Self Watering Container Gardening Ideas

David Cory is the owner and lover of a container water garden. He and his family have one set up on their front porch in rural Indiana.

A container water garden with lily pads and goldfish (the turtle is fake—just a decoration).

What Is a Container Water Garden?

Container water gardens are a great alternative to in-ground ponds. They can be placed on a front porch in the suburbs or on a sturdy balcony in the city. What makes these focal pieces great is the movement of the water—the swimming of the fish and the ripples of the water cascading down from a fountain.

It's hard to go wrong when there are so many possible combinations of plants, fish, and decorations. And when you consider the small size of this water garden, you will understand how much easier they can be to maintain. The smaller size also greatly reduces the cost involved.

Creating Your Own Water Garden in a Container

Be sure to have fun! Most projects should be able to be completed in a single day or weekend. However, make sure to allow your water garden to cycle (run the pump) for a couple weeks before adding fish. The bacteria that will help balance your water garden need time to become established.

Important Considerations Before You Start

Since your container water garden is relatively small, be sure to account for that when choosing the number of fish and type of plants. Most of the time, dwarf varieties of plants will be the better choice.
Keep in mind how much sunlight the water garden will receive. Too much will aid in excessive algae growth, which is certainly not a desired result. Conversely, too little sun will make it hard to properly grow the water plants.

Examples of items you will need. A fish net, fish food, and a small brush to clean the pump are just a few.

Different Aspects of the Garden to Plan

Be creative when planning your garden!

Plants: Use a wide variety of ideas and bring them together when planning your container water garden. While lily pads are popular, for instance, not every container will be big enough. A covered porch might also create too much shade for lilies to grow properly.
Fountain Head: What type of fountain head will you use to create the feature that you prefer? There are bubble dome attachments, traditional fountain heads, and more. Thankfully, most water garden fountain kits will provide several, so you can choose your favorite.
Lights: Lights are a great feature to add as well. Floating solar lights, underwater spotlights, and others are just a few possibilities. My personal favorite are floating solar lights. They never need their batteries replaced thanks to the built-in solar panel on top. Try and not add too many so as to not disrupt the fish in your container. After all, it's a small space, and fish need sleep, too!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Once you have your ideas ready, it's time to put them into action. Creating your own container water garden is easier than you think. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Start by purchasing a resin half-whiskey barrel or similar-sized container.

You could also use an actual, real half whiskey barrel. If you close the latter then you will need to line it with pond liner. This and all other supplies needed to complete this project can be found at your local home improvement store.

This half whiskey barrel is made from resin.

2. Add a 1- to 2-inch layer of pea gravel on the bottom of your container.

Pea gravel is a good choice, but you could also use small river pebbles. Both can be found at your local hardware store.

3. Fill with about half the needed water.

This will allow you to easily add in the remaining items without difficulty.

4. Place the fountain/pump in the middle of your container.

Choose the fountain head that you prefer and attach it to the pump. Do not turn it on yet.

Sit Back and Enjoy

Building a container water garden can be a lot of fun. The best part is being able to sit down with a cold drink while listening to the sounds of water and watching the fish happily swim around.

Relax and enjoy!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

David Cory (author) from Indiana, USA on March 31, 2019:

I'm glad you liked the article. Good luck to you!

David Cory (author) from Indiana, USA on March 31, 2019:

Excellent point, Jeff. That's completely correct and I'm glad you mentioned it. Have a great day!

Jeff on March 31, 2019:

Most city water needs to sit for a while before adding fish. Allow the chlorine and other chemicals to air out.