I use the aquatic plant tabs, and they can be expsensive, so it sounds like a pretty good deal. Yes, they can be used for all aquatic plants.

I don't really like that type of pots. I prefer the totally enclosed pots with no holes or slits. However, you can plant in them, but I would think the soil and fertilizers would be more apt to leak out.

I alo prefer solid pots. But some plants (Anachris) that like a lot of water flow around their roots would like the mesh type pots. I would not use soil in those though. Just river rocks.

You can use the plant tabs. I always watch Ebay for them as well. You can find a deal here and there for them. You can use regular granular fertilizer in your pots also. Look for the slow release kinds. Osomcote comes to mind.

The tabs do much insertion much easier. Although I regged up a fertilizer tool out of 2 pieces of PVC so I dont have to go for a dip to fertilize.

With the Osmocote, you can wrap a small amount in a piece of tissue to make it easier to get down into the soil.

Hi,
I really like the mesh pots. It allows the roots to grow thru and all those roots are sucking nutrients out of the water, the also give the fish another hidey hole if they need it, especially babies. It is not the most attractive look but it is an extra help against algae. You can use soil in the mesh pots, just line them with landscape fabric or cheesecloth and gravel on top.

Thanks for all the good info. At what water temp do you start fertilizing? My water is about 53-55 degrees right now.

Troy

I start fertilizing whenever the plants start growing. I go by the water lily, once there are 2-3 leaves heading toward the surface I start. There is no real use in fertilizing plants that aren't "actively growing". You are more likely to add to the spring algae bloom if you start too early. I go by temp. in the fall, I quit fertilizing once the night temps. are dipping below 5. Hope this helps, It may also be different if you don't winter the plants in the pond.

Sounds like a good buy on the tabs. Personally I don't think many of the pond specific plant fertilizers have quite the right ratios for water lilies.
I use tomato spikes for mine and no, I don't get algae bloom because of them.

As for those mesh baskets, I don't care for them. You can line them and put soil in them or use gravel but they just don't hold up under much weight. They also get brittle pretty quickly and break.