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    This has been a hot summer so far. Its important if you have fish in your pond that you make sure the water isn't too warm for them. As your water evaporates replenish with cool water. Your fish will be happy!

    The tropical waterlilies sure are blooming up a storm in my pond.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Albert Greenberg's colors are outstanding this year as are the other waterlilies. I'm not certain if its the hot summer days or just that all the pond plants are happy this year. These were all new plants this year since we just redid our pond so other than the initial fertilizing when I planted them, the first part of June, they haven't been fertilized since. I best get to that so I get as many flowers as possible before summer is over. I know tropical waterlilies last only during the summer but I seem to enjoy them more than the hardy waterlilies because of their colors.

     

     

    Woke up this morning with a chill in the air....gone for a few days are the 80 degree temps.  This is what we woke up to this morning.

    The leaves are even beginning to fall with the wind blowing.  I guess we all know what is in store for us for the next couple months.

    Another Red Scarf bud is starting to open in my pond.  I find I enjoy the pond plants even more towards the end of the season.  It's such a pretty lotus bud.

    I probably should get out my sweatshirts and sweaters now.  I love fall with its beautiful colors when the leaves begin to turn but don't look forward to what comes after....snow.  There are a few things we can start doing to our ponds now since the days are numbered.  Here's a list of some fall and winter pond plant care items for the hardy pond plants.  

    HARDY WATER LILIES

    With the lower temperatures during the fall season, you will notice a decrease in water lily blooms and the lily pads turning yellow as the water temperatures cool. It is important at this time to remove the dead leaves and spent blooms to avoid having the debris in the pond over winter. As winter approaches and water temperatures drop, the water lily will go dormant. Remove all dead lily pads and lower the potted lily to the deepest part of the pond or to a water depth of about two feet.

    SUBMERGED PLANTS

    As long as the submerged plants are below the ice, they will usually survive the winter. Any part of the plant that is allowed to freeze will turn to mush and add unwanted debris to the pond. It is wise to cut these plants back and sink below the surface.

    HARDY BOG/MARGINAL PLANTS

    Once your hardy marginal plants begin to brown, usually after the first hard frost, prune back excess foliage and discard any decaying material, so it does not compromise the water quality over the winter months.  Potted bog plants such as Pickeral and Thalia Dealbata should be placed at a sufficient depth to avoid freezing the crown of the plant. Plants such as Japanese Variegated Iris and Cardinal Flower should be removed from the pond and planted in the yard for the winter. When new growth begins in the Spring, they can be placed back in the pond for the summer. Most of the other hardy bog plants can be left as they are and will return the following spring.

    mayla-my-pondAs the weather warms up and we begin to assess what plants we want to add to our ponds this spring, make sure you check out your hardy water lilies to see if they are in need of re-potting. Adding Highland Rim Fertilizer tablets at this time is also a must do. Water lilies need to be fertilized every 4-6 weeks to ensure plenty of flowers this summer.

    Dividing the water lilies and re-potting them in early spring will ensure a better performing water lily this summer. Several lilies in the same pot compete for available nutrients resulting in fewer flowers this summer.

    Water lilies need to be planted in at least a 1 gallon planting container for best performance. The medium to large varieties should be potted in a 2 to 5 gallon planting container to reach maximum flowering and growing potential. Don't be fooled by purchasing a potted lily in a 4 inch pot and expect it to flourish in your pond. You will end up paying more for the lily, and will still need to purchase a larger container to re-pot the lily in.

    With the lower temperatures during the fall season, you will notice a decrease in water lily blooms and the lily pads turning yellow as the water temperatures cool. It is important at this time to remove the dead leaves and spent blooms to avoid having the debris in the pond over winter. As winter approaches and water temperatures drop, the water lily will go dormant. Remove all dead lily pads and lower the potted lily to the deepest part of the pond or to a water depth of about two feet.

    Hardy Water Lilies,Pink Grapefruit at Dragonfly Aquatics.

    I honestly love fall, but I am always sad to see the temperatures dropping and the flowers, plants and pond getting ready to go to sleep for several months. All is well at this point, lilies are still blooming, the impatiens I planted in the stream-bed are magnificent still, but sadly I know it will come to an abrupt end! Now is the time to start planning our approach to fall care of the pond to help all of our endeavors this past summer survive the winter ahead. Check out our website under Pond Supplies to order fall supplies to prepare for the winter months. Covering the pond with pond netting helps keep out the majority of the leaves that will fall in your yard and inevitably end up at the bottom of your pond.  Make sure to order Microbe-Lift Autumn/Winter Prep to help accelerate the breakdown of leaves, sludge and other organic matter during the winter months. It helps jump start your pond to a healthier environment in the spring, and also helps maintain a healthy immune system for your fish during the winter. I will be elaborating on the importance of fall maintenance in the coming weeks. Until then, enjoy the upcoming Labor Day Weekend, make sure you spend some time enjoying your pond......the countdown has started.....winter is right around the corner! Unfortunately!

    A hardy waterlily that will change from day to day. Some of the flowers will open with yellow blooms and change to red by the third day.  Others open light peach to apricot  on the first day and change to dark pinkish orange or dark peach by their third day.     The changeable waterlilies are suitable for the small to medium ponds and grow well in container or tub water gardens.  The majority of them have a spread of less than 4 feet with their  foliage  consistent from the spring through fall.  All of the changeable water lily varieties have variegated lily pads. The 'Sioux' is considered to be one of the larger varieties. They will start to sprout in the mid-spring and will bloom until late in the fall. All of the changeable water lilies are very prolific bloomers and the flowers are fragrant.

    All changeable waterlilies are shade tolerate and most are considered medium in size.  The 'Little Sue' is probably considered the most tolerate of shade while the 'Aurora'  is probably the smallest but the flowers will stay open later in the day and is a good bloomer. 

    When planning your water garden choose one of the changeable hardy waterlilies to enjoy.  Watching the transformation of one color to another is truly amazing.

    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.

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