Waterlilies
Waterlilies are considered by most gardeners plant the largest in the pond. Admittedly, the point of view a flower show they are essential, but they also contribute to the well-being of the pond environment. Foliage floating shades the water surface providing welcome shade for the fish on a hot summer day. By reducing the amount of light falls directly into the water, they also help to control green water algae discolor. It requires full sun to thrive.
There are two main groups of water lilies. Hardy types are all day-blooming and resistant to cold, and tropical species and varieties which are frost tender and available as day or night blooming. There are numerous shapes and sizes, with varieties that can be grown in as little as 6-8ins of water in a small container, to giant lake that require 6 feet of water to thrive. Lilies have a gap leaves as little as 9ins provided 15-18 feet.
Among the hardy types there are flowers of almost every color except blue. This color is the prerogative exclusive of the Tropical Water lilies. Some flowers are star-shaped, other cup-shaped and some are fully double and appearance similar to a fall-blooming chrysanthemums. Some flowers have a scent of vanilla or anise strong while others are completely devoid perfume.
The leaves also vary in shape and size, but most are plain green, or are green and chocolate brown or mottled. Hardy lilies developed mainly from a creeping fleshy and dissemination of rootstock, while tropical water lilies arise most tubers rounded, some chestnuts large or small potatoes.
Hardy water lilies produce “eyes” or latent shoots are used for propagation. tropical types, on the other hand, must be multiplied from small tubers, or sometimes viviparously – small seedlings emerge from their leaves. These can easily be used by for propagation. Seed is not a common form of reproduction in hardy water lilies, except in the case of the pygmies Nymphaea tetragona tiny species. However, some tropical types are freely propagated from seed.
Lilies are planted spring and summer, the beginning of the season the better, because then they quickly create and produce something of a spectacle of the first year. They should be grown in full sun and still water. Plants in a mesh basket planting appropriate response in a heavy loam soil without additional fertilizer added, or a planting soil water. Before placing in the pond top-dress the compost with gravel roads washed. This avoids soil to disperse in water and also deters fish stirring up the mud in their quest for life of aquatic insects.
Lilies require little attention, except for food with a slow release fertilizer to aquatic plants. It is available either in tablet or sachet form and pushed in the compost mix next to each plant during the summer.
About the Author
Philip Swindells has over 40 years gardening experience. A former botanical garden curator and an international horticultural consultant, he has worked extensively in the UK, North America, the Middle East and Australia. The Author of more than 50 gardening books, he has been awarded a Quill and Trowel Award by the Garden Writers’ Association of America. He is also a former UK Garden Writer of the Year. He is currently editor of www.internationalwatergardener.com
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