recommended plants and aeration for tiny pond

by Cheryl
(Baton Rouge, LA USA)

I have a 26-30 qt. container that I would like to make a water garden feature from. Do I need a water pump to aerate? Suggestions for a water lilly?

Doug says that this is a very small container for a water garden although if you purchased a miniature water lily you could have one in it. You surely don't want to combine a water pump and a water lily in this small area (water lilies like still water - pumps make moving water). So it would be one or the other - pump or lily.

But don't try to force fit anything but a miniature into this space... and good luck with that one.

If it were mine, I'd be looking at a pump to create a burbling sound and forget the lily. It will be a lot less work and hassle but if you're stuck on the plant - don't worry about the pump. The lily is going to cover every square inch of this surface and you won't ever see the water.