TROPICAL WATER
LILIES
- Day and night blooming – tropical
water lilies
should be planted in pots at least 12 inches in diameter. A 3-5 gallon size should suffice for
each lily. Fill the pot half full
with rich garden soil and add 2-4 fertilizer tablets, then continue to fill the
pot with soil to about 2 inches from the top. The rhizome should set up right with the
roots buried gently in the soil.
Make sure the tip of the rhizome is not buried. Next add an inch or two of gravel or
sand in order to prevent the soil from escaping from the container. Remember to keep the gravel away from
the crown of the rhizome. The plant
can now be lowered into the water to a depth of approximately 6 inches. As the plant grows it can be lowered to
a depth of 12 inches. Tropical
lilies cannot tolerate cold temperatures and should not be placed in the water
until the water temp reaches 70 degrees.
Planting too early can cause dormancy and restrict the potential growth
of the plant. Tropicals bloom from
late spring through early fall, depending on the weather.
HARDY WATER LILIES - Hardy
lilies
are planted in much the same way as tropicals.
Hardies grow horizontally across the container so a wide pot is necessary for
planting. The rhizome should be planted at one edge of the container with the
rhizome planted at an angle of about 45 degrees with the crown exposed. Remember
to add fertilizer, use a rich garden soil, and top the soil with an inch or two
of gravel or sand. The plant can be lowered to a depth of 6 inches to begin with
and then lowered to a depth of 12 to 18 inches as the plant grows. Hardies
should be planted in early spring. They bloom from June through September
depending on the weather, and become dormant during the colder months. As spring
approaches, growth will begin again.
MARGINAL OR BOG PLANTS - Marginal
plants should be planted in
individual containers of approximately 1 to 3 gallon capacity. The marginal
plants are grown in 2’ net pots and it is recommended that you plant without
removing these net pots as not to damage the roots. Plant as you would the
lilies, but when adding fertilizer tablets, use 1 tablet for 1-gallon size pots
and 2 tablets for 2- or 3-gallon pots. Marginal plants should be lowered to a
depth of only 2 to 3 inches. They grow out of the water and are usually found at
the water’s edge.
OXYGENATING PLANTS - All ponds should have underwater oxygenating
plants
to aid in maintaining clean and pure water. These plants help prevent
algae growth and provide oxygen. Oxygenating plants can be planted as you would
the lilies and marginals. A one-gallon size pot is recommended. Completely
submerge these plants to a depth of at least 12 inches.
