How to Make an Indoor Container Water Garden

The words "indoor water garden" conjure to mind a small flotilla of plants drifting in a plastic tub--but water gardens are more like normal gardens than you might think. Most indoor water garden plants are still rooted in individual pots of either gravel or soil, then submerged in the water. An indoor water garden is a great way to bring a taste of the outdoors inside.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Select a container or containers for your water garden. If the container is porous, like terra cotta, either seal it and let dry or place a sturdy plastic liner inside and use this to contain the water.

2. Choose a location for your indoor water garden. Keep in mind that once filled with water, it will be heavy and difficult to move; you might consider putting it on a wheeled cart to make moving it around much easier.

3. Pick suitable plants. Be sure to take their needs into consideration--some plants grow quickly, some slowly; some need a lot of light and some like shade. It's best to group water garden plants with similar needs together. Remember that even though lots of sun comes through that window in the summer, that may not be the case during the winter, and locating your garden near a heater vent or air conditioning outlet might affect its growth. If your water garden container is on wheels, you can move your garden from a summer to a winter location to ensure the plants' needs are met.

4. Plant your water garden plants in their own individual pots. Choosing the right potting material may require a bit of research on your part for each plant. They'll probably prefer either a gravel or heavy clay-like soil medium to grow in. Fill the pot with this, add your plant, and place in your water garden's still-empty container. Spreading newspaper or large garbage bags over your work surface before getting started will help reduce the mess from this step.

5. Stack bricks or flat rocks to vary the level of your water garden's plants beneath the intended water level. Most water garden plants should sit with their pot no more than a few inches below the water's surface.

6. Fill your water garden with a garden hose. If your hose won't reach into the house, you can use a sink spray-arm if you have one and if it reaches, a watering can or in a the worst case scenario a bucket. It's best to fill from the bottom, so place the hose at the bottom and let it fill slowly or else ply your bucket carefully to keep from disturbing the plants. Follow the same plan to refill your water garden as water evaporates. If you've chosen your water garden plants well and placed them in the appropriate environment, they should flourish.