This is the first bloom in my water feature on the deck. The pond was started about 6 weeks ago.
Bill
First bloom in the water feature.
Hi Bill!
Beautiful Bloom! What kind of water feature do you have? I'm interested, I have some water plants waiting for their pond (gonna be a while! lol!) and would like some ideas on what to do with mine.
Hi, Sue: my water feature is a 100 gallon rubberized cattle watering trough placed on the back deck. I have a small pump with a fountain and four goldfish. It has water lily, some reeds, and a papyrus, and something that I am not sure of the name. I hope to build an in-ground pool in the future, but this one is really to beginning to look nice in just a short time.
Bill
Very nice! Gives me incentive to start something now if I can get results like yours in 6 weeks!
I have one water lily, some lettuce and a reed or two.
Wow! You must have had better luck finding plants right away than I have!
The ones I ordered on line should finally be here sometime next week so the only ones in there so far are gifts from som great people here! Except for the fantastic Juncus effusus "Unicorn" I picked up in town today. It is a corkscrew rush and looks pretty neat.
Thanks, Zanymuse. Fortunately there are several water plant suppliers in Dallas, which is 90 miles from me. The plants were very large and they have done really well, I think.
Bill
That is giant pennywort you have there. (It is the one that is round and has scalloped leaves.)Your pond looks great! Keep up the good work and congratulations on your first bloom!
Amazing pond you have started there and so full and lush already.
Nice work!!
Those plants look REAL happy and well arranged!!
We have a tank just like that.
They work VERY well.
We bought ours cracked at a farm store for a song.
A little piece of liner and some silicon glue and it was in business.
It's been thru 2 Winters, this year w/ heavy freeze (12" of ice) ,and it came thru perfectly.
Nice choice!!
Ric
Thanks all!
Toadlily: thanks for the identification. I couldn't remember the name of that plant. By the way, what do you do after the bloom quits opening. It closed at night, and now it still looks healthy as a bud but has quit opening in the daytime. Should I snip it off or leave it?
Bill
I usually don't snip mine until they start turning brown unelss I am making a flower arrangement to take in the house. Sometimes they will skip a day and then open again the next day, or you may just be missing the bloom. Are you home all day? I have noticed that as the blooms get older, they sometimes will close sooner, why, I don't know.
Toadlily: yes, I am home all day as I am now retired. The bud hasn't opened yesterday or today. It still looks nice and white. I just spotted another bud coming to the surface, so it looks like this lily is really going to perform. We are having thunderstorms and some much needed rain as I write this. The water container sure looks nice in the rain.
Bill
Bill, Congrats! It looks great!
You said you were having rain there? That may be why your wter lilly is not blooming ~ Mine does the same thing usually ~ I wanted to take a pic of mine yesterday, But it got overcast and the bloom closed right up! Today it's mixed weather, And it was a little sunny for a while so got a pic of mine today, But, now it's getting overcast again and it's starting to close. I do the same as toadlilly, I don't snip mine untill it starts turning brown.
Iris, you beat me to it! Yes, lilies will not open if it is too cloudy. They are the same way about opening if they are cut and in the house. I have to put the cut flowers in the kitchen because my livingroom doesn't get enough light and they won't open :-).
Toadlilly, I might have beat you to it, But I'm glad you posted too, I didn't want to be the only one that metioned that they stayed closed if it's overcast.
I don't know a whole lot about them and I was going by the observation of the ones that I have.
Thanks toadlily and iris. That is probably the problem. We've had rain and cloudy skies for three days. Had nearly two inches of rain yesterday and rain predicted for the next several days. We're finally getting some of what we should have in April and May. Be careful what you pray for. LOL
Bill
Another thunderstorm with pouring rain as I write. The water level in the water container is about 1/4 inch from the top and rising. I guess that is a good way to add water. Start building an ark! LOL
Bill
LOL Bill!-
Not trying to tell you how to do things or anything, but you might want to think about cutting your bud and taking it indoors. The artifical light will sometimes be enough to make it open and you don't twnat to miss enjoying on your first bloom, even if you have to bring it in. I love to bring floweres in the house from my water garden. They are large and make a statement don't they? It looks really cool to mix waterlilies with the foliage from different plants like lambs ear, wandering jew, rosemary, etc. gives it a kind of different look than the normal bouquet.
An update on the water lily blooms. I have had two more buds open and bloom for one day only. It is not cloudy weather or rain causing the problem now as we have had several days of bright sunshine and temperature in the 90's. The last bud opened for one day and is now turning brown and limp. Is this normal for a lily to only bloom one day. I thought the blooms opened for several days. Maybe I should change to another lily.
Bill
Bill, I am also in zone 8a and have a little stock tank pond. My water lillies also usually bloom for one day only except during the first of the season when it is cooler. I have several different kinds so I just think it is because of the heat. We are near 100 everyday and my water feels warm to the touch. I just enjoy the blooms for a day. This is my third summer with the pond and is the best so far. There is always at least one bloom open. My pond is healthy and the lillies are thriving! Jenny
Thanks, Jenny. Maybe it is just the heat (heat index of 106 degrees today). I am new to water gardening and don't know what to expect. Mine is just a water feature on the deck and the water does feel a little warm. My water container is also healthy and the plants are thriving, so I won't complain. Just was expecting a little more show from the lilies.
Bill