Today, I couldn't wait any longer, anxious to plant I got to work. The trees I've been planning on using have been growing with their roots in water, in various planters, including the hanging island from my old 15g paludarium. Removing the trees from their planters was the first step, and required some careful handling. The largest tree had been growing in it's planter, through a piece of window screen, for close to 4 years. The smaller trees are cuttings from the main tree, and have been growing for at least a year.
here's the large tree in the old island.
and the island once I cut out the window screen the tree had grown through.
The root ball freed from the island.
I deliberately put a shoulder on the false bottom to support the root here, since it's a heavy tree that I don't want falling over. The root ball is well supported on the back and inside, and I'll pack eco complete below.
The second tree has been growing in a PVC T fitting for the last year. I wanted something to keep the root ball tight, while providing a bit of flow when I waterchanged. Worked pretty well.
I used a pot scrubber as substrate for this one, and it seemed to love it.
So once the trees were removed from their planters, I set them in place with the trunks just above the waterline, and packed in the rest of the planters with some eco complete.
On top of the eco complete, I sprinkled some horticultural charcoal and a few small handfuls of ABG mix. I had a few bits of different mosses around the house in jars and terrariums, and some HC growing in the paludarium, so I decided to cap the planters with what I had, and added a few stones to slow the waterflow until the java moss starts to hold on.
I still haven't added sand to the pond, but am pretty satisfied with this step, I think in the long run, I bet the HC will dominate most of the front edge where there is more light, and in the back the mosses will swell up and form a more hilly shape to the corners.
That's all the pics for now. Full tree shots coming once things have settled in and I have a chance to sit it on a back drop. I'd like to let it run for a week before adding the sand, so stay tuned!
