Post by doug on Sept 8, 2006 16:11:35 GMT -5
Hi all. I was asked about my little bogs. see
www.flickr.com/photos/dastew
more specific
www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=227452985&size=l
What I have is a horse watering tub from TSC stores that I cut a piece of house insulating foam(stiff 2" thick) to fit inside the tub. This foam is small enough to go all the way to the bottom. I then cut holes in it for the pots. What I tried to do was simulate the Bog here in London, which has a floating mat of sphagnum moss with CPs growing on it. This setup keeps the roots of the CPs in a constant amount of wetness. This could be good or bad depending on what your plants want! But for the plants that grow on a floating bog t I figured that this should give them a similar environment. I have some pots up higher and drier and some lower and wet (D.intermedia like it wet)
In the winter after it has had some frost and the plants are dormant I place the tubs and all in my fish pond(seen in the background). These tubs then float in there all winter with their water separated from the fishpond water. I then (when it is cold enough) cover the fish pond and tubs with plastic to keep them from freezing solid.
The plants that I have are flowering and multiplying, so I guess it works OK. I only have to add water if it is dry for a long time, and then I use the water from my dehumidifier in my basement.
I am not sure this is the best way, but it works for me.
The next improvement would be to cover the foam with some sphagnum moss so it looks more natural.
Any and all suggestions are welcome. ( I am still learning and am glad I can communicate with the experts )
Doug Stewart
www.flickr.com/photos/dastew
more specific
www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=227452985&size=l
What I have is a horse watering tub from TSC stores that I cut a piece of house insulating foam(stiff 2" thick) to fit inside the tub. This foam is small enough to go all the way to the bottom. I then cut holes in it for the pots. What I tried to do was simulate the Bog here in London, which has a floating mat of sphagnum moss with CPs growing on it. This setup keeps the roots of the CPs in a constant amount of wetness. This could be good or bad depending on what your plants want! But for the plants that grow on a floating bog t I figured that this should give them a similar environment. I have some pots up higher and drier and some lower and wet (D.intermedia like it wet)
In the winter after it has had some frost and the plants are dormant I place the tubs and all in my fish pond(seen in the background). These tubs then float in there all winter with their water separated from the fishpond water. I then (when it is cold enough) cover the fish pond and tubs with plastic to keep them from freezing solid.
The plants that I have are flowering and multiplying, so I guess it works OK. I only have to add water if it is dry for a long time, and then I use the water from my dehumidifier in my basement.
I am not sure this is the best way, but it works for me.
The next improvement would be to cover the foam with some sphagnum moss so it looks more natural.
Any and all suggestions are welcome. ( I am still learning and am glad I can communicate with the experts )
Doug Stewart