Plunge Into Spring! Create a Japanese Water Garden with a Bamboo Fountain
Create your own Zen water garden in mere minutes ' bamboo water spouts paired with watertight containers and some aquatic plants make it quick and easy to bring all the benefits of a full size water garden into your outdoor space. The relaxing sound of flowing water, the beauty of aquatic foliage as it sways gently in the breeze, and the sense of being one with nature make water gardens highly prized for their serenity. Many people spend countless hours and thousands of dollars on building large ponds in their yards to achieve this effect, but with these instructions you can have your own Japanese water garden with minimal time and effort. Japanese container water gardens can be placed in your yard, garden, porch, balcony, deck, or even indoors in a sunny window.
First, you will need to find a watertight container which will be the basis of your mini water garden. Lotus pots (planters with no drainage holes), recycled wine barrels, or any kind of basin that measures at least 24 inches in diameter will work wonderfully. For those who like the rustic look, recycled wine barrels (pictured at left) are recommended above any other kind of wood barrel because they are already watertight without requiring a liner, and they have an aged look that enhances the look of your plants. These can be found at most local garden centers. For the most authentic Japanese look, choose hand carved granite basins. The Lotus, Tetsubachi, and Natsume basins pictured below create a soothing, contemplative atmosphere.
Once you have chosen a container, you're ready to populate it with some stunning aquatic plant life. Your local garden center is the best source for help in choosing the best plants ' they can assist you in finding plants appropriate for the container size you've chosen. Water lilies and lotus, while very pretty, are not recommended for container gardens ' they simply take up too much room. For most small basins, two or three small potted plants and perhaps a floater or two will make a stunning impact. Basins that have a smaller water capacity inside will be better off with just floating plants. Don't crowd too many, or they will end up fighting for oxygen and sunlight.
Bamboo water spouts will bring that highly appreciated sound of trickling water to your container garden, as well as classic Zen beauty. The Large Bamboo Water Spout with Pump, pictured at right and above left, is just the right size for most containers. Its adjustable arms allow it to fit any container with a width of 15 to 30 inches. Bamboo water fountains are captivating features that add visual flair to your water garden, and are very easy to install ' just lower the pump into the water, set the spout's arms across the bowl, and plug in the pump. The pump cord can be easily hidden with plants. These bamboo fountains are coated with an anti-mold finish, and are very durable. Adding river rocks and/or small Buddha figurines will further enhance the look of your water garden.
Caring for your new Japanese water garden is simple. Place it where it will receive at least 6 hours of sun every day, and top it off with water every few days as the water evaporates. Once the plants have begun to show signs of growth, you can add a fertilizer tablet made especially for water gardens (found at your local garden center). Water gardens are miniature ecosystems ' after about 4-5 weeks, the plant life will establish itself and balance the environment inside the container to create a healthy living environment for fish if you would like to add them. Koi and goldfish are not recommended for small container water gardens because they can't handle the changes in temperature that will inevitably occur. Stick with hardy guppies, or get some gambezi, also known as mosquito fish, which have the added benefit of eating mosquito larvae. Snails are also a great addition as they eat algae, larvae, and excess foliage.
