Impatiens in the pond

someone told me that they planted impatiens in between the rocks around the pond without any soil and the nutrients in the pond was enough for them to flourish..what do you think ? Also if planted in one of those floating baskets you can buy they will do well ?

 

It's not their natural environment Netty but there is no harm in trying a few, you would soon know if they were suffering from waterlogging. I'm not sure about the floating baskets. If I was to do it I would leave planting them till near the end of May when the water will be warmer.

 

I would wait until May as well. I've never known a Busy Liz to die from over watering but a frost will kill 'em stone dead. If you wanted to play safe you could try potting them in some gravel with a 20% mix of aquatic (no nitrogen) compost and stand the pot on stones at the pond shallow where the roots will grow out the bottom of the pot and into the pond water.

An even easier solution to algae is to get a bag full of supermarket watercress and just float some in the pond. It will start to throw out roots within a week and harvested regularly the cress will strip the pond of nutrient, provide you with a delicious addition to salad all summer and give plenty of material for the compost heap

 

Thanks for all the advice I have always planted my watercress but floating it sounds great will certainly try it.Should I wait until weather is warmer ?

 

I threw some water cress in bucket of pond water and kept it in the greenhouse for a week. Other pieces I put directly into the pond also rooted but the roots didn't develop quite as quick. It's hardy stuff so as long as your pond isn't going to freeze solid I reckon you can just chuck it in at any time!