Water is deeply ingrained in our lives, without it we wouldn’t exist but most of us take it for granted on a daily basis (me included). On the West Coast drought has been increasingly in the news and it has renewed my awareness for the impact water has. When I really think of how water affects me, beyond my immediate hydration needs, I realize it imparts a sense of tranquility that is crucial for me to keep myself balanced in today’s modern world; we can all use a little of that now and then.
I saw that with a simple, indoor water garden I could bring that powerful element into my home and although it may be small it has a huge impact!
Wabi Sabi is another twist on table top water gardens and if you’ve never heard of it you’re not alone but I think you’ll recognize the concept as an old friend. Defined, it‘s the art of finding beauty in imperfection by celebrating the changes that time and the environment have on us and our surroundings. To me this speaks volumes to the role of water in nature. Tap into your creativity with the organized chaos of wabi sabi by combining string gardens (Check out our video on YouTube String Garden Tutorial), marimo moss balls or carnivorous plants to your arrangement.
I know what you’re thinking, I don’t have space/time/$ for water gardening – that sounds too hard core for me. Don’t underestimate yourself! Anyone anywhere can enjoy a little bit of Zen in their life with a miniature aquascape. All it takes is a vessel, a few choice aquatic plants, add pebbles/charcoal, water & voila – It’s so simple it’s almost too easy. One of my personal favorite combinations is a tall elegant glass vase with some decorative rock in the bottom and a floating aquatic plant, like water lettuce, where you can show off the intricate detail of the roots suspended from the surface. Add a fish or two for playful element.
5 Best Water Garden Floaters:
- Water Lettuce, Pistia stratiotes ‘Rosette’
- Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes
- Frogbit, Limnobium spongia
- Fairy Moss, Azolla caroliniana
- Water Moss, Salvinia minima
Tips: To keep your indoor aquatics happy.
- Bright sunlight – for at least 4 hours a day. You want to avoid overheating the water with intense, direct sunlight from a South or West facing windows.
- Fluorescent light – if you don’t have natural, bright light use a fluorescent bulb above the vase to provide extra lighting (incandescents get too hot).
- Avoid detergents – when cleaning your vessel.
- Charcoal – add a few pieces of charcoal to the pebbles at the bottom to help keep the water clean.
- Water – top off water levels to keep your vase full and avoid switching the water out (fresh water can contribute to algae blooms).
- Fish – if you want to be more proactive to control algae try fish, they are living cleaners.
Water is deeply ingrained in our lives, without it we wouldn’t exist but most of us take it for granted on a daily basis (me included). On the West Coast drought has been increasingly in the news and it has renewed my awareness for the impact water has. When I really think of how water affects me, beyond my immediate hydration needs, I realize it imparts a sense of tranquility that is crucial for me to keep myself balanced in today’s modern world; we can all use a little of that now and then.
I saw that with a simple, indoor water garden I could bring that powerful element into my home and although it may be small it has a huge impact!
Wabi Sabi is another twist on table top water gardens and if you’ve never heard of it you’re not alone but I think you’ll recognize the concept as an old friend. Defined, it‘s the art of finding beauty in imperfection by celebrating the changes that time and the environment have on us and our surroundings. To me this speaks volumes to the role of water in nature. Tap into your creativity with the organized chaos of wabi sabi by combining string gardens (Check out our video on YouTube String Garden Tutorial), marimo moss balls or carnivorous plants to your arrangement.
I know what you’re thinking, I don’t have space/time/$ for water gardening – that sounds too hard core for me. Don’t underestimate yourself! Anyone anywhere can enjoy a little bit of Zen in their life with a miniature aquascape. All it takes is a vessel, a few choice aquatic plants, add pebbles/charcoal, water & voila – It’s so simple it’s almost too easy. One of my personal favorite combinations is a tall elegant glass vase with some decorative rock in the bottom and a floating aquatic plant, like water lettuce, where you can show off the intricate detail of the roots suspended from the surface. Add a fish or two for playful element.
5 Best Water Garden Floaters:
- Water Lettuce, Pistia stratiotes ‘Rosette’
- Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes
- Frogbit, Limnobium spongia
- Fairy Moss, Azolla caroliniana
- Water Moss, Salvinia minima
Tips: To keep your indoor aquatics happy.
- Bright sunlight – for at least 4 hours a day. You want to avoid overheating the water with intense, direct sunlight from a South or West facing windows.
- Fluorescent light – if you don’t have natural, bright light use a fluorescent bulb above the vase to provide extra lighting (incandescents get too hot).
- Avoid detergents – when cleaning your vessel.
- Charcoal – add a few pieces of charcoal to the pebbles at the bottom to help keep the water clean.
- Water – top off water levels to keep your vase full and avoid switching the water out (fresh water can contribute to algae blooms).
- Fish – if you want to be more proactive to control algae try fish, they are living cleaners.
