new plants

[Peg]

Hi All
Pond plant question for you. A friend gave me some plants for the pond. There are two Marsh marigolds 2 lilies and one iris. All are in 3 gal pots and look root bound. What is the best way to divide them. I will be treating them with bleach before putting in the pond and I thought when I split them it would be a good time to treat. Do I have to repot the iris or can I remove all the dirt and plant the roots right into the river rock in the water fall. Thanks for the help.
Peg

[Ian]

I'm sure zero is it...? will handle any plant material :HAHA: Just a hunch :yup:

[Jackie Ramo]

Iris make excellent veggie filter plants. so just wash them off, put them in 10% bleach over night and plant them up. Same with the rest except lilies make lousing filter plants.

Pay no attention to Ian, he doesn't even eat veggies. :lol: :phfft:

[clm]

I plant directly into the gravel in the bogs, but the top layer is 1/2" gravel, not river rock. Marsh marigolds have a tendancy to die back with the heat of summer, so don't be alarmed if that happens. I don't know whether march marigolds like running water or still water. I've never put them in the bogs before, I stick to just a few different plants for the added filtration, but if you google them you should be able to find out what conditions they like.

Cindy

[Peg]

Well the iris is planted in the falls but I have a question about the lillies. I split them and treated the over night with bleach. Put them in a bucket of clean water for 24 hrs. When I removed them they gave of a swampy smell. They are now in a bigger bucket in the greenhouse. The smell worried me so I have not planted them up yet. Should I treat them again or is this normal?
Peg

[Koidaddy]

Mine always smell like sewage... I wouldn't worry.

KD
:grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Swampy smell is one thing sewage is another. I'd treat them again. If your plants stink like sewage its because there is a build up of anneronic (sp? bacteria, this is the bug that leads to ulcers.

[Peg]

Thanks Jackie, That was my plan but I was not sure about treating again. I'll have time on the weekend to do them again. With the fish comming out of there first winter and doing good, I don't want to screw things up for them.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

You can leave them sit in a 10% bleach solution until ready to plant, hose them of and away you go.

[marla]

The marsh marigolds are in bloom here in all the marsh areas, most are at the edges of the running creek waters, so could be they'd like moving water. I've always had a problem growing them they tend not to like high PH. I think I will dig up some wild ones, they are huge clumps and try again. Glad to know you can leave the plants in the bleach so long, I thought just a dip.

[Peg]

I was glad to hear that as well. Though I might have fried them. The plan is to Treat them again. My MM came from the edge of a small creek a few year back. Great in the spring but hate how they look when they die back.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

I always plant an annual just behind the MM's so that when they die backthere is something to replace them. They always did well in my last pond but for some reason, maybe high pH, they only seem to last two years here. Mine aren't blooming yet but the leaves are big.

I wouldn't think that growing beside a running creek is the same as being in a running creek. The dirt would protect the roots from movement.

[marla]

good idea. if the rain doesn't stop I'll need to put wadders on to go get the ones by the marsh creek.

[Jackie Ramo]

Take an umbrella!!!! :yup:

[marla]

Now how will I dig holding an umbrella??? :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

I thought hubby did the digging. I'd not let mine dig up plants though.

[Peg]

I got all the water lilies planted and they are in the pond. It's funny to watch how the fish act when you put something new into the pond. Sat and watched them for about an hour. Curiousity got the better of them in the end and they had to check them out. Looks like the cats are going to make it, but they are slower at getting going this year.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

Fish are curious critters. Wait until they start emptying the pots to see what is in the bottom :HAHA:

[Peg]

After all my hard work they better not. :HAHA: But it wouldn't surprise me if they did. I hope I got all the bad buggies out of them, I'll find out soon I guess.

[Jackie Ramo]

:yup: They'll be working on those pots all night, a nice surprise for you in the morning. Hope you put heavy rocks on them