TROPICAL WATER LILIES:

HARDY WATER LILIES: Hardy water lilies grow horizontally (across the planting container). Use a three gallon container or larger. Because hardy water lilies grow horizontally, a wider pot is preferred to a tall and narrow one. Use same soil and fertilizer preparation as in above. Plant the lily with the end furthest from the point leaves are growing from against one side of the container so the lily will grow across the planting container. Firm the soil around the rhizome leaving the crown exposed. Add one inch of gravel to help keep soil in place. Carefully lower the finished planting into the pool to approximately six inches of water over the top of the pot. This depth can be increased to twelve to eighteen inches after plants are established.
For Winter care lower pots to bottom of pool until Spring. Fertilize on a regular basis after flush of new growth and plants have broken dormancy.

LOTUS: Lotus, by their nature can only be shipped as a dormant tuber. The tubers are very fragile and should be handled with care. The larger the container the lotus is planted in the better it will do. A round container will do best, and should be no smaller than fifteen inches across and larger is even better. Lotus start growing as soon as they are planted out , and continue to grow and bloom through summer . They will go dormant after they have finished blooming. Use good garden soil along with your choice of aquatic plant tabs. Fill the container to within two inches of the top. Plant the tuber horizontally like the hardy water lilies. Add gravel carefully to firm soil and lower the finished planting slowly to a depth of four to five inches over the pot. Lotus need full sun, at least six hours per day.

SHALLOW WATER AND BOG PLANTS: Shallow water and bog plants are the types that grow at the waters edge in their natural environment. They consist of varieties that stand above the water while their feet always remain wet such as cannas, irises, and papyruses. Other types such as water four leaf clovers and parrots feather trail along the surface of the water will their root remain anchored. Use as large of a container as practical (wider is better than taller) especially for the taller aquatics as they will be top heavy in the wind. Dish pans will do nicely. Use good rich garden soil and your choice of aquatic tabs. Fill containers to within two inches from the top. Plant all shallow water and bog plants upright . Firm soil and add one inch of gravel to firm the soil . Lower the finished planting to approximately two to four inches of water over the top of the pot. Unlike other aquatic plants, bog plants can be mixed with other bog plants in the same pot. For example mix irises with papyrus and parrots feather.

FLOATING PLANTS AND OXYGENATING PLANTS: Floating plants and oxygenating plants do not need to be planted. Simply place them in the pool upon arrival. Floating plants such as duck weed, water lettuce, and sensitive plant simply float around the pond. Oxygenating plants such as anacharis, hornwart, and ludwigia are very important in keeping the pond water clear and clean. Use one oxygenating plant for each two square feet of surface area. To find the square feet of surface area multiply the length of the pond by the width of the pond. Divide this number by two and the answer is how many oxygenating plants you should have in your pond.

IMPORTANT TIPS: It is not a good practice to frequently drain the pond to clean it. Doing so disrupts the natural ecosystem of the pond. The key to keeping your pond clear and clean is to stock it properly with the right kinds of plants from the beginning. Equally as important is to not over stock your pond with fish. A properly stocked pond and a good filter will prevent algae blooms before they ever get started. To figure the volume of water in your pond for square, rectangle, or irregular multiply (length x width x depth) x 7.5. For a round pond multiply (diameter x diameter x depth) x 5.9. Most aquatic plants like full sun and should be fertilized with aquatic plant food on a regular basis. If plants go dormant in your zone for winter it is because they need to rest. Do not try to force any plant out of dormancy by pumping it with fertilizer. Wait until Spring and warmer temperatures, then fertilize.