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Pond in a pot
Tigrah
Posts: 125
Hello everyone. I would love to have a pond for wildlife, however I unfortunately don't have a plot big enough. I came up with the idea of a "pond in a pot" with a couple of oxygenating pants and a water flower out two, before finding out this was a common idea. However, I have been struggling to find a suitable pot. Essentially I'm looking for something large enough and made of china/terracotta with no drainage holes. I may even decide to go with an old metal trough-like thing, but wondered if the metal would affect the water.
Does anybody have any ideas on suitable pots or where to find them? I'd you have made one yourself then please post your pictures! 
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I don't think metal would affect the water and it's less likely to crack if the whole thing freezes
In the sticks near Peterborough
If you're going for terracotta or similar make sure the sides slope upwards and outwards. Then if it does freeze, the water can expand upwards. With straight sides the water will freeze, expand and crack the pot.
good luck
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I've seen them done in a wooden half barrel, lined with a waterproof membrane. They looked very good and quite naturalistic especially if you plant taller leafy plants next to it to partially disguise the container. But that's not very helpful if you want a terracotta pot!?
I've got half barrels, lined or left natural and some of my water lilies are displayed in a cattle trough. The wildlife with them is amazing, so no worries re the metal. I do make sure there's a perching point for birds and egress for small mammals. The half barrels, if in good condition, don't leak at all after a good soaking, but they are hard to come by at present as they are being recycled by the brewers.
H-C
I think lots of people here have made ponds using a container Tigrah, but if you want to attract wildlife, make sure they have a safe route in and out by putting a ramp of some kind or an arrangement of stones/rocks etc at one side. A good level rock at the top will also provide a place for insects and small birds to perch and drink
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm tempted to have a go now!
If you are interested in using half barrels then you can get them of Ebay
Thanks everyone! I may look for a barrel if I can! Hopefully it won't be too expensive as I think I'm going to need to buy about £100 of compost this year for all my pots and my new veg bed! On top of my plant and seed addiction
I have already been researching ponds and what not for a while and now about making ramps and perches for animals
Also plan on making my wood pile a little better for the animals and I've bought a bird bath and shrubs for then to hide in! Hopefully have a wonderful, flowering and wildlife friendly garden by the end of the year!
if using terracotta it needs to be non porous (glazed) otherwise the pot will drain thru the sides as terracotta is a bit like a sponge
It'll be greatTigrah. As you're discovering, attracting wildlife doesn't depend on just one thing - it's a combination of different little changes and additions to give them a sustained habitat.
Good luck with it - and take photos as you go along. We like to see them on the Garden Gallery picture thread here on the forum, but it's also a good reference for yourself
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...