If you have little space and still don't want to do without a pond, the mini pond is an ideal option. But many pond plants cannot be placed in the mini pond because they require greater water depth, more space, etc. Find out below what you should pay attention to when planting your mini pond and which plants are suitable for the small pond.
Which plants are suitable for a mini pond?
The best plants for a mini pond are those that require little water depth and do not spread too much. Examples of these are cress, frog's spoon, juggler's flower, grass calamus, pikeweed, hedgehog bulb, lotus flower, mussel flower, swan flower, marsh marigold, swamp iris, swamp forget-me-not, pine fronds, water mint, dwarf rush, dwarf cattail and dwarf water lily Pygmaea Chrysantha.
The most beautiful plants for the mini pond
The deciding factors when choosing plants for the mini pond are the planting depth and the spread of the plant. Even a mini pond should be no more than two thirds overgrown. Here is a selection of low-rooted, small pond plants for the mini pond:
| Name | Planting depth | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Bachbunge | 0 – 20cm | 20cm |
| Real watercress | 0 – 15cm | 20 – 50cm |
| Frog spoon | 5 – 30cm | 80cm |
| Juggler's Flower | 0 – 10cm | 30cm |
| Grass calamus | 0 – 10cm | 10 – 50cm |
| Pikeweed | 0 – 10cm | 30cm |
| Hedgehog flask | 10 – 30cm | 20 – 60cm |
| Lotus flower | 10 – 30cm | 100 – 150cm |
| Shell Flower | Floating | Up to 25cm |
| Swan Flower | 5 – 20cm | up to 100cm |
| Swamp Marigold | 0 – 10cm | 30cm |
| Swamp iris | 0-30cm | 50 – 100cm |
| Swamp forget-me-not | 0 -10cm | 30cm |
| Fir fronds | 10 – 40cm | 10 – 50cm |
| Watermint | 0 – 20cm | 40cm |
| Dwarf rush | 5 – 10cm | 30cm |
| Dwarf Cattail | 10 – 20cm | 30 – 50cm |
| Dwarf water lily Pygmaea Chrysantha | 20 – 40cm | low |
Create and plant the mini pond step by step
Make sure that you build your mini pond in the place where you want to leave it, because once it is full of water, it can hardly be moved. This is what you need for Your mini pond:
- a large container, e.g. a zinc tub, a small prefabricated pond, a barrel, etc.
- possibly pond liner if the container is not waterproof
- gravel
- Sand + garden soil
- Bricks or large natural stones
- Plant baskets
- Plants
- Hose for filling
Preparing the mini pond
Is your container waterproof? Then just wash it thoroughly. However, if it is not waterproof, such as a wooden barrel, you should line it with pond liner.
Then use the stones or bricks to build a kind of staircase on one or more sides of the container so that you get different depth zones.
Now mix equal parts sand with garden soil and add a several centimeter thick layer of this substrate or purchased pond substrate to the bottom. Cover this layer with gravel so that the earth is not disturbed. Now fill the mini pond halfway with low-lime water, preferably rainwater.
Plant mini pond
Now place the selected plants in place with their plant baskets. Secure them with stones so that they cannot slip. Don't put too many plants, remember that plants grow! If the pond looks too empty, you can fill it with decorative elements until the plants spread out.
Extras for decoration
Now add any extras such as lighting, fountains, watercourses etc.
Fill mini pond
Now the mini pond is completely filled with rainwater. If you want to use floating plants, place them on the surface of the water. Fish should only move in when the water has reached the final water temperature and any sand and earth that may have been blown up have settled.