Lilly Planting Question

[Rowly]

HI ALL:

Bought two hardy lillies (Red Attraction and Sioux) from the US on the Weekend. Both in a small container that has the lilly in a mesh bag. The instructions say just drop the mesh bag into the pond and let settle to the bottom (not plant and cover the lilly). Each mesh bag has a string on it with a plastic lilly to show location. My question is..... if I use this technique will the lillies root into the gravel below? Last summer, I built this 2800 gal pond with streambed and waterfall and added some yellow and white water lillies with great results by just allowing the gravel to cover the lilly roots and naturally grow.... in time the lillies expanded beneath the gravel with good bloom thereafter. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated on this 150-160 sq foot of water surface and some 24-30" deep.

Rowly

[Jackie Ramo]

I would think it would take more than just dropping them in to get good growth, is there a wieght in the bag??? I'd unbag and plant in the gravel. I have one that is 4ft deep and believe me it is first up and blooms most so depth isn't a big issue.

[Ahhuhz]

I agree with Jackie. Just plant as you did the other lillies into the gravel.

[Rowly]

I would think it would take more than just dropping them in to get good growth, is there a wieght in the bag??? I'd unbag and plant in the gravel. I have one that is 4ft deep and believe me it is first up and blooms most so depth isn't a big issue.

I agree too ... Jackie and Chuck:

Yes, the mesh bag is weighted but I think I will just throw in as detailed and wait until it just a little warmer to wade into the deep water up to my neck bending over to plant these lillies into the gravel. a friend last year told me to just plant in gravel bare root and the lillies will do just fine and they did without any soil per say......... very prolific too. When I get time I will post a few pics.... I live on a 20 acre gravel pit lake and will be building 3-4 more ponds in a "U" shape watercourse with streams..... no filters just some 5000 ghp of water moving from the lake and thru the watercourse and back into the lake.... the 15 million gals of clear lake water will naturally filter the water. The pond I built last year is closed loop and will only drain into the watercourse on the way back to the lake. again, thanks. Any suggestion or opinions appreciated.

Rowly

[Ahhuhz]

You should also use one of those fertilizer tablets once a month for each of your lillies.

[Rowly]

You should also use one of those fertilizer tablets once a month for each of your lillies.

I stopped doing that for the simple reason each of the 3 lillies only had about 2" of gravel around their root system not clay type soil when planted in tubs...... I thought the fertilizer would only break down quickly and up the nitrogen in the water to help the growth of filiment algae, etc......the lillies did grow and bloom.... any thoughts on this???? Regards.

Rowly

[Ahhuhz]

When I had watergardens, all my plants including lilies were planted in gravel with some stones around then to secure them from Koi poking. I used a tablet for each plant and never had any water issues. The plants bloomed great. I had Iris plants that were 3' tall. Here is a pic of my old watergarden. I now have a 5,600 gallon Koi pond.

[Jackie Ramo]

My lilies are bare root planted and I do fertilize them in spring and when I remember. Never been an water issue that I could trace back to that.

You could start the lilies in a pot and transfer when the water gets warmer

[BonnieIN]

I'm going to disagree with Jackie and Chuck....

I plant all of my pond plants bareroot, EXCEPT for lilies.
I've grown them many different ways. No pots, Pots with holes, w/o holes, fabric pots, etc... lilies will bloom much better when potted PROPERLY in a large pot with dirt or potting media and fertilizer.

If you don't believe me.. get two lilies of the same variety and experiment. :yup:

[Jackie Ramo]

Don't mess with Bonnie, she's the plant boss. :yup:

[Ahhuhz]

To each his own...whatever works. Mine were excellent just planted bare root.

[Rowly]

When I had watergardens, all my plants including lilies were planted in gravel with some stones around then to secure them from Koi poking. I used a tablet for each plant and never had any water issues. The plants bloomed great. I had Iris plants that were 3' tall. Here is a pic of my old watergarden. I now have a 5,600 gallon Koi pond.

Thanks All:

Maybe this year i will use some fertilizer tablets to see if I get greater bloom. I planted the mesh bags yesterday...... peat moss and some type of material in a mesh bag.... looks like half a coconut. I added some stone around the rhizome and set on a shelf about 18" down in the water to start.... I will plant in the gravel next month when the water is warmer and the lillies hopefully will have some leaves....

Bonnie, I did use large pots before at my previous home and they did work great but here I'm trying to naturalize them like a few ponds I seen..... they look great and less work I hope as they grow and wonder with room to spare on the pond bottom....more interested in cover than bloom.. but blooms are very nice too.. Again, thanks so much.... I hope the $6.99 lilles survive and grow.... but indeed a very nice price for red attractions and multiply colored Sioux hardy water lillies. Most bare roots are over $20-25 apiece

Rowly

[Jackie Ramo]

A good deal for sure. I'd not put the peat moss in the pond, it will make a mess. Clay is your friend in the pond.

[BonnieIN]

To each his own...whatever works. Mine were excellent just planted bare root.

Did you ever have this many blooms Chuck?
:phfft:

[BonnieIN]

Rowly, as long as you don't expect loads of blooms you will be fine. :yup:

If you do have a true Sioux, it will spread to about 4'. Attraction has a spread to 5'.


Keep us posted..
Good luck

[Ahhuhz]

Actually Bonnie, I did!
Back at ya!! :phfft: :phfft:

[BonnieIN]

Chuck.. count again Dear!

Hey, I'll give you credit.. you done good! :5:

[Ahhuhz]

I guess at that moment in time you had more. Kinda like the watergardeners and the koi ponders, no winner. :lol: :flamer:

[Koidaddy]

Hats off to both of ya.. mine have never bloomed so prolific as yours! What's your secret?

KD

[Ahhuhz]

Love! :lol: :yup: :lol: :yup:

[Peg]

Can you split lilies like you can garden plants. I have 2 that were given to me and they need spliting. Can I split them down the middle with the shovel or do you do it another way???

[Ahhuhz]

Yes you can, I did not do it but Bonnie is the expert on that.

[Rowly]

Rowly, as long as you don't expect loads of blooms you will be fine. :yup:

If you do have a true Sioux, it will spread to about 4'. Attraction has a spread to 5'.


Keep us posted..
Good luck

Bonnie, I'm hoping they are true. I had a red attraction before in a large natural clay lined pond and it was large and beautiful. My 3 lillies from last year are growing well and are getting ready to start breaking the water surface. I just temporily located both of these new lillies in a shallow location. Once they break a few leaves I will continue to drop them deeper into the water until I transplant them into the gravel bottom to grow and hopefully bloom. I should buy a long handle fertilizer pole to locate some tablets around these established lillies some 3' deep. Any suggestion on a best type of pole aid to get to use? Muh appreciated.

Rowly

[Siberman]

I stopped doing that for the simple reason each of the 3 lillies only had about 2" of gravel around their root system not clay type soil when planted in tubs...... I thought the fertilizer would only break down quickly and up the nitrogen in the water to help the growth of filiment algae, etc......the lillies did grow and bloom.... any thoughts on this???? Regards.

Rowly

I didn't read the whole thread before answering so I apologize if my post is redundant.
I take a pvc pipe long enough to reach the bottom of the lily's roots (and just a little above the water surface) , drill holes in the bottom end and put it in the planter. You can then slide a tablet or pour liquid food down to the roots without phosphate / nitrate contamination of your water.
I prefer grey or black pvc although white will eventually be camoflauged with algae.

[Jackie Ramo]

Although this seems like a good solution I'm concerned to have all these pipes sticking out of the water???

[carcha koi]

Yes, done it lots of times. Still easier to take the new runners or eyes off then trying to split it down the middle. Breaking them in half can leave you rotting plants.