.
If your not sure about the plants you want to plant, you can ask on the EB forum at https://forum.earthbox.com/. I'm sure you would get an answer there.
Wish I had told you that when I first posted.
grb1