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Blogger Wilmington, DE on Jul 29, 2012

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Galvanized tub water garden

I used a galvanized wash tub to make a water garden! Just set the potted water plants in the water, anchor them with stones, and fill in with floating water plants. Remember to put in a mosquito dunk every month or so during warm weather! See more at http://ourfairfieldhomeandgarden.com or http://pinterest.com/barbrosen/

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Galvanized tub water garden ~ see more of my projects and ideas at http://ourfairfieldhomeandgarden.c...

To see more: http://ourfairfieldhomeandgarden.com

15 Comments

Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Nicely done.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Beckie Taylor Hampstead, MD

Lovely, but what do you do with the plants over the winter?

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Barb Rosen Wilmington, DE

I bring the whole thing inside onto my brick floor in our heated sun porch. They aren't as pretty through the winter, but perk right back up when put back outside for summer. If you don't have room for a big tub, you could put the individual plants in smaller water tight pots to bring them in too.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Becky H Tampa, FL

The contrast in the folliage is quite striking. Nice job Barb.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Barb Rosen Wilmington, DE

Thanks for your nice comments, Becky and Douglas!

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Deborah D Groton, CT

Maybe I'll give this a try next year. Love it

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Elizabeth West Palm Beach, FL

I'm surprised that the alocasia survives with wet feet. They aren't water-lovers like colocasias.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Barb Rosen Wilmington, DE

These plants are all waterplants, Elizabeth, bought from the water gardens section at a local nursery.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Elizabeth West Palm Beach, FL

Have the alocasias spent an entire growing season in the water? I've never tried it, but if it worked for you, I will. I just hope your local nursery didn't accidentally put them in the water gardens section because they look similar to colocasias.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Barb Rosen Wilmington, DE

This galvanized garden was three years old when I took the picture, Elizabeth. Could it be there are different varieties?

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Barb Rosen Wilmington, DE

Elizabeth - you had me worried, so I looked it up - the striped leaf plant is a water plant, Taro. It is in the colocasia family and can be cultivated in dry or wet conditons.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Joan Glowacki Minonk, IL

I recognize the elephant ear. What are some of the other plants

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Barb Rosen Wilmington, DE

Joan, the plants I used in this tub are Imperial Taro, Dwarf Umbrella Palm, Spider Lily and Four-leaf Clover.

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Elizabeth West Palm Beach, FL

Alocasia 'Frydek' http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/f...
Imperial Taro: http://www.bonniesplants.com/my_pond/images/...

on Jul 29, 2012 · Like 0
Barb Rosen Wilmington, DE

I see the difference in your pictures, unfortunately did not save the plant labels (started doing that just a couple years ago) and was going by what I remembered the nursery worker calling the plant. Let it suffice to say that whatever the plant is, it lives fine potted up and set into a water garden.

on Jul 30, 2012 · Like 0