Planting Medium

Soil suitable for aquatic plant containers can be taken from the garden, provided the soil is not too rich in nutrients and is free from pesticide and herbicide residue. The soil should preferablybe on the heavy side and neither extremely acid nor extremely alkaline. Avoid peaty soils which have little or no nutrient value. If your soil is heavy loam, it will probably be suitable. If you are using garden soil, sieve it through a coarse sieve to remove stones and any loose organic matter.

An ideal home made compost can be made fromold turves that have been stacked for a few months and are rotting down into condition described as a fibrous loam. Proprietary multi-purpose or soil-based composts should be avoided, because these contain too many nutrients and materials that are not necessary for submerged conditions.