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A report in Amateur Gardening outlines “Bobylon,” a small-scale floating planter idea using a container of water and repurposed expanded polystyrene. The method is presented as a possible way to store rainwater for selected plants, not as a substitute for large floating gardens or a proven solution to drought. Plant suitability, water levels, contamination and foam disposal are practical concerns.
Amateur Gardening has described “Bobylon,” a small-scale floating planter made by fitting plant pots or seed trays into repurposed expanded polystyrene and floating them in a water-filled container. The article presents the method as a way to keep water available to selected plants during dry spells, while stressing that it is a limited home-gardening idea, not a full-size floating garden or a solution for every crop.
The report contrasts the proposed home setup with floating gardens seen in documentaries: large rafts of timber and bark, weighed down with soil and mud, that can support a range of crops in warmer climates. For a typical garden, Amateur Gardening suggests using an old bath or similar shallow container to hold rainwater, with a flat piece of expanded polystyrene cut to fit. Holes in the foam allow the bases of plant pots to reach the water. The float can be adjusted with extra foam or weight.
The method depends on keeping roots moist without submerging the growing medium. The article says most plants need air as well as water around their roots, and that waterlogged conditions can kill plants, particularly in cold weather. It identifies tomatoes, melons, cucumbers and sweet peas as possible candidates for standing in water-filled saucers when other growing conditions suit them. Cranberries and blackcurrants are described as tolerant of wet soil, while blueberries need moisture but should remain above the waterline.
For smaller crops, the report proposes stacking two expanded-polystyrene seed trays or adding capillary matting beneath the upper tray. It says such floats could be used for salad leaves, spinach, Chinese greens and watercress, and for starting seedlings. The article cautions that shallow compost limits how large most plants can grow. It also says plants may need occasional feeding because nutrients leach into the water.
A Small Buffer Against Dry Spells
The idea’s practical appeal is that it combines stored rainwater with a simple growing platform. A shallow container could hold water near plants between watering sessions, potentially helping a small number of moisture-loving crops when the weather turns dry. The report does not provide test results or quantify how much water or labour the method saves, so its value should be understood as a gardening suggestion rather than a measured drought strategy.
Its limits matter as much as its promise. The amount of water in a baby bath, the article says, may be enough for a small blueberry plant through the year, but not several thirstier plants without topping up. A larger container might hold more water, but the report warns that a floating pot could sit below the rim as water is used and rise too high when rain refills the container, leaving it exposed to wind. Gardeners would need to monitor water level, plant health and the stability of the float.
The report also raises an environmental issue: expanded polystyrene can break apart, and fragments may reach soil or waterways. Reusing foam already on hand may give it another use, but the article advises removing and safely disposing of any loose pieces. The proposal therefore involves a trade-off between water storage and careful material management.
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From Large Rafts to Home Containers
Floating gardens are often associated with large, engineered-looking rafts in warmer regions. The Amateur Gardening report describes those structures as substantial platforms that can sit only 30 to 60 centimetres above the water while supporting crops, including fruit trees. It does not identify a particular location or project as the model for Bobylon, and the name is used for the gardening idea featured in the article.
The home version is much smaller and relies on an existing container rather than a pond or open water. Its basic principle is to let the bottom of a pot or a moisture-absorbing layer contact stored water while keeping most of the compost above the waterline. That distinction is central: the suggestion is not to grow ordinary plants with their roots permanently submerged, but to provide a reserve that can wick upward as needed.
The article frames the approach against alternating periods of drought and heavy rain, both of which can disrupt ordinary gardening tasks. It presents the planter as a partial, practical experiment for small spaces, particularly where a bath, old sink or similar vessel is available. It does not claim the method has been independently tested or works reliably in all climates.
““After the drought, the deluge inevitably comes.””
— Amateur Gardening report
repurposed foam rafts for gardening
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How Well the Planter Performs
The source offers practical advice but does not report a controlled trial, named gardener’s results, or measurements of water saved, crop yield or plant survival. It is therefore unclear how consistently the setup performs across different containers, climates and growing seasons. Plant suitability will also depend on temperature, light, compost depth, water quality and how often the container is topped up.
The article does not specify a precise water depth, a standard float design, or a feeding schedule. It also warns that uncovered water butts can collect debris and insect larvae, but gives no treatment or maintenance protocol. Readers should not assume that every container or plant combination is safe or effective based on the general examples alone.
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Testing the Setup at Home
The report does not announce a formal trial or a follow-up date. Its suggested next step is an individual, small-scale setup using a suitable shallow container, a stable float and a limited number of plants. Gardeners following the idea would need to check that compost remains above the waterline, the float stays secure as water levels change, and plants receive nutrients when needed.
Any use of expanded polystyrene should involve intact material, with fragments collected and disposed of safely rather than left in soil or water. Water butts should not be left open without considering debris and insect larvae. The source’s central advice is to treat Bobylon as a modest adaptation for selected crops and to keep monitoring it, rather than expecting a maintenance-free garden or a large-scale answer to drought.
rainwater storage containers for plants
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Key Questions
What is Bobylon?
Bobylon is the name used in the Amateur Gardening report for a small floating-planter idea. It uses a water-filled container and a foam platform or tray that lets pots or compost draw moisture from below.
Which plants does the report suggest?
The report names tomatoes, melons, cucumbers and sweet peas as possible plants for saucers of water when growing conditions are otherwise suitable. For shallow floating trays, it suggests salad leaves, spinach, Chinese greens and watercress. These are examples, not a guarantee of success.
Can plant roots sit completely underwater?
No. The article says most plants need air as well as water around their roots. Its proposed arrangement keeps the compost or soil above the waterline while allowing the pot base or capillary matting to reach the water.
What are the main risks?
Water levels can change, a float may rise or sink relative to the container rim, and wind could dislodge an exposed planter. The report also warns that open water storage can collect debris or insect larvae, and that polystyrene fragments must be kept out of soil and waterways.
Does the idea solve drought watering needs?
The source describes it only as a partial option for a small number of plants. A small container may need topping up, and the report provides no measured evidence about water savings or crop results.
Source: rss
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