Water gardening is just like any other type of gardening, because you need to make sure the conditions are stable. Proper plants, proper soil and proper location – these are three things to keep track of when planting a water garden. But unlike other types of gardening, there are so many other things for you to consider.

Aside from those mentioned above, you have to figure in the water’s temperature, the depth of the water and the safety of the plants and animals in the winter months. Most aquatic plants seem to do better in a heavy, loamy, clay-based soil.

You can’t use standard potting mixes, because they are far too light, and they won’t hold on to nutrients for very long. Aquatics also need to be planted in damp soil. Fill up the container 2/3 full with damp soil for your plants to grow properly.

When planting water lilies, plant them in such a way that the growing tip of the rhizome points towards the center in a semi-angle. You’ll know it’s the growing tip if you see eyes on it like a potato. In effect, you are allowing the plant to grow across the middle of the container.

After you have the rhizome placed properly, you’ll cover it with soil so the tip is just slightly above the soil level. The exception is tropical water lilies, which are planted in the center of the container.

Lotuses are also planted in the center, but their rhizomes are very delicate and should be handled carefully. Emergent and submerged plants should be potted by putting some soil into a pot, centering the plant in the pot, and covering its roots with more soil.

The next step would be to cover the soil with half an inch of gravel after the potting process. This helps keep the soil from clouding the water and also from eroding away. Afterwards, you can go ahead and submerge the plants as recommended.

One technique you can use is by placing bricks under the containers to submerge them properly. Each plant should have a specific depth for submersion, so make sure you find this info out for yourself. For example, water lilies would be best grown about a foot or a foot and a half above the container.

Or you can place the pot at a shallower depth before lowering it as the plant gradually grows. The more sun the pond gets, the deeper the container can be placed in the water. Tropical water lilies need to be at 12 inches depth if possible, but they can grow in only 6 to 8 inches if they have to.

Lotuses need even less growth distance above water, needing just about half a foot, while emergent plants need just two inches depth to grow successfully. Bricks or inverted pots can help you get the right height over the top or depth.

Be careful not to over-fertilize your water garden. This can lead to an algae problem. A granular fertilizer or slow release tablets would be ideal for water plants. Popular fertilizer types for water plants include 20-10-5, 5-10-5, 10-6-4 and 12-8-8.

You should fertilize every month from spring until August. Tablet fertilizer is generally the easiest to use. All you have to do is place the tablets underneath the soil. Most aquatic plants won’t do very well in cold weather, so they need to be over-wintered.

This is the process of taking safety measures and other preventive actions to preserve your plants in harsh winter months. Before winter makes it way into your home, make sure you’ve brought in all your plants if you’re operating a shallow water garden.

They need to be kept above freezing, but below 50 degrees so they stay dormant. Make sure the plants’ roots remain moist until spring begins. An alternative would be to remove the rhizomes from the pots and keep the plants stored in plastic bags with moist sphagnum moss. For tropical water lilies, keep them stored in a well-lighted aquarium tank at a temperature of about 68 to 70 degrees.

Author bio: Sherri Sutton covers the latest trends in home business. Scentsy products are hand crafted, safe, smokeless, wickless candle products that produces no fire or soot and contains no lead or soy. And candle warmers keep your home, family, college room, and workplace safe! Become a Scentsy Consultant and get trained by a top company performer.