Last year, many of my submerged pond plants weren't doing well, so I decided to try more emerged plants. My raised pond lacks shallow spots to set the baskets, so I needed a floating plant basket. A quick check at the online prices made my eyes go wide, then I decided to make what I needed.
Here we go:
Materials: (Can all be found at a dollar store or craft section)
Styrofoam (preferably a circle, but you can cut one up from packing scraps if need be.) I got two small ones or one larger one for $2 at the dollar store
Sponges (the cheap type with no chemicals, the 8 for $2 kind) (This gives us a lightweight medium for the roots to grow in).
Plant cuttings. I also have a list of good plants at the bottom.
Depending on the size you are making, you may need these:
plastic drink cup
Craft mesh (the white grid-like stuff in the craft section)
wood skewer (or a stick, or cut-up popsicle stick).
I made three different sizes of floaters: Super small, Medium, Large (There were larger rings at the store, but I didn't get any, so this shows just a few options...)
You can spray paint them if the brilliant white annoys you as much as it annoys me. Krylon Fusion was my favorite, but seems to have disappeared. I have used Rustoleum painters touch paint+primer with no problems. Spray thin coats and it barely damages the styrofoam (most spray paints eat styrofoam like candy...). I only spray the top and sides, leaving the bottom untouched. (https://live.staticflickr.com/927/42691729684_7ffb1c901b_b.jpg)
Super small: Excellent if you just want to try out floating plants and only have $5
I got a 4 pack of small 3 inch rings for $1.50 and a pack of 8 sponges for $2.
Just cut the sponge in half and slide it into the ring. You can always pierce the foam with a skewer to ensure it can't fall through the ring (optional. I never did it.)
Use one of the blades on the scissors or a knife to cut little slots for your plant stems. Holds 2-3 little plants nicely.
Squeeze the sponge beneath water since a dry sponge is somewhat water-repellent. Insert the plant stems and set to floating. If the cuttings are fresh, try to keep them semi-shaded for a day or so until they start to get rootlets.
For $3 and twenty some cents, I got 4 little floating planters.
Ideal plants are small ones: coleus, trailers (such as parrots feather), various stem plants common in aquariums (like moneywort or creeping jenny), or ivys.
Medium: I like this size in my smaller pond. Not too tiny, but not too overbearing either.
I picked up a two-pack of 5.5" sytrofoam rings for $2. Still had sponges from the above project.
I had some plastic solo cups that fit into the ring almost perfectly. I cut the bottom off one and inserted it.
Then I cut up the styrofoam and put it inside. I had to wedge two side by side so they would stay put.
Insert plant stems. This size of styrofoam is pretty buoyant, and with the deeper bottom, can handle larger plants like dwarf rushes or standing stem plants like geraniums.
For under $4, I got two nice floaters.
Ideal plants are pretty much anything that doesn't grow too tall (or it may overturn in a large wind). Coleus, geraniums, trailers, stem plants, tomatoes, or any houseplant that takes cuttings well.
Large: This has a lot of potential. Large and extremely buoyant, it is tough to submerge and nearly impossible for the wind or fish to flip over.
A nine inch ring cost me $3. I needed craft mesh (usually white, but I found it in black).
If you could find a large plastic pot the right size, that is another option if you want taller plants (Or even use 2-3 rings to hold up a larger plant pot).
Take the ring and cut the mesh to size. Use fishing line to secure it (string and thread will rot).
Cut foam to fit inside. Make slots for the plants and insert them.
A circle of this size makes for a stunning mat of mixed plants. Creeping jenny, parrots feather, coleus, and several taller plants like geraniums or small rushes/sedges.
For $5, I got a large floater that I plan to completely cover in different colored coleuses with a central geranium. I will post pictures once I get the cuttings and let them grow a bit.
Some other pictures:
Here we go:
Materials: (Can all be found at a dollar store or craft section)
Styrofoam (preferably a circle, but you can cut one up from packing scraps if need be.) I got two small ones or one larger one for $2 at the dollar store
Sponges (the cheap type with no chemicals, the 8 for $2 kind) (This gives us a lightweight medium for the roots to grow in).
Plant cuttings. I also have a list of good plants at the bottom.
Depending on the size you are making, you may need these:
plastic drink cup
Craft mesh (the white grid-like stuff in the craft section)
wood skewer (or a stick, or cut-up popsicle stick).
I made three different sizes of floaters: Super small, Medium, Large (There were larger rings at the store, but I didn't get any, so this shows just a few options...)
You can spray paint them if the brilliant white annoys you as much as it annoys me. Krylon Fusion was my favorite, but seems to have disappeared. I have used Rustoleum painters touch paint+primer with no problems. Spray thin coats and it barely damages the styrofoam (most spray paints eat styrofoam like candy...). I only spray the top and sides, leaving the bottom untouched. (https://live.staticflickr.com/927/42691729684_7ffb1c901b_b.jpg)
Super small: Excellent if you just want to try out floating plants and only have $5
I got a 4 pack of small 3 inch rings for $1.50 and a pack of 8 sponges for $2.
Just cut the sponge in half and slide it into the ring. You can always pierce the foam with a skewer to ensure it can't fall through the ring (optional. I never did it.)
Use one of the blades on the scissors or a knife to cut little slots for your plant stems. Holds 2-3 little plants nicely.
Squeeze the sponge beneath water since a dry sponge is somewhat water-repellent. Insert the plant stems and set to floating. If the cuttings are fresh, try to keep them semi-shaded for a day or so until they start to get rootlets.
For $3 and twenty some cents, I got 4 little floating planters.
Ideal plants are small ones: coleus, trailers (such as parrots feather), various stem plants common in aquariums (like moneywort or creeping jenny), or ivys.
Medium: I like this size in my smaller pond. Not too tiny, but not too overbearing either.
I picked up a two-pack of 5.5" sytrofoam rings for $2. Still had sponges from the above project.
I had some plastic solo cups that fit into the ring almost perfectly. I cut the bottom off one and inserted it.
Then I cut up the styrofoam and put it inside. I had to wedge two side by side so they would stay put.
Insert plant stems. This size of styrofoam is pretty buoyant, and with the deeper bottom, can handle larger plants like dwarf rushes or standing stem plants like geraniums.
For under $4, I got two nice floaters.
Ideal plants are pretty much anything that doesn't grow too tall (or it may overturn in a large wind). Coleus, geraniums, trailers, stem plants, tomatoes, or any houseplant that takes cuttings well.
Large: This has a lot of potential. Large and extremely buoyant, it is tough to submerge and nearly impossible for the wind or fish to flip over.
A nine inch ring cost me $3. I needed craft mesh (usually white, but I found it in black).
If you could find a large plastic pot the right size, that is another option if you want taller plants (Or even use 2-3 rings to hold up a larger plant pot).
Take the ring and cut the mesh to size. Use fishing line to secure it (string and thread will rot).
Cut foam to fit inside. Make slots for the plants and insert them.
A circle of this size makes for a stunning mat of mixed plants. Creeping jenny, parrots feather, coleus, and several taller plants like geraniums or small rushes/sedges.
For $5, I got a large floater that I plan to completely cover in different colored coleuses with a central geranium. I will post pictures once I get the cuttings and let them grow a bit.
Some other pictures:
