Have you ever looked at a Monet painting, especially his natural scenery? Doesn’t it look dazzling with beautiful water lilies illuminated by the golden sunlight, and the bountiful green of its leaves? Doesn’t it look heavenly with the diamond-like water droplets listening on the floating leaves? If yes, you can also have it in your garden by planting water lilies.
Some water lilies like Mayla water lily can transform the look of your backyard, if cared for and planted properly. You can also ask experts from famous institutions like the SAIWC for information and suggestions.
What are water lilies?
People dabbling a little in gardening know about these plants, but it is better to know for novices or first-time planters. Water lilies are pond- and lake-dwelling aquatic plants of different sizes. They can have a width of several meters (large, vigorous cultivars) to small forms, which you can read in a garden bond or a planter. Some of these aquatic flora like the Mayla water lily are easily recognized and most popular pond plants.
These plants bear white, pink, yellow, or red flowers with many petals on or just above the surface. They are perennials – so they die down in autumn and re-sprout in spring. However, you should ensure the type before planting water lily seeds. Hardy water lilies are available easily and grow outdoors all year, whereas tropical water lilies have large, vibrant flowers. They are comparatively tender and need warm water to grow [minimum 21˚C (70˚F) in summer].
Selecting the right water lily to grow
Water lilies are found extensively and with diverse types in nature – with flowers of different colors that transform formal and informal ponds into an elegant floral backdrop. Apart from their decorative feature, they provide shelter for aquatic life, and their shade inhibits algae growth.
One of the important aspects of planting water lily seeds is the size and depth of the pond. It would help to choose the plants according to the available area, as some can spread to several square meters. You can also grow water lilies in large water containers (at least 30 cm deep) if you do not have access to a pond – however, these plants fall under the ‘small-sized’ categories.
In addition, hardy water lilies require less care, whereas tropical water lilies need warmth in winter.
Things to know before planting
The location you are thinking of planting water lily seeds will affect its growth and bloom; so you should choose the most appropriate water lily for your gardening space. You can also contact the experts at SAIWC to know the optimum ways to plant a Mayla water lily. Here are some information you should know about water lily cultivation:
· Water lilies like calm and still waters, so you should plant them away from cascades, fountains, pumps, and other turbulent areas.
· You must use aquatic compost or heavy clay-based loam to plant a Mayla water lily in an aquatic basket.
· You must plant the lilies in full sun to promote flowering.
· It would help to check the labels/ description of the ponds before buying – especially when you need to choose the most appropriate cultivar fitting your pond’s dimensions.
· The maximum area you can cover with leaves is half the pond’s surface.
· Most water lilies don’t require extra care, but you must make special arrangements for tender tropical water lilies in winter. They require at least 10˚C (50˚F) temperature to survive.
When and how to plant the lilies?
The best time for planting water lily seeds is from late spring to late summer. You should arrange for an aquatic basket with mesh sides and fill it with aquatic compost or heavy clay-based loamy soil.
Here is how you can plant a Mayla water lily or other lilies:
· Line the plant basket first with hessian clothes and fill it with aquatic compost or loamy soil.
· Trim back any grown roots and shear off damaged or old leaves.
· Plant the lily keeping the crown at the compost surface and firm in well. You can thoroughly water the plant after adding in a washed pea shingle layer to fix the compost.
· Place the basket with the lily into the pond so that the crown remains covered with at least 6 to 10 inches of water and the young leaves keep floating on the surface. Use bricks initially to maintain the level, if needed.
· Gradually keep lowering the basket with the lilies’ growth until it sits on the pond bottom.
Because of their swift growth, you can plant tropical water lilies at a permanent depth.
Concluding statement
The optimum dimensions for planting water lily seeds in a planter according to the cultivars are mentioned below:
· Dwarf/small cultivars need at least 1 to 2 feet width and 30 -45 cm water depth.
· Medium cultivars can reach 60 – 120 cm wide and need at least 18 – 30 inches of water depth.
· Large cultivars can reach up to 8 feet wide and need a water depth of 75-120 cm.
If you need any extra information, contacting knowledgeable agencies like the SAIWC will help you get appropriate answers.
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