Do you love growing plants? If you do, I’m sure you have a lot of them in your garden and all over the house.

If you want another fresh idea that will surprise all of your friends and neighbors, start growing plants in a fountain. Just imagine a fountain full of flowers and plants. Doesn’t it sound fantastic?

It doesn’t matter if the fountain is indoors or outdoors. It can be a great attribute to your home or outdoor garden decor. I am sure you’ll get very surprised when you see how well flowers grow in a fountain.

But there are some things to take into consideration. Not all the plants will like water surroundings. Plants like lotuses and water lilies will work great in a fountain.

Lotuses

Lotuses are very easy to grow once you know the basics.

• Before putting the seed into the soil, you need to slightly open it with a sharp knife, until you see its creme core. This way the water will enter it quicker.
• Put it into a jar and add warm water that is not softened by any chemicals. Refresh the water every day, but remember that it should be warm for the seed to start growing. When the seed sprouts and grows three inches, it’s time to remove it from the jar.
• Don’t put it into the soil or sand, but press the seed a little for it to be half in the soil and half in the water. Also make sure the water doesn’t exceed 4 inches, otherwise it will be hard for the lotuses to reach the surface.
• Lotuses should get at least six hours of sunshine every day in order to grow. Six hours of sun is the minimum duration, but if you want your lotuses to bloom, you should provide a lot of sun for them. The soil temperature must be from 75-87 degrees F during three months.

Lilies

Although lilies look very similar to lotuses, biologically they are different plants. There are two types of lilies you can grow depending on the climate you live in.

• Hardy lilies are very strong and can survive tough weather and frost. In case of extremely hot weather, some shade is needed for the hardy lilies.
• Tropical lilies need warmer conditions.
• It is recommended that you plant water lilies in late spring or summer, so it has some time to adapt to the environment before the winter.
• Before planting, remove all the thick and fleshy roots.
• The lilies should be 6 inches below the water surface.
• You won’t have to take any care of them a year after you plant them.

In my next post I will tell about simple things you should take care of, if you want your “fountain-garden”  to stay cleaner and prettier.

Photo: © ktylerconk

Related posts:

1. A Fountain-garden: Taking Care
2. Design Your Garden In Japanese Style
3. Plan Your Own Garden