Indoor Water Gardens – Tranquility Without Mess or Fuss
For apartment dwellers or homeowners who have no desire to dig in the dirt, indoor water gardens provide the sound of moving water without going out of doors.
If you find you forget to water houseplants and end with discolored leaves or spindly greenery you might do better growing plants in a water garden indoors. Many plants will grow just fine in water with a little liquid fertilizer added. Japanese Lucky Bamboo plants are always grown in shallow pots filled with gravel and water and will grow for years as long as the water level is maintained.
You can use cuttings or rooted plants in a container filled with water. Avoid metal containers as the fertilizer added to the water will corrode them and the corrosion can kill the plant. A dark container is preferable to a clear glass planter as it discourages algae growth in the water.
When growing plants in the water/fertilizer solution you will need to change the water at least once a month. If algae growth is a problem, more frequent changes are necessary.
If your goal is to provide the sound of water as a focal point for your home you may prefer an indoor water fountain. From small decorative fountains that are intended to tabletop use to wall fountains with water cascading down a broad surface – there is an indoor fountain that will suit your personal style and the design of your home.
If you work at home you might enjoy a desktop fountain that has a gentle bubbling sound that serves as white noise and helps you focus on your tasks. A popular gift item for CEO’s is a small Zen Garden kit with gravel and sand that is placed in a shallow wooden box and can be “designed” with a tiny rake that is included.
You can build your own indoor water garden using a container and a small pump. The water fills the container and recycled by the pump through vinyl tubing and trickles back down over a piece of rock or from copper tubing with tiny holes. If using a large container you can fill much of the depth with small rock, florists foam of any other non-chemical material to fill part of the depth. This will reduce the amount of water in your water garden but also will provide more splashing sounds for the water as it circulates and falls back into the water below.
When constructing your own indoor water garden, plan the location carefully if you are going to add plants as the sun requirement for plants is critical to their growth in water or in soil. If your indoor water feature will include fish a sunny location near a window may heat the water to a dangerous level for the survival of the fish. Also remember to locate the water garden near an electrical outlet for pump operation.
You can be artistically free when designing an indoor water garden. There is no requirement for size or style and your imagination is the only limit. Browse the library and home improvement sites for ideas and you might find you’ll soon have an indoor water garden in every room of your home.
