Planting Artichokes with Bananas

Artichoke Planting Tips

1. Do not disturb the roots

2. Water the hole before planting the artichoke

3. Put an old banana in the hole before planting the artichoke

These few tips will get your artichoke plant off to a great start!

Maintain a Crystal Clear Pond

Enjoy the video of the talk I gave in Bakersfield, CA.

Cure Water Garden Algae ~ 6 Must Have Plants

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About Pond Algae

Algae will happen... especially during the first year of a new pond.

Algae thrives mostly in hot sunny conditions. It is that greenish-yellowish foamy, slimy substance that covers the water surface. Although it is annoying, algae is a good sign because it tells us the ecosystem below the water is adjusting and transforming into ideal conditions. However, the problem needs to be eliminated before it gets out of control!













To kill off algae growth,an affordable solution called Tetra Pond Algae Control can be added to the water. It only costs $12 a bottle and is found in the fish and koi section of your local pet store. It will not harm fish or plants. This is only a temporary fix until the right oxygenating plants can be added to the pond.

A Natural Solution

Although plants such as water lily and cattail are the most common pond plants, they do not address algae problems. Water gardens need supporting plants to create a healthy environment. A balanced pond ecosystem includes floating oxygenating and clarifying plants. It also includes fish; such as mosquito minnows and the common feeder goldfish. Do not put fancy goldfish in your pond. They are not hardy for the outdoor pond environment! Koi are also not a good choice. Although they are a species of carp and are related to the common goldfish, koi will eat your pond plants!

Plants you must have in your pond...

Water Hyacinth or Water Lettuce AND Hornwort or Anacharis

These are THE plants to include in your pond. With the right mix of pond plants and fish, you might not experience algae problems at all!

1. Anacharis and Hornwort (Coontail)

Anacharis and Hornwort are needed under the water level. These are the primary building block plants of any water garden. Either anacharis or hornwort will be equally effective. They are "free floating" pond plants and do not need to be potted. Hornwort and anacharis naturally filter debris out of the water and provides oxygen for the fish. Some growers prefer to tie fishing line around each bundle and anchor them down with a washer. This is a good idea if you have moving water that would push the plants to one end of the pond.

2. Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce

Nearly ALL floating pond plants will oxygenate and clarify the water. Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce will also assist with algae control.

Floating Flowers

Water Hyacinth is distinctive for its large purple flowers. Water lettuce is rose shaped and produces tiny white flowers. Both plants are evasive growers. They have long roots that dangle down into the water, filtering debris. The roots also provide an excellent environment for spawning fish. Water lettuce and hyacinth plants absorb fish emulsion and make excellent mulch in under trees, bushes, and in the vegetable garden. In some parts of South America, water hyacinth is used as cattle feed!

3. Pennywort

Allowed to free float, pennywort will produce a large thick root mass. There are 3 species of pennywort: Regular (Hydrocotyle Verticillata), Variegated (Crystal Confetti), and Giant Blooming Pennywort. For algae control, the regular pennywort is the pond plant of choice, because it is the easiest to grow. It is also eatable! Young pennywort leaves are said to have medicinal properties that aid with pain control.

4. Primrose Creeper

Primrose creeper can also produce a thick root mass if allowed to free float. This is a hardy plant that produces yellow pinwheel flowers and long vines. The leaves turn colors of red and orange in the cold season. Primrose creeper will die back in the cold weather, but does return each year.

5. Parrot Feather

There are 2 species of parrot feather; common Myriophyllum Aquaticum and Dwarf Red Stemmed Parrot Feather. The common parrot feather will grow in partial to full sun. Red stemmed parrot feather grows best in partial sun. This is an easy pond plant to propagate. It also survives well in cold climates. Free floating parrot feather will give the appearance of a tiny forest on the surface of the water! Also good for spawning fish, this plant can also be very evasive.

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6. Fairy Moss (Azolla)

Fairy Moss is a tiny algae-like pond plant that resembles miniature floating fern. Very attractive! It turns shades of orange, yellow, and red in the fall time. However, it can be very evasive and is difficult to eliminate once it is in the water. If you have a water filtration system, fairy moss is not recommended because it will clog the filter. Although it is not an oxygenator or a clarifier, this floating plant is excellent for algae control. Mosquitoes also tend to stay away from ponds that have a good layer of fairy moss.

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Which plants should I choose?

If you were to choose only a few plants to control algae, to oxygenate, and to clarify the pond naturally, my choice is hornwort or anacharis, and the water lettuce or water hyacinth.

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Do I need a water filter for my pond?
Absolutely not! The picture below is a pond in its first year. It has only natural plant filtration and has never had a problem with algae! For the average size pond that is 100-200 gallons, and for small container barrel ponds, there is no need for a filtration system. Let the plants do it for you!

Everyone can have a natural pond
Setting up a balanced natural ecosystem and controlling algae is easy. All that is needed is sunshine and enough plants to cover about 1/3rd of the water surface.

GARDEN BLESSINGS!

GAiL

The Pond Plant Girl

http://www.pondplantgirl.com/

Hot Tub Ponds
There are many of us who have old hot tubs in our yard that may or may not work, but are no longer used. This is the only example of a hot tub pond that I could find. Add some floating plants, water lily, and some potted giant papyrus, and banana trees around the outer side and an instant tropical paradise is created!

Pond Plant Girl Mail

I have bought pretty much all my plants from you.

My question is:
When I plant seeds or other submerge plants, what keeps them in the pot? Do I use like pea gravel? I am in the process of changing my fish pond. I have had a 250 gallon hot tub for a pond that I have had for 5 years! But I need something above ground. I have had many surgeries including a double hip replacement, so my husband has purchased a 14/14 liner all the works and cement blocks to make it above ground for me. It is curved blocks so it will make a round pond. I read where to make your pond with a slant so the stuff can go down better for easier cleaning? And I spent more than I wanted so it will be beautiful. But I just cant figure the plant thing. Regular dirt floats out! And I have seen where they put some kind of cloth in baskets before they add plants. What kind of safe cleaning algae or fertilize plants in water can I use in pond that wont hurt plants or fish?

Thank you for your help! When it is all done I will send photo!

Isn't it great how creative you can be about creating different water garden-scapes?

My suggestion is to start with the floating plants: water hyacinth, water lettuce, primrose creeper, parrot feather, pennywort, and lastly floating heart (which I will be posting soon).

For a balanced ecosystem you will need small fish, such as minnows or feeder gold fish. You will also need a submerged plant called anacharis - which you can purchase at the pet store or on eBay too.

Potted plants such as iris, cattail, and lily can be potted in gravel. I use a fertilizer pack at the bottom of the pots. There are no holes pots and aquatic baskets. No holes is good if you don't want the roots to get out of control. Baskets are good for water circulation and natural fertilization. If you choose soil, you can mix a heavy loam and sand. Very expensive at the hardware store. The soil in our backyard is clay-like and thick dirt. Mixing it with sand and gravel makes for a perfect medium. If you are not so blessed, try looking for some at a river or lake. You can also try a nursery supply yard where they sell different grades of soil, mulch, and gravel too. We had ours delivered for my artichoke garden. Would love to see pics of your creations!

If you have any pond questions, please send me an email! I would love to hear from you.

GAiL The Pond Plant Girl
gail@pondplantgirl.com

Springtime means SNAILS!

Get them before they get you!

More than a snail-trail:
Oftentimes you will not spot a snail trail. Snails will also leave blobs of egg sacks in the soil. I call them aliens. Check your garden every morning and flick them out! Eggs hatch in 2 to 4 weeks, and snails can live up to 2 years!

Penny per Pick:
If you are like me, you hate to touch those slimy things. Why not pay a neighbor child a penny per snail to pick them out? If you know anyone with chickens the birds will love them too.

Save Your Egg Shells:
Crush up your egg shells and sprinkle them under and around your plants. The sharp edges will cut into the snails' underbelly and they will slime the other way. Wood ashes work too.

Beer or No Beer?
Beer is often a remedy to attract and rid snails, but if you have animals, they will also enjoy the stuff. When you can, sprinkle salt around your patio garden to keep the snails away. In the garden you can sprinkle pet safe snail pellets. The cost is about $5 per pound. "Sluggo" brand snail bate is the best.

Vinegar Mist:
Give the slimy critters vinegar shower (1 part vinegar to 1 part water). This is helpful when snails are wedged into small spaces of plants; such as the crevices of the artichoke plant.

BEGINNING POND PLANTS

There are many easy-to-grow plants to start your beginning water garden.


Parrot Feather: An easy to grow plant, parrot feather is like growing a tiny forest in your pond. Zone 8. It will survive light snow conditions. Free float or plant in pots and submerge.

Fairy Moss: Also called Azolla, this tiny floating fern is perfect for container gardens. Changes colors of orange and yellow in the fall time. It can, however, clog a water filter if you use one.



Variegated Four-Leaf Water Clover: This is my favorite of all the water clovers. The leaves spread out over the surface of the water and are fairly large. Very easy to grow and comes back each year. Zone
7-8.

Pennywort: Also very easy to grow the leaves are eatable! Can be used in a salad or even consumed for certain types of pain control.

A few other beginning pond plants are: Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Floating Heart, Hardy Water Lily, Water Iris, And all types of rushes and reeds; such as cattail.

All of these plants can be purchased on my website and found on my videos too!

HAPPY PONDING!!!

Purchase pond plants online or email The Pond Plant Girl at: gail@pondplantgirl.com

http://www.pondplantgirl.com/

Build a Composter for $25 or Less!

Stuff You Will Need...

24" long rebar, 4 pieces

1. 28" long rebar, 1 piece


2. 5' long 1" PSI 40 PVC Pipe, 4 piece

28" long 1/2" PSI 40 PVC Pipe, 1 piece

1" elbow fittings with 1/2 inch thread, 2 pieces

1/2 " threaded fitting, 2 pieces

32 Gallon size black plastic garbage can

Hammer

PVC pipe cement

Yard Stick

Swim Noodle or Rubber Inner Tube

Industrial Glue

Razor Blade or sharp knife

Pipe Cutter

Preparing the Can
☼ The can used was a black plastic 32 gallon trash can purchased from K-Mart for $11.98. A swim noodle was glued inside near the top as a gasket to help prevent leakage when the ran is rotated. This is a was an item I had around the house and a temporary fix. A better choice would be an old rubber bicycle tire.

☼ A half inch hole was easy to drill on opposite sides of the can with a razor blade and made a nice tight fit to slide the crossbar through. The crossbar should be about 1 yard long, 1/2 inch (40 PSI) PVC pipe. The picture below shows rebar and no PVC pipe. I decided the plastic pipe was better to prevent rusting. For added support, slide a long thin piece of rebar inside the 1/2 inch PVC pipe.



Putting it Together
☼ This was unbelievably easy! The connection between the crossbar and the legs was made with two 90° angle 1 inch elbow PVC joints with a 1/2 inch threaded inlet. A 1/2 adapter was screwed into the threaded inlet to attach the crossbar. But before I glued everything in place, I had to make sure the legs were level and even.


Setting the Legs
☼ The tricky part was setting the legs and it took me a couple tries before they looked right. When you snap the 1 inch diameter legs into the PVC elbow joint, they will be at the correct angle for your frame. However, you will need to pound in rebar stakes to keep the frame stable and in place. Use the angle of the legs as your guide to pounding in the rebar at the same angle. It's okay if you are off just a little. Use a yard stick to help guide you in the spacing of the legs on each side. The legs are precut 5 feet long, however you only really need about 4 feet in length. 5 feet will work just fine, but if you want it shorter and do not have a pipe cutter, ask your local hardware store (such as Lowes or Home Depot) to cut it for you.

Glue the Joints and Finish!
☼ There is no need to glue in the 1 inch pipe to the joint, but you will need to glue the crossbar into the joint adapter. This will keep it from popping off! The best glue to use is PVC pipe cement.

☼ All you need now is grass clippings and veggie cuttings to fill the can and strap a bungee chord over the lid for extra support and you are ready! Tumble your new garden composter a couple times per day. In the hot summer months your compost should digest fairly quickly!

Your Comments and Questions are always welcome!