Here are some tips for getting the most out of your tropical water lilies!
Plant when water temperature is stable
You should plant your tropical water lilies when your water temperatures are at least 70 degrees F. Warmer temperatures means quicker growth but cooler temperatures can send your plant into dormancy or even death.
Don’t plant too deep
Planting in very deep water means slower growth. The water is cooler down at the bottom. Therefore it takes more time for buds and pads to reach the surface. Opt for a water depth of < 18 inches from crown to surface of water.
Plant in a large pot
When you plant in a large pot, tropical water lilies will have large majestic blooms and foliage.
Use a good substrate
Don’t use potting soil. It is lightweight and will float and make a mess. Choose from heavy garden soil, clay, or sand.
Today we will address our concerns with tropical water lily seeds that are available from the internet.
At auction sites and other sources across the web, there are tropical water lily seeds that are available for purchase. While the pricing seems really good, there are some matters that we feel consumers should be aware of. We will be using the screen capture below.
What is actually for sale?
In the screen capture above, we see the titles of the auctions. Continue reading »
Some time ago as maintenance was being done across the ponds, I noticed something unique. After removing an expired pad from a N. William Mclane, I noticed it started releasing bubbles and it kept going and going!
I’m not entirely sure of the composition of the bubbles but I believe that it could be mostly oxygen. This could be particularly useful during a power outage @ the popping of the bubbles on the water surface creating gas exchange.
Today we will learn how to properly install a preform pond.
What is a preformed pond? A preformed pond is a hard shell pond liner that has been pre-molded into a particular shape. Often times they are constructed out of plastic or fiberglass. They are useful for locations with loose soil that would otherwise collapse if had used a flexible EPDM liner.
Planning
First, you will want to think about a location. Consider the space available as preformed ponds start from about 2 feet in diameter and go up. Opt for a sunny location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Ensure that the location is away from trees so as to avoid falling foliage and roots. Also, be sure that the location is level, is not in a low point in your yard, and that there aren’t any electrical or irrigation related materials underground.
Next do some research into local prices while keeping your budget in mind. Many major home improvement stores will carry preformed ponds. Your local pond supply store many also carry them. When in doubt, choose the largest possible pond as you’ll be much happier and maintenance will be easier. When I was a hobbyist, I acquired a 160 gallon preformed pond from the Home Depot. Continue reading »
Recently we’ve noticed that there has been a significant increase in the marketing for commercially prepared aquatic plant soil. While different companies are selling this product, the basis is that it’s ingredients are inert and natural and are kiln-fired.
Several years ago when I was just getting into this hobby, I happened to get a small bag of Schultz Aquatic Plant Soil from the local Home Depot. It made several promises but these were the best ones: Continue reading »
Capturing beautiful shots of tropical water lilies can be very satisfying. You can share this photos with friends and family and even someone on the other side of the world!
In this article we will be focusing on the use of digital cameras although some techniques may be applied otherwise.
Adjust digital camera settings
When initially turned on, most digital cameras often default to the ‘auto’ or ‘point and shoot’ mode. If you try to take a photo in this mode you’ll notice that the camera attempts to predict where the focus of the image is and unfortunately is typically wrong. First, check if your camera has a manual mode. If is does then enter that mode. Now go to the camera menu.
In this article we will have a look into tropical water lily fertilizers.
Lets first start by looking at fertilizer analysis (N-P-K)
N stands for Nitrogen. It is responsible for healthy roots, vigorous growth, and green foliage
P is for Phosphorus. Its purpose is to ensure strong blooms.
K represents Potassium. It aides in helping the plant resist stress.
When looking at fertilizers, you’ll notice that there are numbers that are associated with N-P-K. Those numbers represent the analysis and are shown in percentages. For example lets say a bag of fertilizer reads 10-15-5. This means that there is 10% nitrogen / 15% phosphorus / 5% potassium.
Tropical water lily fertilizers come in several forms: granular, tablet, or liquid.
Granular fertilizers for tropical water lilies
Granular fertilizers are typically slow-release and are activated by some element–water or temperature. One brand of granular fertilizer that we use is Osmocote. Although it is not marketed as a fertilizer for tropical water lilies, it actually works very well for tropical water lilies. Continue reading »
