Is the problem fertilize or need of division?

12 years ago

This is my third year with a pond and my water lilies have gone crazy this year. The first couple of years the growth was fair. I fertilized with Jobe's tomatoe spikes this spring and I have great foliage growth and my blooms are bigger, but I can't say they are more abundant. My issue is this. The pads on all of my plants but one are standing erect and not floating, and this hides the bloom. That doesn't sound exactly right... I do have floating pads, but the new growth in the center majority of the plant stands erect, there by hiding the bloom. The plant that doesn't have erect pads was given to me last year. Is this due to something with the fertilizer or do they need dividing since the problem is occurring only with the older plants? I should probably also say that these are hardy lilies and all gift lilies that have no name.

Thanks for your input!

Carla

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Comments (4)

buyorsell888
12 years ago
Needs division. Humping up in the center is a classic sign of needing division.

You can also remove pads, even healthy pads to keep them from piling up.
catherinet
12 years ago
Sounds like you might need a smaller lily for your space.
I read awhile back that you can cut out a number of the leaves without it hurting the plant.

I've found that med-large waterlilies usually need thinning every 1-2 years, if your pond is small.
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clarabelle63
Original Author
12 years ago
That's what I was afraid of...lol My pond is smallish, 6 x8 x3 at the deepest point, around the 700 gallon or so size. I wish it were a lot larger, but I have a hard enough time with what I have, so I will be happy with what I have! I've only purchased one plant, beyond hyacinths and anacharis since I've had it. Friends have given me the lilies...beggars can't be choosers! : ) I spent a while yesterday doing pond maintenance and I picked off a bunch of pads that looked nice along with the funky ones, hoping that it would help. I guess I best start rounding up potting supplies! Thanks for your help!
buyorsell888
12 years ago
You can remove down to five or six pads and still get blooms if you fertilize.

You can repot back into the same pot after chopping off the dead part of the rhizome and adding fresh soil. Hardies grow horizontally so shallow wide pots like dish pans or oil pans are great.