BonniesPlants.com

below is pic of my homemade floating island..... i used waterfall foam that i found at home depot and wal-mart...@$13...and a throw away flower pot....if you wanted a larger island you would just lay many pots down and spray around.....FYI....do not get this on your hands or any skin..it will not wash off...wear rubber gloves....i learned from experience....i made this one on a foam plate and just pealed the plate off ....for larger i may try working on a plastic trash bag...i think it should peal off....always trying to save money....

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39 ... and001.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39 ... and002.jpg

sheryle

Sheryle, I edited your post to make the link clickable. As I come across others that are not working I will fix them too. There is no way I can go through every post and fix the links. I have let the mods know to fix them as they see them too

This is an interesting idea, nice job. Last year I used a noodle (childrens foam toy) and left over liner to make a floating island. It worked great! I ended up making a couple extra for some lillies my fish were giving a hard time.

I love those noodles and use them for all kinds of stuff in the pond. If you cut them in half lengthwise they fit the plant baskets and pots and they zip tie pretty easily. The noodles I bought at the dollar store did not hold up as well as the ones from wally world.

Sheryls' is pretty cool and looks more like an island, I try not to use the black foam though, it is definately messy, once you get just a little bit on you, things go down hill rapidly. At least for me. I got frustrated with the foam. I never needed a whole can at once, but when you try to use the rest of the can it is hard and unusable.

Vanessa

w/the foam.....i was ok once i started using rubbler gloves.....and i used mine about a week apart and had no trouble with it..... it comes with a straw to use.... i did have to throw it away and not use it the second time....it was the only thing that clogged on me.....i liked it because it was safe for pond life.....which is something that i worry about.....i do like the noodle idea also....i love finding new uses for old things.......


sheryle

I love these floating island ideas. I think the foam will be great for smaller plants, and I'm definitely going to try that. With the noodles, I was wondering exactly what was done. After the noodles are cut lengthwise, do they go inside the pot or outside, and I picture them around round pots, is that right? I would like to try that, too.

And here's something that might be a silly question - but I'll ask it anyway. Do the islands just float around, or do you somehow tie or anchor them in place?

Thanks for the great ideas.

You can let them float or use fishing line (heavy duty clear) to anchor if you want it in one place.

If you have a skimmer, you will want to anchor it.

Bonnie

that is so funny, i just put an anchor on my little island and then i come in and you suggested to anchor it..... this morning i would go out and scoot it away from my waterfall and as soon as a would get back to the house it would blow right back....

I just drill a small hole in the top lip or side of the pot and then use a zip tie to attach the foam or noodle. I use fishing line to anchor the island to the side of the pond. I worry that the fish will hurt themselves on the fishing line if I just anchor to the bottom of the pond.

I have been experimenting with different kinds of pots and mesh baskets. I have a kidney shaped one that I am playing with right now. I just want to find a couple of different plants that will cascade over the side and that are fish friendly.

You may have to try a few combinations (baskets and foam) to get the look you like.

Vanessa

Good cascading plants are parrots feather, creeping Jenny, and lemon bacopa

AND Vanessa brought up an excellent point on why NOT to anchor to the bottom. I don't anchor to the bottom for the same reason.
Thanks Vanessa!

Bonnie

Hello, i am new to fish ponding. Just installed a Savio 3000 gal system. A friend of mine gave two rather large Koi, approx. 12-15 inches in length. Anyway this seems like a great idea and should be rather easy to fabricate. Thanks for the tip and I will gladly take any and all tips to make ponding more enjoyable.