Gunnera

lizhanley1969

Please can anyone tell me if a gunnera can be grown next to a preformed moulded pond. Or will it pierce it? Thank you 

nutcutlet

I don't know re puncturing the liner but Gunnera needs to be within a damp bit. Being next to a lined pond won't do.

DampGardenMan

Which Gunnera are you going for? I wish there was a medium-sized one! I have tried the small ones (G. magellanica) but so far no luck keeping them - might have been the Beasts that did for them.

lizhanley1969

Not sure the ones I have. They are in pots at the moment and do well but want to put one next to the pond but afraid the roots might pierce the pond. 

DampGardenMan

I'm surprised you can keep them in pots. How big do the leaves get?

lizhanley1969

Not too big as I have a small garden but they grow quite well 

lizhanley1969

Grows to just about right size for my garden although I have to water it quite often

DampGardenMan

They look very nice. Are you just hoping to have to water less if you move them out of the pots? There is a danger that they'll get a lot bigger if they like the ground, but as @nutcutlet said they do need a damp soil, perhaps even wet - wherever I've seen them in gardens, e.g. Rosemoor, they've been in boggy areas.

Hostafan1

We've got one which is almost entirely IN water. Been there since before we moved and it's more than happy there.

lizhanley1969

I would like one to sit right next to the pond without being in a pot and yes hopefully less watering. The pond has been raised up about a foot so technically the plant will be in a raised bed. I am just afraid that it will damage my pond due to its roots. I don’t mind the leaves being a bit bigger. 

nutcutlet

I doubt if it will. It's more likely it will struggle to survive