Hardy Water Lilies (Nymphaea)
1 Re-pot every 1-2 years and use 8"-12" squat pots.
2. Best time to re-pot is September when growth starts.However you can re-pot untill the end of January
3. Trim rhizome to 1 or 2 growing points, trim roots.
4. Use a good garden soil with some clay content. DO NOT use potting mix. Top up the pot with 2cm of coarse sand or pea gravel.
5. Fertilize with one pond tablet per pot every 6 weeks during the growing season. DO NOT fertilize while dormant during winter.
6. Water Lilies like 15-45cm of water over the growing crown depending on size and variety.
7. Water Lilies like at least 4 hours of direct sunlight, but a full day of direct sun is better.
8. The PH of the soil and water should be in the range of 6.5pH - 8.0pH
Tropical Water Lilies (Nymphaea)
1. Re-pot the same as Hardy varieties. However DO NOT
re-pot until growth starts, usually late October.
2. Tropical water lilies require warmer water temperatures.
3. Tropical water lilies are later to start flowering than Hardies,
usually November - December. But they continue flowering later into
the autumn then most Hardies.
ESTABLISHING
LOTUS PLANTS
FOR PLANTING IN POTS OR BOWLS
# Use a good quality rich garden soil --what you plant your vegetable
garden in is ideal (no raw manure or unbroken down organic matter
# Most large varieties of lotus are NOT suited to pot or bowl culture
( Large varities need a container at least 1.5 meters wide)
# Choose small types like: Momo botan, Angel wings or true bowl lotus
types, eg. Red river.
#Water temperature needs to be 20 degrees or above
# Half fill pot with soil--wet soil to form a soft mud--place the
rysome into the wet mud at about a 35 degree angle, two growing tips
in the mud,new leaf stems and the tail of the rysome need to be out
of the mud. Now place some coarse sand or gravel about 3--4 cms. over
mud and rysome.
# There should be enough nutrient in the top soil to get the lotus
started, lotus start with floating leaves, then develope standing
leaves that stand well above the water.
# Once standing leaves develope you can gradually raise the water
level-- also start to fertilize at this point-- you can push fertilizer
tablets into the mud or use granuler fertilizer, dynamic lifter in
a tissue pushed into the mud.
# DO NOT OVER FERTILIZE, one to two tablets or one table spoon of
granular per month till the end of FEBUARY then no more fertilizer
till the following spring.
PLANTING IN EARTH BOTTOM
PONDS OR DAMS
#Place rysome at a 35 degree angle in the soft mud, with the tail
of the rysome out of the mud. Now put a rock or a half brick over
the rysome to prevent it floating out. Start in very shallow water
preferably at the edge of the pond or dam.
DAMS--after planting, place some wire netting over rysome to protect
it from curious water birds till lotus establishes.
also with dams that have a bad infestation of yabbies, place an opera
house yabbie trap near lotus (check daily) till lotus establishes.
#Once lotus have established and standing leaves have developed the
water level can be raised.
# Lotus will follow the water down on falling dam levels.
PLANTING MORE MATURE LOTUS PLANTS
--same as above, except plant flat, not at 35 degree angle, keep any
leaves above water
line or you will drown the plant.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR GROWING LOTUS
#All lotus including bowl lotus require a minimum 6 hours direct sunlight
--preferably during the middle or hottest part of the day.
#Lotus can not live without water, if they dry out they will DIE.
#Clean off any duck weed, azola etc. that will compete with the lotus
#Do not fertilize when dorment and stop fertilizing about 6 weeks
before dormancy, usually about the end of febuary.
#Do not start fertilizing in spring till standing leaves start--then
once a month--fertilizer is usually not required in dams with rich
mud.
#Bad ventillation can bring black aphids, these will suck on leaf
stems, flower buds and flower stems--they can kill the plant----
spray with confidor or natural sprays
#Remove old leaves and spent flowers. NB.DO NOT CUT STEMS BELOW WATER
LINE can drown the plant!
#Overwinter bowl lotus outside or any unheated area, protect from
really sereve frost (-3 on).
#Bowl lotus may need re--potting every one to two years
