swamp plants in a trough

[WimB]

Hello,

a couple of years ago I got a nice big horse-trough carved from stone. I planted it with carnivorous plants in peat but they didn't do very well because they were sometimes for too long too deep under water.

So now I'm looking for plants that can withstand being 5 cm (2 inches) under water for one or two months and still will thrive. I really don't want to drill a hole in it...

Anyone has any ideas?

Thanks

Wim

[Maggi Young]

WOW! You are really lucky with this big trough, Wim.
Can we see a photo of it?

[WimB]

Hi,

here are some pictures of the trough with some primula's (florindae and viallii) in it, who do not like it, so I'm going to transplant them.

lenght:100 cm
width: 50 cm
depth: 30 cm

[David Shaw]

Wim, could I suggest that you use some wicking material to draw excess water out of the trough?

[WimB]

wicking material, never thought about it, wat do you suggest?

[Maggi Young]

Hydro-Wick Passive Hydroponic Wicking Material is one option:  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Passive-Hydroponic-Wick-Wicking-Material-GROW-seeds_W0QQitemZ230235506325QQihZ013QQcategoryZ43555QQcmdZViewItem

 Any rope/material that will soak liquid up its length at at reasonable speed will work. Cotton fibres/ropes are fast, but rot very easily.

[Lesley Cox]

Aciphylla pinnatifida will grow and flower under water as will some of the smaller calthas.

[arisaema]

Ditto for Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus', Juncus effusus 'Spiralis', all Alisma species, Peltandra virginica, Menynathes trifoliata, Mimulus ringens etc. I think I would have used it as a shallow pond, lots of interesting plants that will survive with only an inch or so of water

[Lesley Cox]

But these are all WAY too big for a trough whereas the others stay small, or at least, very controllable.

[Susan Band]

Wim, you could always mound up the trough, perhaps with tufa so that you could grow plants that like their heads in the sun and there roots kept moist.
Susan

[arisaema]

But these are all WAY too big for a trough whereas the others stay small, or at least, very controllable.

Taste, Lesley, althouth thinking it thru the Alisma may be a little oversized The mound idea sounds good!

[WimB]

Susan;

that mound idea is a really good one. Cool en moist roots and head in the sun... any suggestions?

I have some rocks out in the garden that I have to water each day. The following plants are in it: Androsace pyrenaica, Androsace mathildae, Physoplexis comosa, Saxifraga pubescens snopwcap. Do you think they would like it with their head in the sun?


Thanks

P.S. the soil in the trough now is soil for pond plants, do you think it would be better to change it?

[art600]

Many Happy Returns Wim

[David Nicholson]

....... and from me Wim. Wish I was 28 again

[WimB]

Thanks for the wishes