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Planting Instructions for Pond Plants
When you receive your new plants, they will have been out of the water for approximately 48 hours, and should be supplied with water as soon as possible. If you cannot plant them immediately, use a bucket, pot or other container to hold them temporarily. Keep your plants cool and shaded until they are planted. In southern climates, or if temperatures are very hot, new plants will benefit from some temporary sun protection until they become established.
Growth pattern:
Leaves and flowers radiate out from a central tuber.
Water depth:
A water depth of 3-24 inches is generally fine.
Light requirements:
Full sun. Some varieties can handle partial shade.
Planting media:
Heavy soil is best.
Container size:
Lotus grow quickly and need plenty of space. Use large pots (14-24 inches across), and remember to allow space for growth.
Fertilizer needs:
Include several fertilizer tabs when you plant your lotus, and treat with liquid fertilizer as needed.
Planting instructions:
Fill the pot with soil to 3-4 inches below the top. Create a furrow in the soil, and gently place the lotus tuber with any growth facing upwards. If desired, use a small rock to hold the tuber in place. Carefully cover the tuber with 2 inches of fine gravel or sand. Initially, place the container so that it is sitting 5-10 inches below the surface. As the lotus plant grows, the pot can be gradually moved deeper.
Growth pattern:
Leaves and flowers radiate out from a central tuber (tropical lilies) or rhizome (hardy lilies).
Water depth:
Varies. Generally ranges from 6-36 inches, although some require shallower water and other lilies do fine in deeper water.
Light requirements:
Most do best in full sun. Some lilies may tolerate partial shade.
Planting media:
1 part sand to 3 parts soil, covered with 2 inches of gravel.
Container size:
Large containersóat least 8-14 inches acrossóare best. Remember to allow space for future growth.
Fertilizer needs:
Fertilizer tablets may be added to the soil when planting. Liquid fertilizer can be used as needed, to encourage blooming.
Planting instructions:
Tropical and hardy lilies like to be planted near the top of the potting soil. Fill the pot about two-thirds full of the soil mix. Make a mound in the center of the pot with a handful of soil. place the rhizome on the mound and spread the roots out. Cover the plant so that it is covered by about 1 inch of soil. Thoroughly water the potted lily, and gently cover with pea gravel.
Note:
Water lilies are extremely buoyant, and it is not uncommon for a plant to suddenly pop free of its pot and float to the pondís surface. To prevent this, be sure to cover the soil with 1-2 inches of pea gravel. If this is not sufficient, run string through the pot so that it crosses several times above the roots, essentially tying the lily into its pot.
Growth pattern:
Lily-like. Deep-water plants radiate leaves and flowers from a central crown that is potted or planted at the pondís bottom.
Water depth:
Most prefer 12-36 inches of water, but some do well in much deeper water.
Light requirements:
Most do best in full sun but can tolerate some shade.
Planting media:
1 part sand to 1 part soil. Use a 1-2 inch layer of fine gravel to prevent soil loss when the pots are submerged.
Container size:
Wide and shallow is best.
Fertilizer needs:
Fertilizer tablets may be added when the plants are potted. Liquid fertilizer may be used at any time.
Planting instructions:
Fill the pot with soil. Make a hole in the soil and place the crown of the plant approximately 1-inch below the soil surface. Firm the soil over the roots and gently cover with gravel.
Growth pattern:
Varies. Marginal plants grow with their roots below the water line, and their foliage extending above the surface.
Water depth:
Varies, but generally ranges from 2-6 inches.
Light requirements:
Varies, ranging from full sun to full shade.
Planting media:
1 part sand with 1 part soil works well with most marginals. A top dressing of pea gravel will prevent soil loss and fish damage.
Container size:
Varies. Allow space for growth.
Fertilizer needs:
Aquatic fertilizer tablets may be added to the planting media. Liquid fertilizer may be used as needed.
Planting instructions:
Depending upon their final size and growth pattern, these plants may be planted in clusters of 1-4 plants per container. Place the newly potted plants in shallow water so that the soil is covered and the foliage extends above the surface. The plant may be moved to its final depth once established.
Growth pattern:
Varies, generally spread out over the water surface.
Water depth:
Float on the surface.
Light requirements:
Varies, ranging from full sun to part shade.
Planting media: NA
Container size: NA
Fertilizer needs:
Low to none. Use liquid fertilizer if plants are looking weak.
Planting instructions:
Release the floating plant into the pond. You are done.
Growth pattern:
Varies. Some remain submerged while others venture above the surface.
Water depth:
Varies, ranging from surface to 10 feet deep.
Light requirements:
Varies, ranging from full sun to full shade.
Planting media:
1 part sand to 1 part soil. Cover with a 1-2 inch layer of fine gravel to prevent soil loss when the pot is submerged.
Container size:
Varies, but small is generally fine.
Fertilizer needs:
Low to none.
Planting instructions:
Oxygenating plants can be allowed to float freely in the pond, or may be planted in containers. If you want to pot your oxygenators, fill a container with soil. Using a pencil or your finger, make several small holes spaced throughout the container, and plant 1-3 stems in each hole. Gently firm soil around the stems and cover the soil with fine gravel.
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