Water Gardening: why doesn't photo show clear water, 1 by Rosepond

Rosepond wrote:
I am kinda late to this thread but I have lots of thoughts. You see the reflection of the sky on your pond surface, Ruth. Your water looks wonderfully clear. As Strever suggested, a uv filter will do the trick or watch where you stand and at what angle. That will help somewhat.

To keep the koi from digging up your lilies, use rocks bigger than their mouths. I even use pieces of slate to keep mine out but that could be a problem depending on which direction the rhizome decides to grow..

Water lilies don't need special soil. Anything will do, including cat litter as long as it doesn't have additives and is pure clay. The cheapest stuff is usually pure. Be sure to fertilize as lilies are heavy feeders. I like soil that doesn't have alot of organic matter in it and is high in clay. The organic matter rots in an anerobic environment and turns the soil black and smelly. Which doesn't bother the lily, it just bothers me (but may be a problem for koi if it produces surfuric acid.)

There is controversey about pots with or without holes. That is a decision you have to make for yourself. I use dish pans from dollar store. If I am lucky I can find them in black. If you prefer holes use a drill and put a few in them. Or, as Ruth suggests, use newspaper or coffee filters to keep the dirt in.

And OFG, most hardy lilies do well in 18 to 20 inches of water. The larger ones can stand water up to 3 or 4 feet deep. The smaller ones, less. The important thing is that they get light until their leaves reach the surface. If the water is too turbid for the light to reach them they will not know that it is time to grow.

I enjoyed reading all the comments and thoughts. Thanks for letting me put my 2 cents worth in.

Patti Rose