Nymphaea Stellata

pugwash

pugwash

Able Seaman
Mar 16, 2005
329
0
0
Land of Augusta
I've got a red one of these as a specimen plant, that seems to be doing very well in a 55g. There are currently 7 lillies at the surface, with new ones coming pretty much every 3-4 days. I read somewhere that it should flower after 3 lily leaves have reached the surface, but it just continues to sprout more lily leaves.

So I'm wondering if it isn't going to flower, how to I go about pruning the lily leaves? Do they eventually wilt away or do I have to actively cut the stems at the top or bottom?

Thanks for the tips.
 
Most plants want phosphorus to flower. You might try burying a tiny bit of a water lily tablet near it. You don't want phosphours out in the water, though. The bulb may not have enough energy stored up to make a flower yet.

Remove the leaves when they die, or if they're really covering the surface.
 
Ok, I'll let the bulb store more energy as it's only been in there for 3 months and let nature take it course.

To prune it, do I just cut the leaves off at the top of the stem, or at the base of the stem? The leaves are pretty much covering half the tank now.
 
Prune it by cutting the stem of the leaf near the base. Cutting just the leaf will leave the stem to rot in the water.
 
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