![]() Thee is the potential that if the plant gets really old, it can sometimes shed old stems from the outside of the plant, to "make room" for newer, younger stems. A few of the older stems that grew before I started adding additional fertilizer droop a bit, but the rest are ramrod straight and the stems are quite thick. I can tell that the newer stems are super strong. ![]() In July I started supplementing the controlled-release fertilizer I used at planting with water soluble fertilizer. Look for something like a 20:10:20, 20:10:15 or 24:12:17, or another formulation along those lines. I use our Proven Winners water soluble fertilizer but any fertilizer with a 2:1:2 or 2:1:1.5 ratio would be good. If the plant is at all light green or yellowish start using a well balanced water soluble fertilizer once a week or so to give it a boost. The other suggestion I have to keep it really healthy and strong is to make sure you fertilize. If it is in a pot with other plants or planted in the ground make sure the ground never gets completely dry. If you have King Tut in a pot by itself try blocking the drainage holes to help keep it well hydrated. Usually if you have stems kinking over it is because the plant is getting dry. This is despite several bouts of quite strong winds. It may take a little work, but it’s well worth it, and in no time spring will return as will your water garden sanctuary.My King Tut is about 5 feet tall now (I have it in a galvanized metal bushel basket with no drainage holes) and was planted from a 4.5" pot in May and it almost never has a stem kink over. (21 C.).įor a lower maintenance pond, use only hardy specimens and be sure to install a deep enough pond for overwintering and/or install a water heater. Return the lilies to the pond when water temps are 70 degrees F. When leaves have grown and white feeder roots are visible, replant into its regular container. Once the tuber sprouts, set it into a pot of sand and sink this into a container of water. In the spring put the container in a warm, sunny place and watch for sprouting. Store the tuber in a jar of distilled water in a cool, dark area, 55 degrees F. Air dry the lily tuber and remove the roots and stem. These beauties are only hardy to USDA zone 8 and higher and like a water temp of 70 degrees F. Just keep them in a water-filled saucer and place in a sunny window or use a grow light on a timer set for 12 to 14 hours a day.Ĭaring for delicate pond plants, like tropical lilies, over winter is a bit more difficult. Some examples of this are sweet flag, taro, papyrus, and umbrella palms. Winterizing other non-hardy water plants can be accomplished by treating them as houseplants. Examples of these are floating heart, mosaic, poppies, and water hawthorne. A good idea is to submerge them in a large plastic tub in the greenhouse, warm area of the house or use an aquarium heater. Overwintering pond plants, such as lily-like aquatics, need to be submerged, yet warm enough. ![]() Water hyacinth and water lettuce, which are inexpensive and easy to replace, are examples of these. That is, remanded to the compost pile and replaced the next spring. Plants that are non-hardy are sometimes treated as you would annuals. Lotus and hardy water lilies are an example of water plants that can be treated in this manner. Then lower the pot to the bottom of the pond where the temperature remains a few degrees warmer throughout the winter. Plants that are cold tolerant can be left in the pond until the top is frost damaged, at which point prune all the foliage off so it is level with the top of the pot. Now it’s time to categorize the water plants to determine a course of action for caring for pond plants over winter. ![]() (15 C.) to give them time to become dormant. Quit fertilizing the water plants when the daytime water temp drops to below 60 degrees F. Inspect any pumps and change filters as needed. For cold hardy specimens, overwintering pond plants may simply mean immersion in the pond.īefore winterizing water plants, it is a good idea to manage the water garden itself. Some plants will not tolerate winter temps and must be removed from the pond. The question of what to do with pond plants in the winter depends upon the plant. A big question is how to winterize pond plants? How to Winterize Pond Plants Water gardens require year-round maintenance, even in winter, and unless you are lucky enough to have a professional groundskeeper, this chore will fall to you. Many home gardeners include a water feature, such as a pond, to add interest to the landscape and create a relaxing oasis to retreat from the chaos of daily life. ![]()
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