The Beauty of Small Water Gardens: Growing Aquatic Plants in Pots

I found an old ceramic bowl at home (the kind people use for decoration or sometimes for large servings), filled it with clean water, and placed a few water plants in it. That was the beginning of my small water garden.

What Plants You Can Grow in Small Water Pots

There are actually many aquatic plants that can grow in just a bowl of water. You don’t need soil, and you don’t even need much care. Here are some of the plants I have tried or seen others grow successfully:

1. Duckweed (Lemna minor):
   These are the small round floating leaves you see in my photo. They multiply very fast and can cover the entire surface of the water if you don’t remove some regularly. Duckweed is great because it keeps the water clean by absorbing nutrients, but yes, it can become a little too much sometimes.

2. Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes):
   This is the plant with larger oval leaves in the picture. It’s very popular in Asia. The plant floats on water and sometimes produces beautiful purple flowers. But be careful—it can grow aggressively if left uncontrolled.

3. Water Lettuce (Pistia):
   Looks like small floating rosettes. Many people love it for the soft, velvety leaves. It grows easily in pots too.

4. Lotus or Water Lily (for bigger containers):
   If your pot is large enough, you can even try a dwarf lotus or lily. They need a bit of soil at the bottom, but the flowers are absolutely stunning.

Setting Up a Mini Water Garden at Home

You don’t need much to start. Here’s what I did, and honestly, it’s so easy:

• Choose a Container: Ceramic or clay pots are the best because they look natural. Plastic buckets can work too, but they don’t look that nice indoors.

• Fill with Clean Water: Tap water is fine, but it’s better if you can leave the water overnight before adding plants (to let the chlorine settle).

• Add Plants: Just place the floating plants on the surface. No soil, no mess.

• Sunlight: Keep the pot where it gets indirect sunlight. Too much sun can make the water green with algae, too little sun will make the plants weak.

• Maintenance: Every few days, remove some extra duckweed or other fast-growing plants. Top up with fresh water if it evaporates.

That’s it!

Benefits of Keeping Aquatic Plants Indoors or Balcony

1. Natural Beauty:
   The floating leaves and sometimes flowers look calming and fresh. It brings a different vibe compared to regular potted plants.

2. Air Purification:
   Believe it or not, water plants also release oxygen and help in keeping the air a bit fresher.

3. Mosquito Control (with care):
   Many people worry about mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water. But if you keep the surface covered with duckweed or water hyacinth, it actually reduces mosquito breeding. Plus, you can add a few guppy fish in the water to eat mosquito larvae.

4. Stress Relief:
   I can’t explain this properly, but just sitting and watching floating plants can calm your mind after a busy day. It’s almost like having a small pond inside your home.

My Personal Challenges with Water Pots

Of course, not everything is smooth. I faced some small problems in my water garden journey. For example:

• Algae Growth: Sometimes, the water turns green if the pot gets too much direct sunlight. I solved this by moving it to a shadier spot.

• Overgrowth of Duckweed: Duckweed grows like crazy. At one point, I couldn’t even see the water. Now I regularly scoop some out.

• Falling Leaves: Some leaves rot and fall into the water. If you don’t remove them, they start smelling.

• Mosquitoes: In the beginning, I noticed mosquito larvae, so I added a few small fish. Problem solved!

These challenges are not big, but yes, you have to keep an eye.

Adding Fish to Your Water Pot

This is optional, but highly recommended. Small fish like guppies, mollies, or even a single betta fish can live happily in such a setup. They add movement and life to the water, and at the same time, they control mosquitoes.

If you do keep fish, make sure:

• The pot is not too small.

• Don’t keep it in harsh sunlight.

• Give fish some food if there’s not enough natural algae or insects.

Seasonal Care

One thing I noticed is that water plants behave differently in different seasons. In summer, they grow like crazy. In rainy season, they look the freshest. In winter, sometimes growth slows down, and some leaves may die. So don’t worry if your pot looks less green in cold weather—it’s natural.

Why You Should Try This

Even if you already have houseplants, having a small water garden adds a completely new element to your space. It’s a low-maintenance, high-impact way to bring nature closer to you.

Plus, it’s a good way to teach kids about ecosystems. You can explain how plants, water, fish, and insects live together and depend on each other.

For me, it has been a very rewarding little hobby. Every time I walk past the pot and see the shiny green leaves floating, sometimes even a flower, it makes me smile. And that’s the real point of keeping plants, right? To make our lives a little calmer, a little greener.

Conclusion

Creating a mini water garden in a pot is one of the easiest and most peaceful plant hobbies you can start at home. Whether you grow simple duckweed or aim for beautiful water lilies, it will always bring freshness to your space.

You don’t need a big pond or a garden—just a ceramic bowl, some clean water, and a few aquatic plants are enough. Try it once, and you may discover a new passion for water gardening just like I did.

So, next time you see water hyacinth or duckweed, don’t think of them as just wild plants. Bring them home, put them in a nice bowl, and see how they change the mood of your home.