I want to set up a container water garden and I have no idea what I am doing. I picked up a little water plant collection at the local Lowes. Please advise as to what size container I should get. I have access to a farmer's coop so I can get almost any container I need. This packaging says to just drop the plants in the water at the right depth, add Pondtabb tablets and you are good to go. Can it really be this simply? Don't you need some soil in the bottom of the container? Rookie questions for sure but I'd appreciate your advice.

I had some water lily's and I had mine potted, I used a container that was like a plastic mesh and just filled it w a clay-like soil and planted it. They did fine. Different varieties need different depths, generally of course the larger the plant the deeper you set it. They do not like moving water, so no fountains. But if that is the case you may want to add some minnows to eat the mosquitoes. Goldfish would get too large for most containers.

I'm not sure about going soil less though. Never thought of that . I did have a hibiscus and a hosta that I anchored w a rock in my pond and used no pot or soil and they did great, but I did not over winter them. not sure about that.

Never thought about putting a Hosta in a pond. Just might try that one.

remember that most hostas like shade, and will not do well in full hot sun. though they may do better being in straight water.

I've had cannas and creeping jenny in small containers of water and they did well. I usually add a few mosquito fish to them to eat the larva.