There are numerous varieties, from dwarf ones that only spread cm ft , medium 60cm Waterlilies are best planted from mid to late spring to mid-summer. Plants are best grown in aquatic planting baskets, and plants bought from aquatic centres will normally come pre-planted in one and ready to submerge in the water. Cut back any overly long roots and remove any old or damaged leaves and flower buds.
Cover the compost surface with a layer of washed pea shingle. Water the compost well and allow excess water to drain away before placing in the pond. Then submerge the plant slowly in the water, so that around cm in of water — depending on the size of plant — covers the crown and the leaves float on the surface. The final planting depth should be given on the label that comes with the plant. If not — ask first before buying. To ensure the correct depth, you can place the basket on top of bricks or similar raised platform.
As the plants grow, gradually lower the basket in stages until it reaches its final planting depth. Waterlilies are hungry plants. Although they will receive much of the nutrients they need from the surrounding water, you can also feed them with a specialist aquatic slow-release plant food placed in the compost.
Remove any yellow leaves as they appear and remove faded flowers as they go over. Water lilies hate to have water splashing continually on their leaves and it will stop them from growing or flowering. Always position water lilies as far away as possible from any pump or filter system.
Water lilies do not perform well in moving water. The current will wash the soil out of the container see point 2 above ; will keep the temperature of the water too cold for the water lily and the constant disturbance of leaf and flower stems can damage them. Avoid using chemical treatments to control blanket weed. If you underestimate the dosage the treatment will not be effective and if you overestimate, it will poison all your plants, including the water lilies.
It is always a temporary fix and your pond will almost certainly need expensive regular dosing. The only successful long-term way of controlling blanket weed is to grow enough plants in your pond to establish a proper balance.
Water lilies have very few insect pests. The most common, especially in a newly planted pond, are midge larvae. These will swarm under new leaves and suck them dry. In an older pond China Mark moths can be a problem. The caterpillars feed on water lily foliage and will cut half-moon slices out of newer leaves each day for protection overnight. The answer is to introduce a couple of goldfish who will happily hoover up both midge larvae and caterpillars.
They should be selected for how they fit in to the landscape. Try to place them in the background so they do not obstruct the view of the water. Lotus can be quite large if the full size varieties are given enough space and fertilizer. They can reach up to four feet above the water surface with leaves inches in diameter or more. Some varieties are smaller with leaves standing only a foot or two off the water and twelve-inch leaves.
Bowl lotuses are going to have four to six-inch leaves that will grow six inches above the water. What do water lilies do for my pond? Water lilies are the cooling system for the water. They provide shade over the surface of the water, reducing the sunlight that actually penetrates the pond. This shading also reduces algae growth due to lower sunlight levels.
The lilies also provide security to fish below by giving them cover to hide under. How much sunlight does a water lily need to bloom? Most hybrids require six hours or more of direct sunlight to flower. Afternoon sun is better than morning sun since it is more intense. Sun all day long is best if possible. More sun means more flowers and leaves.
There are a few varieties of water lilies that flower in less sunlight than six hours, but none will flower in less than four hours.
The plant will still produce foliage, just no flower buds. Flowering is very dependent upon adequate fertilization. How long and when does a water lily bloom? Depending upon the variety, the flowers open early to late morning and close mid to late afternoon. Each flower lasts four days before settling under the water to rot. The spent flowers should be removed when the flower fails to open after blooming. If properly fertilized and deadheaded the water lily should produce a continual supply of one to six or more flowers each day.
How deep can water lilies grow? Water lilies must have a minimum of ten inches of water over the soil surface in order to bloom. Deeper water keeps the root system cooler and shaded, encouraging better growth and flowering.
Most lilies perform best in water depths twelve to twenty four inches. Larger varieties will grow quite well in up to four feet of water. Are water lilies winter hardy? The groups of water lilies referred to as hardy are winter hardy herbaceous perennials in a pond where the root system does not actually freeze. The depth of the water garden determines whether or not the lily freezes in the winter.
There are tropical or annual varieties that do not overwinter, or are not winter hardy. Which types of water lilies bloom at night? Tropical or perennial water lilies are the only ones that have night blooming capabilities. How can I keep my annual tropical water lily over the winter? Tropical Lilies are often enough of a pain to overwinter, that they are treated as annuals. Many people that have tried, end up replacing them annually after experiencing the normal delay in getting to the first flowers.
The water lily root is removed from the pond in fall before the water temperature reaches 55 degrees. Rinse the soil from the roots and remove the walnut shape tuber from the bottom of the root. Sometimes this does not form, and the lily will not be salvageable.
Lay the tuber on a wire rack to dry for a few days. Place the dried tuber into a jar of distilled water that is kept at degrees. Set up a pan of water with a couple inches of sand in the bottom in a sunny window.
An aquarium heater will help you maintain 70 degree water temperature to force sprouting. Bury the tuber right side up in the sand right at the top. When the tuber sprouts new growth, allow growth to develop to three or four floating leaves. The new plantlet will be attached with an umbilical-like stem below the new root system. Cut this stem and replant the tiny water lily into a small pot of soil into water that is also in water that is 70 degrees.
You may find this takes as much as days to the first flower. This works quite well, but takes longer than most people want to wait, but it is interesting to watch. Do I need to divide my water lilies? Water lilies need to be divided every three or four seasons to maintain full growth potential. Dividing encourages fresh, vigorous growth that promotes flowering. Water lilies are divided at any time during spring through late summer. One division is planted per pot to avoid crowding of the rhizomes.
Plant in a wide shallow pot, two to five gallons in size or more for best results. Place the cut end of the root at the edge of the pot with the growth end pointing towards the center of the pot. Placing the plant at the edge of the pot gives the plant room to spread across the entire pot. Can I fertilize my water lilies and bog plants while they are in the water?
Fertilizer can be applied to the water lilies and aquatic plants even while they are in the pond. Never remove the plants from the pond to fertilize. The name-brand fertilizer tablets are hard enough to stay intact going through the water.
Press a finger into the soil to make a hole about three or four inches deep. Push a fertilizer tablet into the hole and squeeze the soil around the hole to close the tablet into the soil. Fertilize according to the tablet manufacturers instructions. To fertilize without getting into the water, use the Injecta-Tab tool, a hand-held device that allows the insertion of the fertilizer tablet from outside of the pond. The tablet is positioned in the end of the tool. The tool is pushed into the soil, the tablet is released into the hole made by the tool, and the soil is tamped back into place to prevent release of the nutrients into the water.
How much space does a lotus need to grow? Full size lotus varieties need as much space as possible to flourish. The more space the better. If planted into a soil bottom or earthen pond, the plants can easily take over the entire pond up to several feet deep. The average water garden does not have enough room to allow unlimited growth, but as much room as possible should be given the lotus. Plant in a ten gallon pot or larger. When planted in a twenty to thirty inch wide tub, the plant may grow to inches tall.
The leaves may be as large as 24 inches across with flowers held above the leaves. Fertilized regularly, the lotus will be full with many inch flowers in July and August. Bowl lotus varieties are smaller versions that require less space and are not as invasive as a full size lotus. They are suited to a one or two gallon pot since they only grow to about a foot or less tall. The leaves are from four to eight inches in diameter.
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