grow pee lilies in a pond play beauty and serenity to a backyard .
Water lily ( Nymphaeaspp . ) are more than pretty flora . They also bestow to pool health . By covering the water ’s surface , they fill in the body of water and keep it cooler , which help oneself control algae that thrive in heat . Water lily also shelter fish from birds of prey and filter out excess nutrients to further inhibit alga increase .
grow from stalwart rhizomes from the pond bottom , water lilies ’ touch depart develop on long stems and float at the aerofoil . When temperature warm up in summer , water lilies ' showy flowers candid in the morning and tightlipped at night .
Credit: Jennifer L. Peterson
piddle lilies are available in arainbow of color options . Many of the hardy mixture have soft , pastel flowers . tropic varieties total in jewel tones of lustrous megrims , purpleness , Orange , and yellow . Many varieties have a lovely fragrance , too . Although the majority of the species bloom strictly in the daytime , some bloom of youth at night and cheeseparing in early morning .
Where to Plant Water Lilies
Hardy water lily variety acquire in most parts of the United States , so almost anyone can add this trance perennial to a water garden . You do n’t postulate a pond for grow water lily ; they ’ll boom in a big tubful on your patio . If you ’re Modern to water lilies or short on space , try develop them in a tub ( it ’ll feel more manageable than an integral pool of water lilies ) .
Keep theseaquatic plantscontained in ponds and potbelly . Some water lily varieties can be invasive in the wild and vie with native plant .
How and When to Plant Water Lilies
Whether you ’re concerned in growing water lilies in a container water garden or a pool , the steps for planting are the same . They set out with planting the water lily in a small container that will be placed into a pond or tub .
prefer a 12- to 20 - inch diameter container that is 8 - 10 inches abstruse and cross the drainage hole with mesh or burlap to foreclose the soil from head for the hills . The plant grows to the size of the container , so if you are work with a small vat or else of a pond , choose a modest potentiometer .
Fill the potbelly two - thirds of the way with typical garden dirt or grease made foraquatic gardening , not lightweight potting mixing containing perlite , vermiculite , or peat . You need it to be heavy . Place the rhizome against the side of the pot , with the growing tip pointing upward at about 45 grade and toward the center of the sess . Cover all except the steer with soil and add a layer of small rocks or pea crushed rock to keep the ground in place .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Lower the planted pot into the pool or bathtub at an slant to grant air to escape . Set the base of the pot 12 - 16 inches recondite . As they grow , the leaves will blow to the surface . If your flora has parting already arise , place the container so the leaves are 6 - 8 inches deep . After several days , the leaves should connect with the aerofoil , then lower the plant to its concluding depth of 12 - 16 in .
Water Lily Care Tips
Light
Most body of water lily needat least six 60 minutes of verbatim sunlightdaily to blossom . Some can bloom in four to six hours ofpartial shade , but none blush in deep wraith .
Soil and Water
Loamor clay soil is best for filling the water lily ’s throne before it is let down into the body of water . Do n’t employ a lightweight grunge mix .
Temperature and Humidity
Hardy pee lilies are available for a broad range ofhardiness zones . Check with a supplier for the varieties that perform best in your orbit .
Tropical water lilies require a water temperature in the 70 ° F-75 ° F range and die if the water temperature flow below 60 ° farad .
Fertilizer
During the raise season , fertilize the plants every calendar month or two with aquatic fertilizer tab for the upright blossoms , follow the intersection directions .
Pruning
Water lilies may need regular grooming of leaves as they begin to yellow and die .
Potting and Repotting a Water Lily
Water lilies arise to the size of their throne . There is no motive to repot them unless you need them to maturate even larger .
Pests and Problems
Water lilies can attractaphids . If they do , submerge the leaf under body of water for a dyad of days to drown them . They also attract water lily beetle that manducate holes in the leaves ; if this happens , spray the leaves with water or pick off the individual beetle and drop them into a jolt of soapy water .
How to Propagate Water Lilies
Propagating water lilies by division is a mussy job if the industrial plant is winter over in water . In early spring , lift the urine lily completely out of the water and its container . With a sharp knife , cut section of the rootstalk that have at least two eyes and some indicant of early ontogenesis and replant immediately in individual containers . Discard any rugged woody destiny of the original plant .
If the rhizome was lifted for the winter or has never been planted , switch off it into 2- to 3 - inch incision containing an eye and drop them into a shock of water , where they germinate in a few days . For each part , fill up a small peck without a drain hole partway with territory and set the discussion section in the pot with the germinated component part facing up . Add extra soil , but do n’t handle the domain that has germinated . swarm water in the container up to the germination head , but do n’t cover it . Put the pot in a bright area until the parting evolve .
How to Winterize Water Lilies
Start preparing your unfearing piddle lilies for wintertime by bump off all dead and pass away foliage .
If you are turn hardy motley , you’re able to leave them in the pond as long as the water does n’t freeze . Just lower the plants to the bottom of the pool . do springtime , as soon as anythreats of late freezing are over , take the lily pots back up to growing height .
If your pool block strong or if you drain it for the winter , dispatch the lily , spate and all . Store the entire pot by keeping it cool and moist in a pliant handbag . If you ca n’t store the entire pot , remove and clean house the originate rootstock and store it in peat moss or sawdust at 40 ° F-50 ° farad . If you ’ve dig up and stack away the rhizome , repot it as if it were a new plant in springiness .
Credit: Bill Stites
Types of Water Lilies
Hardy water lilies are agood selection for founding father . They are dependable and gentle to embed . The heyday open up in the morning and closelipped after sundown , ordinarily lasting three or four day before sinking back beneath the control surface . The flowers appear from outflow to lessen and go dormant in the winter ( you may leave them in the water or take them out and store them in a shed or garage ) .
tropic water lilies , which count even more entrancing when in bloom , need more care but are well worth the try . Their flowers are gravid and more prolific , and some night - blooming varieties have vibrant , almost electric color . Tropical water lilies need a water temperature above 70 ° F , and the rootstock have to be taken out of the water in winter .
Cape Blue Water Lily
ThisNymphaea capensisselection is a Clarence Day - bloomer that features fragrant light blue peak with a distinct star form that rise above the floating leaves in summertime . The plant circulate 5 - 8 feet . Zones 4 - 10
‘Colorado’ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Colorado ’ ravish with lifelike pinkish - peach mean solar day - blooming flowers tap in pale yellow . Its new leave are burgundy , adding surplus interest group . The plant develop 3 - 5 feet across . zone 4 - 10
‘George L. Thomas’ Water Lily
This type ofNymphaeaoffers shimmering , cryptical pink blooms during the day . This fast - farm plant life want a orotund pond to show off its aureole . It diffuse 6 - 12 feet . zona 4 - 10
‘Luciana’ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Luciana ’ is a authoritative daytime - blooming form that liberally produces 6 - inch - wide-eyed pinkish blossom over a long season . It is adaptable to low light . This plant spreads 3 - 4 pes wide . zone 4 - 10
‘Mrs. George H. Pring’ Water Lily
This case ofNymphaeais an award - advance variety that features fragrant day - flower single , large white-hot blooms with a ring of showy yellow stamen at the center . Zones 8 - 11
‘Shirley Bryne’ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Shirley Bryne ’ bear vibrant pink cup - mold blooms during the day . Zones 8 - 11
‘Afterglow’ Water Lily
This variety ofNymphaeaoffers magical coloring ( pink flowers touched with specter of yellow and orange ) on its fragrant flowers during the day . plant spread 6 - 8 metrical unit . Zones 4 - 10
‘Arc en Ciel’ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Arc en Ciel ’ offer showy leaf ; each folio is unique , with splashes of pink , yellow , emollient , and sometimes red . The pale pinkish bloom open in day and slicing as they get on . works propagate to 4 - 5 feet wide . Zones 4 - 10
‘Carolina Sunset’ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Carolina sundown ’ bears 8 - inch blooms of deep chicken and light yellow during the day . It spreads 4 - 5 feet . Zones 4 - 10
‘Chromatella’ Water Lily
This cultivar ofNymphaeabears little yellowed flowers during the day and has attractive purple - mottled foliage . This gnome kind is perfect for petite pond and container gardens , and it tolerate light subtlety . zone 4 - 10
European White Water Lily
This selection ofNymphaea albabears cupful - forge white bloom , sometimes tinged pink , around a meat of showy stamens . The dour green leaves have red underside . The plant spread 5 - 6 feet . Zones 5 - 11
Fragrant Water Lily
Nymphaea odoratais a North American native that ’s tight - growing and endowed with highly fragrant flowers . Held above the foliation , the bloodless blooms are 6 - 8 inches in diameter . Plants distribute 5 - 7 feet wide . zone 4 - 10
‘Helvola’ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Helvola ’ is a miniature day - blooming variety that produces small yellow flowers among leaves streaked with purple . It distribute to 2 - 3 feet . Zones 4 - 10
‘Marliacea Carnea’ Water Lily
ThisNymphaeacultivar unfolds glowing white flowers with a subtle pink blush during the twenty-four hour period . It is vigorous , flowers freely , and flourishes in larger pond . plant spread 4 - 5 feet . Zones 4 - 10
‘Peach Glow‘ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Peach Glow ‘ boast big , lambent peach flowers during the daylight that blanch to white as they hit the ending of their four - twenty-four hour period flower period . This spare - flowering variety proceed to produce efflorescence into the fall . plant life disperse 5 - 7 substructure . Zones 4 - 10
‘Texas Dawn’ Water Lily
This cultivar ofNymphaeais a glorious day - blooming hybrid that holds its clusters of large lily-livered bloom up to the sun . It spreads 3 - 5 feet . zone 4 - 10
‘Hot Pink’ Water Lily
ThisNymphaeavariety is an honor - acquire tropic water lily that boast large , neon - pink bloom that stay open until late in the twenty-four hours . The green leaf is cloud with cerise brown . It spreads 4 groundwork . Zones 9 - 11
‘Midnight’ Water Lily
Nymphaea‘Midnight ’ produces lowly , lightly fragrant lavender blooms during the day . The plants spread 4 - 6 foundation . Zones 8 - 11
‘Rembrandt’ Water Lily
This multifariousness ofNymphaeabears get up - pinkish bloom during the day that geezerhood to inscrutable red . The plants spread 4 - 5 feet . zone 4 - 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Each bloom lasts three to five days , but novel blooms open continually throughout the growing season . twelvemonth - rhythm bloom is potential in icing - complimentary area .
Most water lilies begin blooming only weeks after they are planted , but a few varieties may not bloom until the 2d twelvemonth .
Under optimal term , H2O lily can go 15 - 20 years or long .
Credit: Bill Stites
No . Although H2O lilies are aquatic plants , they ca n’t acquire only in water . They take a container of dirt , perlite , or some other growing medium to survive .
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Credit: Bill Holt
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