I want some really nice lilies...help

[lousybreed]

So I am starting my first pond and I want to drop some hardy water lilies into it. The pond is 5' by 8' and 24 inches deep. Actually the link to my pond thread is in my sig at the bottom.....

I dont really know what to use as soil, the right planting depth, ect.....I really like lilies though. How many for my size pond? I was thinking 2 or 3 plants????

[Desertponder]

You should be fine with 2 or 3 lilies.
There are so many different ways to plant lilies that are successful.
Here is what works best for me and my lilies.
I use black oil drain pans for pots. You can use anything that is wide and flat including dishpans. Lilies grow across, not down so wide, flat pots are best.
For soil I buy a particular bagged top soil at home depot that has a good amount of clay and sand in it. You don't want to use potting soil or even the black loamy top soil because you'll have too much material floating away. You can also use plain non-scented kitty litter or straight pea gravel to plant in. You can use the soil out of your garden. I've tried all of these but I stick with my top soil method topped with pea gravel.
When I pot a lily I dampen the soil as I put it in the pot to help keep it from floating away once the pot is lowered into the pond. Fill the pot with soil to about 1/2 to an inch of the top. Place the tuber in the center with the growing tips facing up as much as possible. Press the tuber into the soil to anchor it and then cover with a layer of pea gravel.
Be sure to fertilize your lilies as they are heavy feeders. You can place the appropriate amount of Osmocote slow release for the size of pot in the bottom before you put your soil in and you'll be good for the whole growing season. Or you can fertilize monthly with tomato spikes or pond tab fertilizer.
Hope that helps some.
Everyone does it a little different and you might have to experiment a little bit with what works best in your pond environment.

[lousybreed]

Could you tell me what the particular soil is at home depot? That would help alot. Thanks for the input!

[Desertponder]

I'll have to look at the bag tonight. I can't ever remember the brand.

[lousybreed]

I'll have to look at the bag tonight. I can't ever remember the brand.


Thanks....

[Desertponder]

Its called Earthgro Top Soil. Comes in a white bag with black and red lettering. Sells for $1.98 per bag here.

[Reddog80p]

I get all my lilys locally, already potted and grown. I get them for about 20-25 bucks a piece but they all have (4) crowns, which means they can split into 4 different plants if I choose. The biggest one I have has 7 blooms right now, plus 4 buds that havent opened. I have 2 ponds both about 9' X 12' and 30 inches at the deepest part I have 4 large lily plants. So I would say 2 would be plenty if you get the larger variety. I agree with Desert ponder they do best in wider shallower pots. All my lilys are in some sort of heavy soil, then I top the pots with pea gravel so my comets and koi dont get into them as much. You could buy bare root plants and pot and wait. Or pay more for already grown ones. Talk to local pet stores they may know of local ponders who sell pond plants, thats how I found my pond guy. As far as depth you could set the pots on crates (like the file folder plastic crates from office max) or on the bottom of your pond. The Lily pads will grow up to the surface and stop there. If you plant them on crates and then decide to lower them to the bottom the pads will grow up to the surface. They are very cool plants. here's a couple pics of mine. It's getting a little late and it's over cast so the blooms are closed, but they open during the day in the sunlight. The blooms last anywhere from 3 days to a week. Then they start to sink into the water. You pinch the bloom stem off near the pot. You do the same with yellowing pads. You'll want to put some lily fert tabs in the pots. I put 3 fert tabs in each pot. I get blooms all summer long.

[lousybreed]

thanks for the info everyone! the pond pics look great! I want to get going on this asap!

[Reddog80p]

Heres a couple pics of lily fertilizing/clipping. Sorry my dog had to get some face time.

[Desertponder]

I love your pit. He looks a great deal like mine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/SASHABEAR/Pets/Zeuswithtire.jpg

Nice lily pics.

[Reddog80p]

Update Lousy? How's the pond lilys doing?