Dragonfly Aquatics Blog

Mayla Hardy Lily

Most hardy waterlilies need at least six hours of direct sunlight in order to grow  and keep blooming.  However, there are some varieties that fair well in part shade. Many of the yellows,  peach/orange , changeable and some whites will perform with three to five hours of sun daily.   You need to keep lilies  away from waterfalls and moving sprays of water.  A waterlily breathes through the stomata on top of their leaves, the constant splashing of water can cause the plant to die.  As the leaves become coated with water, the plant drowns and dies.  Even a small amount of water splash  can cause disease and the water lily will eventually die.

     Medium to large waterlilies can be placed in the pond at approximately 18-30 inches deep. The smaller varieties can be 8-12 inches deep and dwarf waterlilies at about 6 inches deep.  The larger waterlilies will grow in shallow water, although they may not flower as much as if they were in deeper water. 

     A normal pH range for your pond water is 7 to 8.  Pond water and soil that is above 7 are more readily tolerated than ranges below 7.  You will get optimum growth and nice colorful flowers by keeping your pH in this range.  Another thing to remember is waterlilies will not tolerate high levels of salt.  If the salt level in your pond is high, the lily pads will develop black spots.  There is a salt level that is safe for the plants while still being beneficial for the fish. If you have fish and want to occasionally treat your pond with higher levels of  salt,  I would suggest removing your pond lilies to a holding tank until the treatment is finished.  When treating your pond with salt, it is always wise to test your pond water with a  salt level test kit.                                                      

Stay turned for more on hardy waterlilies and how to plant them.

Buy hardy water lilies,mayla water lily here.