I just picked up the newest issue of Country Decorating Ideas Presents: Water Gardens and found it to be packed full of information and ideas! Ü If you're at all interested in water gardening be sure to check this one out.
This message was edited Mar 1, 2005 8:20 PM
Water Gardening
Pam
guess I will have to check this out, next time I walk over to the mall..
thanks for the tip.
Wilma
I thought you'd prolly be interested in this one Wilma. ;) I'll have to send you a list of what I have in the fall.....found most of my labels floating on the surface (over the past two years) so will need a summer of sun to get them to flower so I can ID them again.
What's the temperature in there?
The biggest hint I can give is:
FERTILIZING:
Potted lilies MUST be fertilized. Water Lilies grow extremely fast, the fertilizer is quickly used up and must be replaced. Most fertlizer tabs recommend monthly feedings, but some only require yearly feedings. Follow the directions on the Fertilizer Container. Even when the lily appears to be growing well, it will slow down if it doesn't get the required "boost" the fertilizer supplies.
I found that I fed them every 2 to 3 weeks when we were over 100F.
Like brugmansias they take fertilizer like crazy......make sure you have purchased a *good* brand of aquatic pond tab fertilizer for them. I've found some brands aren't worth the packaging they were put in. The one I have now I picked up from a bulk order that a greenhouse made (closed down now) and I don't know it's name.
Your welcome Ü........I hope they start blooming for you soon, the low of 60 may also affect them.......since mine won't be going out for a month, at the very least ;), I really can't say when they will start making flowers for you. Here it is mid June to early July when some of mine start sending up buds. Watch Trois (Texas) to see when his Hardy Water Lilies start blooming....he also has tropicals but they are way more dependent on high temps both to bloom and to stay out of going into dormancy.
This message was edited Mar 2, 2005 12:53 PM
I plan on picking your brain about these little darlings while we are at the RU, Pam. Mine are still sleeping in the crispers of the downstairs fridge. Have my fertizer tabs all ready to go. But I have a million questions! Thanks for the tip about the magazine.
LOL.....care to give me a few hints regarding the *million questions* you will be picking my brain for Donna???
Oh, stuff like what kind of containers you use for your lilies, basket type, bucket type? When can I put them out in my pond? Should I put the fertilizer tabs in the pots right away in the Spring. Should I buy specialty water lily clay? It looks like kitty litter. Can a person use kitty litter? What kind of soil do you use? What can I expect when I take them out of the baggies in the fridge? At what level in my pond should they be? Depth? I bought Barley pellets in the fall. Do you use it? If so, how is it used? That kinda stuff... :)
LOL! Don't use the clumping kind....lolol
I use the specialty water lily clay and I also use clay that we *borrowed* from beside the entrance of Badger's home (we dug quickly and kept a *very* close eye on the hole). I've read some have used Kitty Litter (unscented and without additives) but I haven't. Top soil is deadly in a pond.......the organic matter will break down and cause an awful green pea soup algae growth.
They prolly will show some new tip growth when you take them out of the fridge (at some point they will start growing even in very cool conditions). For sure you will be able to plant yours sooner than I will......as soon as you can handle putting your arm deep in the water.
When I first put mine out they only have about 4 inches of water covering the pot. As the leaves reach the surface I keep dropping it another six inches (a couple of times) and then I drop them down to 2 1/2 to 3 feet (I have the large spread water lilies). My father grows the miniatures, small and the medium spread.
Barley pellets are best placed under a bit of running water in a mesh bag.
The best containers for water lilies are the plastic washtubs and I've also used the aquatic plant pots with mesh like sides.
Thought I should mention that both top soil and potting soil will also release gasses that are deadly to fish.
Here's a link to a previous discussion about water lilies......talks about fall clean up but there are other tips: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/454608/
This message was edited Mar 2, 2005 3:37 PM
Pam, have you ever just used pea gravel for your lilies??? I have had mine in pea gravel for two years now. I think they do okay, although they probably dont' bloom as much as they could. I didnt' even fertilize them last year, so this year I will put some fert tabs in and hope they do better.
Glenda
No I haven't.......I was told when we first started that garden clay was best (if you were willing to dig deep under your top soil). I don't know if pea gravel would hold the fertilizer very well. Even the aquatic clay releases some fertilizer into the pond and I think the pea gravel would release even more.
My pond stays cleanest with the clay we took from the Badger's den.
Thanks for a the tips, Pam. It is much appreciated. My new water fall should do the trick if I position my Barley pellets in a mesh bag where the water falls near the edge of the pond. Didn't want a fountain this year so there will be so much agitation for my lilies. I will pick up some Water Lily clay. Canadian Tire carry's it during garden season, I noticed. Probably the cheapest place to buy. If you recall, when we moved here last Spring, the fomer owners had that gigantic pond, fountain, and waterilies in ice creme pails at the bottom of the pond. They were in a mixture of pea gravel and humus soil. After we remodelled the pond last fall with a tonn of rocks to make a waterfall into a much smaller pond, I am hoping I will have better luck with them. I am curious as to the relevance of the soil from in front of the Badger's hole? Do they fertilize as they are coming and going or what?
LOL, Shannon, you nut...no, I'll make sure it's not the clumping kind. Gosh, I don't even like that stuff for my cats!
The soil we took from the Badger's den was pure clay with a bit of sand mixed in .......the owner dug very deeply for us (try getting deep pure clay from your garden). As far as holding the aquatic fertilizer uncooked clay compresses solidly; whereas pea gravel, and to a lesser extent clay pellets, have open spaces between the individual pieces that the fertilizer, once it disolves into mush, can easily leach thro.
I have no idea as to what this "Do they fertilize as they are coming and going or what?" refers to however.
This message was edited Mar 2, 2005 9:01 PM
wow Pam, you sure know alot about water gardens. Maybe some day I'll have one and I can learn from you.
I'll be tickled pink to help you with it Linda!
You know...as the Badgers are coming and going into their holes, I wondered if they were...ahem fertilizing at the same time. Do you know what I mean? Shannon, do we have to use our "Sh...snow" term with Pam do you think?
I thought maybe Donna was referring to the "deposits" that Mr. Badger might leave behind - ? Could be some of the best stuff around!
Deposits! Now that's a good description...:D
Thanks! Almost as good as "white sh...stuff" lolol
This message was edited Mar 2, 2005 11:04 PM
woops - we crossed in cyberspace Donna! Great minds think alike! (or, is it, fools seldom differ? ;-) lol
typos...edited...
This message was edited Mar 2, 2005 10:59 PM
I thought Badger was a dog? You mean Pam's been digging around a real Badgers's den?! wow, I'm impressed, more guts than me, and all for water Lilies?! I don't think I'd be doing that for my brugs.
WTG Pam, did you have pepper spray just in case?
Linda
Oh yeah...stuff! That's what it was. LOL
LOL!
Clearly I have nothing substantive to actually contribute on the actual water garden question, but I am sure learning a lot from you in this thread, Pam. Thanks for sharing all your expertise.
Oh boy, it's going to be midnight before I can get to sleep now. Too much ROTFL :-)
Have a good one Shannon. You should be here; it's only 8:05 pm. :)
You're right, I should be there! lol Hey, not long until the clocks go ahead - a month or so? For everyone except Pam and Joelle of course.
Well good night, everyone. See you tomorrow!
LOL....well Donna the badger's sh,, stuff wouldn't be something I'd want in my pond.;) Like other organic matter it too would break down and make a *really awful* stinky mess. I didn't even consider that because most wild animals won't defecate near their dens and I did state that we "*borrowed* from beside the entrance of Badger's home". Actually to be very specific it was part way up the mound.
edited to say the Badger is a carnivore, like a dog, so it's feces would be very unsanitary in a pond and I sure wouldn't be planting any plant in that.
This message was edited Mar 7, 2005 6:12 PM
Just seeing this thread now... I am a little slow. Pam you sure do know your stuff on water gardening! I so wish I was into it-- having a professional just a mile away from me. I am just toooooo lazy to do it, especially in our climate- kudos to you and your passion! Here is another book you have to write! This summer when we have our yards in shape we need to give each other the TOUR! Hope you don't mind a few messy parts- I call it a work in progress. LOL! ( or lazy) Joelle
Sounds like a great idea Joelle! I'll need the push to get it ready for you and Lynn. ;)
This message was edited Mar 22, 2005 8:24 PM
Lilypon
Wondering when you are taking your waterlilies out from a long winter's nap.
Just checked mine today and watered them ( mine are in 4 litre pails)
can't remember when I took them out of the fridge last year?
Wilma
I take them out when I can handle putting my arm in the pond water........actually in my case I put all of me in it (I wear my father's hunting waders). So I like it to be a little warm. ;) I have 12 lilies that I put in the big pond so I have to get into it to properly place them. Mid April was the earliest I've planted them out (it was a very warm April).
I don't take the lilies out of cold storage until the day I plant them.
Ok that was what I was wondering about the cold storage,,
a few more months to go before they get into the pond, heck if I can find my pond, under 3 feet of snow..
Think we will have to visit the tunnels of Moose Jaw this summer.
Inanda - who could never have a pond due to far too many kids.
We did have a big pond for watering cows. found lots of fossils there when digging it.