Water feature ideas please

I was given a small pond fountain pump, so i went out and bought a large terracotta plastic pot from Wilkos. I got the 60x60cm one i think.

Put a little gravel in the bottom and filled with water. Made sure there was an overflow hole in the pot near the top, put the pump in and switched on. The pump itself makes a lovely dome effect on the top of the water and the noise of the water is so soothing ....But it looks pants as water features go!

Ive placed it right in the corner of my patio doors so when these are open i get to hear the noise of the water, but all im left looking at is an empty plastic pot lol.

Is there anything i can do to add rocks/pots etc to it to make it more dramatic or give the water more of a fall into the main pot?

What about plants? Are there any pretty tall flowers that can grow in 2ft of water? Ive only ever grown tropical aquarium plants before that have to be fully submerged.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated :thumb:

 

Do you mean like but in a plain terracotta pot?

If so how much "space" is there between the edge of the "dome" and the pot? If so, to be honest I would not put plants in as when they move they could touch the water giving it a chance to get out of the pot, so emptying it. If anything I would decorate the pot. (Spray paint, log roll) You could also raise the pump so the "dome" is just above the pot rim.

 

[size=large]I would either take it away from the pot and build a little structure with concrete and stones around the pump or leave it in the pot with some plants underneath

Here is an example of garden behind a waterfall at last year's Chelsea Flower Show[/size].

 

Thats exactly what i have Watergarden! Thanks :thumb:

Its in the pot with plenty of room around the edge of it and also the water isnt too close to the top, theres about a 3 inch gap (and i put a hole in the side of the plastic container to act as an overflow incase of heavy rain etc). It is sitting quite low in the pot at the moment, but when i tried raising it up on bricks it didnt look as good . I can have it as just a straight pump if i take the attachment off the end of the pump that makes the "dome"...so the end is just a normal pipe end if thats any help?

I really like your idea Miraflores, but i dont think i have the know how to make something like that

Just to add its a really small pump..something on the box said 500, if that makes sense? and the pump itself fits in my hand.

 

I would still raise it up on something, but then add more gravel to hide the bricks (If that's what you raise it up with). No need for a hole in the side, you would do better off sealing it with silicone. You don't need the hole as the water can just run over the side if it fills too much.

I have a water feature outside, and its similar to yours, but it has a very big purpose made tank, not a flowerpot, but to hide / decorate it, I used log roll. Its cheap, does the job and looks ok. You could use spray paint.

The other thing, I have is a light in mine.

 

Thanks

I'll give it ago and let you know how i get on. Im definitley interested in the idea of using a light in it :WINK1:

Just out of interest, what would i need to make something to grow some water plants? Are there any that are tall and that flower?

Of course i would use a different tub/container if needed.

I was thinking of using your idea of covering the main water feature with the log roll (or i found some bamboo screening left over in my shed lol) and then having smaller pots placed around the main water features base with some water plants in them, if this would work?

 

As you want tall plants and are willing to use additional pots, why not have some ordinary plants in pots, that way you can have tall bright and colourful.

 

I just fancied having ago at something different. Ive got pots with bulbs/trees etc all around as 98% of my garden is patio.

 

Here's a pic of the water gardens I made using glazed pots. You could do something similar. Maybe have a tall pot in the back with your fountain in and some smaller pots surrounding it with plants in. The ideas are endless really.

 

I've done something similar, catztail...




and I've also got a large half-barrel, with a pump running (excuse the barrier of pots around it - my dog is fascinated by the fish!!)

 

My water feature is made with a simple clay pot , I`ve just coted the inside with liquid fiber resin , basically you can buy any pot an make it water prof , the only problem is that in winter has to be empty in case of ice.