Coupled with gurgling frogs and colorful fish, water lilies make
wonderful additions to a water garden or pond. Their delicate and
eloquent demeanor adds to the peaceful blissfulness as they float
along the top of the water while the frogs leap from pad to pad.
The First Stage of the Lily Pad:
The lily pad starts in a small pot that is designed to be planted
in water. Plant larger varieties so that there is 12-24 inches of
water over the top of the pot, while the smaller variety should
have under six to 18 inches of water over the top. The pads will
grow to the top of the water surface, no matter the depth. The lily
leaves will each live only three to four weeks before turning yellow.
Remove them from the plant once they turn yellow. Be cautious. If
you pull on the leaf too hard, you may pull the plant out of the
pot.
The Second Stage of the Lily Pad:
Every year, in the early spring, it is a good idea to unpot the
lily and divide the crown into sections or move it to a larger pot.
When dividing the crown, make sure the weather is warm. After you
have divided the crown, put the plant back into the water.
Maintaining the Lily Pad:
On a monthly basis, fertilize the lily with a fertilizer tablet.
These following directions will help you to maintain your lily the
most efficiently.
1. Push a small stick into the soil and make a hole, pushing the
tablet down into the hole. Cover the hole back up. Make sure to
put the fertilizer near the outside rim of the pot and not near
the crown of the plant.
2. Aphids can be a problem because they love to host on orchids.
If they develop on your lily, spray them off with a garden hose,
serving them to the frogs and fish.
3. If your pond is at least 19 inches deep, leave the lilies in
the pond before blooming again. After an autumn of harsh frost,
take out the lily from the pond and remove all leaves. Drop it back
in the pond and remove all leaves. Drop it back in the pond in the
deepest section.
4. Rid your flowers of fading foliage and flowers, keeping organic
matter in the pond to a minimum.
