New Water Lily

CatDouch · May 2022

I’ve bought a new water lily for the wildlife pond I made last September. The water lily is Nymphaea Colorado and it is in a 1 litre basket. The information tag says that 1 litre water lilies should be planted in 3 litre baskets and I have bought one of those but wonder if this is the wrong time of year to disturb it? Should I leave it to settle in and then put it in the larger basket during it’s dormant period in the winter or next spring? I’ve not had any previous experience with water lilies! I’ve never worked out how to get the photo the right way round … sorry 😣

Fairygirl · May 2022

You won't really be disturbing it as it's already potted. It's the same as potting on any plant

The important thing is to try and get it at a suitable level so that the foliage will sit on the surface. That sometimes means putting a brick or similar on the bottom. Once they're mature and at full size, they can be put in the bottom, assuming it's suitable

The photo thing isn't your fault, it's becoming a really infuriating problem. If you can keep the photos at about 1MB or smaller, they load better.
I'm ashamed to say I sometimes don't respond to queries that I might be able to help with, because I'm so fed up with turning photos.

Pete.8 · May 2022

I agree with @Fairygirl - you could do it now as it's coming into growth.
Or if it makes life easier wait until around May next year.
Getting the level right will help a lot with settling in too.

Lilies can be slow to settle in and get growing.
Mine stayed tiny for 2 years, then I read about adding a slow-release fertilizer.
The Osmocote 5-6 month is recommended by several aquatic centres.
I put one in my lily's pot last year in April and it has improved growth significantly

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Osmocote-Controlled-Release-Plant-Tablets/dp/B00B5WJNLY?th=1

As for the photos - we assumed it was a bug when the site was first updated a couple of years ago, but it now seems to be a permanent feature.
I'd have thought that the website associated with the UK's most watched gardening programme could at least manage to to orientate photos correctly, but it still can't 😡

ShepherdsBarn · May 2022

I can't help with the lily question, but re the photo upload, somebody on the forum said that if you crop the photo slightly it doesn't happen - it has worked every time for me. 😊

Fairygirl · May 2022

That why I said making the photos smaller is what works @ShepherdsBarn. Cropping will do much the same thing. Depends on what the photo is of though

KT53 · May 2022

Many moons ago I worked in the pond section of a garden centre. Most lilies didn't come to us until late April at the earliest and we never had any problems from people potting them on during the season. As Fairygirl said, the most important aspect is not to put them too deep, too soon. They really do come on far better if the leaves are on the surface. Either bricks under them in the pond, or string from the pot to secure fixing points at the side of the pond, to support them will do the job. The string option does mean you don't have to faff about in the pond to adjust the depth.

Lyn · May 2022

I think this is the little chap in question. I think it would be ok for this they throw roots out of their baskets anyway.
I just chuck mine in. They soon find their way to the top/bottom.

I think the pond may need some oxygenating plants, That looks like blanket weed. ,

zugenie · May 2022

I would think it’s better to pot it on now than wait and risk the roots having grown massively through the basket! I had to cut mine out of the basket!

floralies · May 2022

We repotted ours in April, it was huge and heavy, hadn't been done for five years and it's a small pond! It's already got leaves and flower buds. You have to make sure you buy the right size plant for your pond ie size and depth.

CatDouch · May 2022

Thanks everyone for your comments and I think I’ll pot it in the bigger basket straight away. The leaves are on the surface so I think the depth is ok. Yes @Lyn the pond has got blanket weed, unfortunately, but I’ve got lots of oxygenating plants …. I made the pond in September and bought the recommended amount of oxygenating, rafting etc plants from Waterside nurseries, I’m hoping it just needs time for the plants to grow and then it will settle down. I regularly go out with my bamboo cane and twizzle (probably not a word but it should be😁) it out.

Fairygirl · May 2022

It'll all take a wee while to settle and mature, but it'll be lovely in another year.

I have a pygmy water lily, because it was bought for the tiny pond I had. It'll have to stay on it's support in the new pond as I don't have any other suitable spot for it other than the deepest bit.
If the blanket weed persists, there are various products which can help. Watercress can be chucked in and makes a big difference as it feeds on the various algaes which appear when water warms up. I tried a product this year for the first time [as my pond has a lot of shallower areas] and it's brilliant.
I'll have a look for the name.

New Water Lily

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