Kockney Koi Hessian Pond Plant Basket Liners

Kockney Koi Hessian Pond Plant Basket Liners

Square liners in three sizes for retaining aquatic planting soil

Kockney Koi Hessian Squares are fabric liners for plant pots and aquatic planting baskets. They help retain the planting soil inside a suitable container while preserving an open fabric structure. The manufacturer specifies 2mm holes and a fabric weight of 235g per square metre across this range. Choose 45 x 45cm, 60 x 60cm or 90 x 90cm squares, with the pack quantity shown for each option.

The squares are supplied as liners only. Baskets, plants, planting soil and gravel are not included. They can be useful when repotting an aquatic plant into a basket whose openings would otherwise allow the soil to escape. First check the basket’s own instructions: some fine-mesh aquatic baskets are designed to retain suitable planting soil without an additional liner.

Sizes and pack quantities

• 45 x 45cm: three squares per pack.
• 60 x 60cm: two squares per pack.
• 90 x 90cm: two squares per pack.

Choose by the dimensions of the liner you need, then check the number of squares in the pack. The larger options contain two pieces each, while the 45cm option contains three. The quoted dimensions are the flat fabric measurements; they are not the recommended width of the basket and they do not describe a preformed bag.

Measure across the base and up the sides

A liner needs to reach across the base of the container and up its sides. Measuring only the basket’s top opening will usually overlook much of the fabric needed. A practical way to check is to run a flexible tape down one inside wall, across the base and up the opposite wall. Repeat in the other direction, then allow enough material for the way you intend to fold the corners and finish the edge.

For a simple rectangular example, a 20cm-wide base with two 10cm-high sides requires 40cm of fabric across that section before allowing for folds or overlap. Real baskets can taper, curve or have an uneven rim, so use the actual container rather than transferring that example to every basket. Check the fit with the empty liner before adding soil.

Why use a liner?

Aquatic baskets have openings that allow movement between the planting medium and surrounding water. A liner helps contain loose soil where the basket mesh is too open for the intended planting material. It works with the basket, rather than replacing the basket’s structural support.

Do not treat a hessian square as a free-standing planting bag or use it to lift a heavy, filled container. Support the basket itself when carrying and lowering it.

Preparing and planting the basket

Select a container that suits the plant and its expected growth. Place the square inside the empty basket and arrange it against the base and sides before filling. Avoid leaving a gap where loose soil can escape. Follow the basket and plant instructions when deciding whether excess fabric should be folded or trimmed.

Use a planting medium suitable for aquatic plants. The RHS recommends appropriate loam-based soil or a proprietary aquatic compost rather than assuming ordinary potting compost will suit submerged planting. Planting depth within the compost depends on the plant: rhizomes and other growing points need the arrangement specified for that species.

A thin covering of suitable grit or fine gravel can help prevent fish disturbing the soil surface. Keep it clear of growing points as required by the plant’s instructions. The liner, soil and surface covering each contribute something different; adding a liner does not remove the need to plant correctly or choose a stable basket.

Position the planted basket at the correct depth

The liner size does not determine where the plant should sit in the pond. Use the plant’s recommended depth and the definition given on its label. Marginal plants and deeper-water plants have different requirements, and a position suitable for one may leave another too deeply submerged.

Check that the basket sits securely on its shelf or intended support. Keep the plant accessible for future inspection, division or repotting. Plan how to move the filled basket before placing it at a point that will be difficult to reach safely later.

Compare other basket and liner options

For a larger liner pack, compare our Hessian Aquatic Pot Liners 10 Pack, checking its individual dimensions separately. Pack count alone does not tell you whether it contains the right size for your containers.

For a container option, see the 5-litre square Finofil aquatic basket and its own planting guidance. Select the basket for the plant first, then establish whether it needs a liner and which flat square will reach around its interior. Keep unused liners clean and dry until your next planting session.