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PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
FOR AQUATIC PLANTS
Planting Soil- use a
heavy top soil with a mixture of one part sand if needed. Soil from the back
yard works well. Do not use light potting soil or humus rich soil. A light
soil will not hold a plant secure in the water and a heavy humus will add
too many nutrients to the pond load.
Waterlilies-
Waterlilies are divided between hardy and tropical. Hardy will winter over
in our zone 7. Tropical will freeze and die if left out side during water
temperatures of 50 degrees or less.
Exposure-Waterlilies
need full sun of at least 6 hours a day.
Pots- Plant one
waterlily in at least an 8 inches diameter container. A pot with no holes
will help keep soil from leeching in the pond. A pot with holes will allow
root systems to grow in the bottom of the pond .
Planting- Plant each
rhizome in soil. Anchor the root system but, Do Not Bury The Crown Of The
Plant. Add about one inch of sand and gravel to the pot to keep soil from
drifting out of the pot as you submerse the pot. BE SURE TO BUBBLE THE POT
WITH WATER FIRST BEFORE YOU LOWER THE PLANT INTO THE POND. That is fill the
pot with water first to let the air escape before lowering the waterlily in
the pond.
Growing -You may
submerse the plant to a depth of 12-24 inches of water. If the leaves are
submersed when you sink the waterlily do not worry the plant will eventually
send it’s leaves to the surface in a couple of days. Although a bud or a
bloom will not survive if lowered to deep before it blooms.
Fertilize- Waterlilies
are heavy feeders. We fertilize at least once a month and sometimes twice a
month during the height of the season. A 10-26-10 tablet can be inserted in
the soil of the pot. Pinch soil closed over the tablet to prevent leaching
into the water.
Lotus-
Lotus are hardy to zone 3. .
Exposure-Lotus need at
least six hours full sun.
Pots- Lotus will bloom
in a five gallon pot. The larger the pot the increase of blooms.
Planting- Plant lotus
tubers shallow. Do Not Break Growth Points Of The Tuber. Use just enough
soil to carefully cover the tuber . Use a layer of sand to help anchor the
tuber. Fill the pot with a few inches of water over the soil.
Growing - Submerse the
pot in shallow water the first year maximum of four inches of water over
the soil of the plant. Lotus may be submersed to the bottom of the pond
for the winter months.
Fertilize- Begin to
fertilize the lotus after the first sign of floating leaves. Start with
only one tablet on the first month. Continue to increase fertilizer of one
more tablet each month through the growing season until the end of the
growing season. A 10-26-10 tablet can be inserted into the soil of the
pot. Pinch the soil closed over the tablet to prevent leeching into the
water.
Marginals Or Bog
Plants- Marginals are divided
between hardy and tropical. Hardy plants will live in the pond through the
winter months. A tropical plant will freeze and die if left during frozen
conditions.
Exposure- Marginals
can take full sun or shade depending on the species of plant.
Pots- Plant marginals
in 1–3 gallon containers depending on the total plant height at maturity.
Planting- Plant bare
root plants at a planting depth of one half to one inch above the root
system. Water Iris only like to have the roots buried and the crown left
above the soil like a waterlily. Use a layer of sand or gravel to keep the
soil from drifting out of the pot when you submerse the pot in the pond. BE
SURE TO BUBBLE THE POT WITH WATER FIRST BEFORE YOU LOWER THE PLANT INTO THE
POND. That is fill the pot with water first to let the air escape before
lowering the plant in the pond.
Growing- Most marginal
plants like the surface of the pond. They should not be sunk any deeper than
2-4 inches below the surface of the pond when first planted. Some lily like
marginals will take a growing depth of 6-8 inches depending on the variety(
For example: snowflake, water clover, floating heart, mosaic Botswana
wonder)
Fertilize- Fertilize
marginals according the species requirements. Use a tablet to insert into
the soil of the pot. Pinch the soil closed over the tablet to prevent
leeching into the pond.
Floating plants –
These plants require
no planting. Simply place the plant in the pond and let it grow.
Most floating plants
require full sun to partial shade.
Submersed plants-
These plants can be
potted in gravel or simply placed in the pond with the lead weight to
submerse the plant to the bottom of the pond. They will grow as is.
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