Does it work to set pots of annuals in a small swimming pool...

18 years ago

when you're going to be out of town? I have a pot of geraniums, one of impatiens and lobelia, and a huge pot of daisies. I'm going to be out of town for a week and have no one to water them. It's likely to be in the 80's and humid while I'm gone. My daughter has a wading pool that I could fill with some water and sit the containers in there, hopefully in a semi-shaded area. Has anyone ever does this or is there an easier solution?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

LAA668984
18 years ago
I have some pots that I will have to leave in Aug. I planned on putting them in my garage, where its cool. I will water them well, and they should be OK for the week. If its not too rainy, your plants would probably be ok in the little pool. But, if you get a lot of rain, you might find that your plants roots can't get any air, if there is standing water in the pool for a week straight.
Mandyvilla
18 years ago
Ok, combine the two ideas. Get an inexpensive tarp and create a lean-to for protection from torrential downpours. Suz
Related Discussions
building a Natural Swimming Pool / clay bottom swimming pond
Q
Comments (10)
Really neat. I live in Flour Bluff on the east side of Corpus Christi, and I am wanting to build a natural pond in my sandy backyard using clay and then lining the bottom with white rock and limestone. I want to make the pond look like the Comal River in New Braunfels ( a natural spring fed river) and plant it and stock it with plants and fish from the river. I live in a Zone 10A climate (nearly tropical) with an average annual low of about 31F. I have a tropically landscaped backyard, and I think having a natural spring looking pond would be awesome underneath my jungle canopy I am starting to grow in the backyard. I would like to make the pond about 10 - 12 feet long, about 8 ft. wide and about 4. 5 - 5 ft. deep. with a small waterfall and filtration for the fish and aquatic life. I would like to power this with a small solar panel attached to the fence or the roof of the house (where it can get some sunlight). Any suggestions? Thanks, John
...See More
Can I convert a swimming pool to a Koi pond?
Q
Comments (13)
There are several different ways you could go at it. If you want to keep it easy to convert back to "swimming pool" and keep the cost down for both factors, here are some suggestions. Leave the color as is, the blue isn't that big a problem with algae and a black swimming pool might not be as easy to sell. Some shade for the pool will help against the algae as well as would having it coated in black. Let the water age to get rid of the chlorine. (What source of water do you have for re-filling if you were to need to do any water changes? If you have city water with chloramine you might need to look into some water conditioner.) What is your existing pool pump/equipment? In some arrangements, you could simply continue using the existing pump/filter. Or you could shut down and drain (like for winter storage the pump and sand filter, if you do this properly, the equipment can be hooked back up when wanted for a pool again.) Then you can get a submersible pond pump and a bio falls basin. Put the pump in the pool and hook up to the bio-falls basin sitting on the edge of the pool and you are set to go for small numbers of fish. Add some aquatic plants (make sure they are in large plant baskets with gravel, no dirt.) Place potted plants around the falls tub to dress it up a bit and away you go. Now this might not turn your swimming pool into a perfect ornamental pond but it is the cheap way to do it. Make sure to choose an energy efficient pump as you will probably be running it 24/7. In warm water you need to keep it flowing or the fish can run out of O2. It is best to start out with smaller numbers of smaller fish and keep the feeding light until the system has stabilized. Now if you want to make it really fancy, it will of course get more complex and costly. If you want large or lots of fish, then you will definitely need to learn more about Aquaponics, bio filtration, fish keeping etc. Here is a link that might be useful: www.TCLynx.com
...See More
Help need Swimming Pool Advice
Q
Comments (25)
I am sure this blog has clarified all your decisions for you, but if not, just get 5 more quotes from pool companies and you'll be just as enlightened as you are now. Rather than concentrate on the specifics of a pool e.g. filtes, pumps, etc. Concentrate on the business you are buying from. Check how long they have been in business, how many complaints they have had on the BBB and pay particular attention to unresolved complaints. Does the pool company have a service department and a retail store to support you when you need help? The pool company has to live with your pool after the sale and they want to sell you a package they can support. My personal belief is that if you choose a reputable pool company (do your homework) and feel comfortable with the sales rep, you should let them recommend what components will go into the pool. To a very large extent, your budget will determine which type of construction will be employed in your project. Vinyl being the best value, gunite or shotcrete being the most versatile in design, and fiberglass with a shorter construction time. Technology has made great strides in the pool business particularly in sanitation, finishes, pool chemistry, and construction materials; they are better than ever. The swimming pool today can be a sparkling clear, forever clean compliment to your home.
...See More
Issues with dogs swimming in pool?
Q
Comments (36)
Similar to an earlier posting, my pool company said that the residual germs and microbes from one dog in the pool are equal to those left by about 40-50 humans. They also said that dog hair will damage the filter. We let a friend's dog into our salt pool once for about 15 minutes. It took five days to remove all the dog hair and oils and no one wanted to use the pool for those days. I will no longer allow a dog in the pool for basic hygiene concerns. Here are a few interesting links: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/rwi-what.html Many other RWIs (eye, skin, ear, and respiratory infections) are caused by germs that live naturally in the environment (water, soil). In the pool or hot tub, if disinfectant is not maintained at the appropriate levels, these germs can increase to the point where they can cause illness when swimmers breathe or have contact with water containing these germs. Why doesn't chlorine kill these RWI germs? Chlorine in swimming pools does kill the germs that may make people sick, but it takes time. Chlorine in properly disinfected pools kills most germs that can cause RWIs in less than an hour. Chlorine takes longer to kill some germs such as Crypto, which can survive for days in even a properly disinfected pool. Here's info on crypto (Cryptosporidium): http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/pbs/zoonoses/gik9fel/crypto.html It looks like giardia may also be transfered in pools: Giardia is a one-celled, microscopic parasite that lives in many different and often unexpected water sources, including ponds, lakes, streams, backyard swimming pools and even tap water. Giardia has even been found on contaminated animal haircoats. When ingested, it infects the intestinal tract of pets and humans, causing fever, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as other potentially serious and painful gastrointestinal problems. Although any pet can contract the disease, dogs most at risk of becoming infected with Giardia include puppies, outdoor dogs, hunting dogs, farm dogs, city dogs, adopted strays, dogs that live in kennels and dogs in multi-pet households. Many researchers believe there is even the possibility of transfer of Giardia infection between pets and people.
...See More
gardenfanatic2003
18 years ago
I don't think the impatiens would do well sitting in water.
Janine Starykowicz
18 years ago
I have the unplanted annuals (six packs etc) sitting in various plates, lids, pots etc. I overwater so they are sitting in about 1/2 inch or so of water. It does evaporate in a day or so, then I redo it. Impatiens seem fine with this.
angiebug
18 years ago
The impatiens should do fine in sitting water. Alot of folks float bare-root impatiens in their ponds. I saw some pics on the water garden forum of some impatiens that grew in the top of someone's waterfall last summer, and they were beautiful.
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
18 years ago
I agree with garden fanatic. Roots need oxygen for normal metabolic processes & roots that formed in soil would be unable to absorb enough oxygen if suddenly thrust into a water environment. It's possible that they might adapt, with all soil removed, but that doesn't seem to be in the offing here. Though roots form readily and often seemingly more quickly on many plants propagated in water, the roots produced are quite different from those produced in a soil-like or highly aerated medium (perlite - vermiculite - seed starting mix, e.g.). Physiologically, you will find these roots to be much more brittle than normal roots due to a much higher % of aerenchyma (a tissue with a greater percentage of intercellular air spaces than normal parenchyma). Just as roots formed in soil are unable to absorb sufficient oxygen from a water environment, roots formed in water are poor at absorbing water in a soil environment.

If the plants were to be set in a reservoir of water (the pool) & remained saturated for more than a couple of days, anaerobic bacteria in the soil would multiply rapidly & rot the roots.

Al
ellen_inmo
18 years ago
Wouldnt it be better to put them in a larger pot that is filled with mulch, rather than water surrounding them, then placed in a really shady area? We are bone dry here in Missouri. I have to water all in ground full sun plants every three days, pronto. All container plants get watered daily. However, my Hosta garden area only needs watered once per week. It is in full shade, and is not mulched currently (it is actually a hosta nursery bed at the moment).

I think if it were me, I would bring them in the house, rahter than leaving them outside during this time.
paul_
18 years ago
if the plants are already potted, and it is going to be humid, then a good soaking + putting them in a shady area should be good

Does it work to set pots of annuals in a small swimming pool...

Comments (8)

LAA668984

Mandyvilla

Related Discussions

gardenfanatic2003

Janine Starykowicz

angiebug

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

ellen_inmo

paul_

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US