Nymphaea is an amphibian plant: it can grow both in water and on land. In cloudy weather, the flower may not rise to the surface of the mirrorglass at all, remaining under water. Lilies have powerful tubers. From them go down long roots, which additionally serve as an anchor.
Water plants enter the flowering phase in early summer, and it lasts until mid-autumn. The diameter of the flowers depends on the variety and varies from 3 to 30 cm. Coloration is diverse. The life cycle of a single inflorescence is several days. Then it dies off, giving way to a new flower. While the sun is shining, the nymphaea moves behind it throughout the pond, turning to the rays. But as soon as the source of light disappears behind the clouds, the lily pond will instantly close up.
The genus of beautifully flowering water plants has about 35 varieties. Employees of breeding institutes in different countries have developed many varieties on their basis. They differ in size, timing of flowering. In our opinion, it is convenient to classify the varietiesTake the depth of the nymphaea as the determining parameter:
Pygmy. They can be found at a depth of 10-25 cm and are suitable for shallow ponds. The maximum diameter of the inflorescence is 10 cm.
Small. They also live in shallow water – 15-50 cm. The size of the blooming lily – 10-15 cm.
Mid-growing. Suitable water column – 30-60 cm. Lilies are 15-20 cm in diameter.
Large. Used to decorate ponds with a depth of 1-2.5 m. Inflorescences are large – up to 25 cm.
Just a side note!Some sources put low and dwarf forms in the same group.
When selecting a variety it is important to consider not only the depth of the water lily. The height of the planting container is taken into account when calculating. For example, if the depth of the reservoir is 60 cm and the height of the container 30 cm is suitable only low varieties, including dwarfs.
Beautifully blooming nymphs of various groups
Low- | Medium- | High-growing |
Alba | Charlene Strawn | White Sensation |
Ru | Hidden Violet | James |
Aurora | Texas Dawn | Chromatella |
Nigel | Firecrest | Pom Pom |
Planting rules
For planting, planting material is purchased at specialized outlets, nurseries, and botanical gardens dealing with aquatic plants. When selecting, planting material is carefully inspected. It should not show signs of disease development. Planting can begin immediately. The best time is in May. But it is acceptable to plant lilies throughout the summer and into September. However, only when planted in the spring will be able to admire the flowering of lilies already in the summer.
Choosing the location
The choice of site for nymphaea in a man-made pond is influenced by natural growth conditions. As lilies grow on lakes and swamps in open places, they should be planted in the sun in an artificial pond. In our opinion, with a lack of light flowering will be scarce. In heavily shaded areas it will not appear at all. Half shade is acceptable only in the midday hours, when the rays of the scorching sun can burn the delicate lily leaves. The optimal duration of daylight hours for the water lily is 5-6 hours.
To keep the pond from looking overgrown, keep a distance between the plants. Each plant needs at least 0.5 m
The lily is undemanding to the chemical composition and acidity of water. They thrive in both tap water and marshy ponds with muddy bottoms. The main thing is to avoid planting near fountains. Not only do they create intense water movement that constantly shifts the leaves, but they also splash. The latter, getting on the leaf plates – the respiratory organ of the nymph, does not allow the plant to breathe.
Requirements to the container and substrate
Water lilies have powerful rhizomes. It grows both horizontally and vertically. Wide and high dishes are suitable. The optimal height for the lily is 15-25 cm. The diameter is influenced by the type of crop. Pots should be made of materials which do not spoil under water. Suitable – plastic or stainless steel. In our opinion, it is better to have them closed. The absence of crevices will prevent the leaching of nutrients from the substrate and provide the lily with a long vegetation period. Rotting in a closed container is excluded: the nymphaea tuber is located on the surface of the soil mixture and cannot “suffocate”.
The soil is made nutritious, so that the stock of important macro-and micronutrients will suffice until the next replanting of the nymphaea. As a rule, it is carried out after 2-3 years, when the container becomes small for the developed root system. The base of the suitable substrate is clay. It will not allow it to wash out into the water. The optimum ratio of clay, sand and garden soil is 2 : 1 : 1.
When preparing the soil mixture, use organic and mineral fertilizers with prolonged action. They are rolled in clay balls and placed as a bottom layer in the planting container so they don’t wash out.The following remedies demonstrate a good result:
“Ava;
“Bazacot”;
“Fertika universal”;
dolomite flour.
How to plant
Planting technique is simple. The main thing is to follow the sequence of steps:
Fill a suitable container with soil, leaving 3-4 cm to the edge.
In the center make a recess, place the planting material in it and cover it with substrate.
Distribute pebbles on top, which will protect the nymphaea from bare roots due to fish. They swallow the soil and then spit it out, getting food. If the fish are large, it is preferable to use rubble.
The container is installed at a depth of 10-20 cm from the point of growth, and then gradually moved to the desired site.
Move the container by two methods, depending on the technical possibilities of the reservoir. If the water level can be controlled, or the depth increases gradually because of the slope on the bottom, raise the water level a few centimeters daily. If control is not possible, a stand is placed under the container, gradually reducing its height. In our opinion, it is convenient to use ceramic bricks.
In deep ponds, where the water column does not freeze to the bottom ground in winter, the flower is planted directly in it. To prevent the nymph from shifting, it is fixed with stainless staples.
Further Care
Nymphaea are not very picky about water quality. But for their rapid development, in our opinion, the pond should be cleaned regularly and the water changed.If the pond is shallow, lilies grow in a container, three times a season they need to change the depth:
In the spring, after the snow melts, the pots are placed so that the water rises 20 cm above the soil in the selected dish.
When the foliage grows and the reservoir warms up, the depth is increased by 30-60 cm, depending on the form.
In late autumn, after pruning the leaves and buds, nymphaea is immersed to a depth of 50 cm.
Move nymphs in a non-flowering state. After changing the location, the lily will complete the phase of budding. And the recovery period of an adult specimen takes from 1 to 2 months. In deep ponds, it is better to use brickwork to change the level. Then, if necessary, it is enough to reduce it or increase.
Overwintering
Winter-hardy forms of water lilies are left to overwinter in deep ponds, where the water does not freeze completely. Although there are varieties that survive even when frozen into the bottom ground. According to experimental data, the depth of freezing in Moscow is 45 cm. Consequently, in the middle belt in ponds with a maximum depth of 1 m winter-hardy lilies safely overwinter.
If there is a risk of freezing, you can make the pond warmer with the help of boards, foam blocks or snowfall. When the water layer is less than 50-60 cm, the pot with lilies is removed and transferred to the basement, leave it until the spring heat. The lily is pre-wrapped in a polyethylene bag with small slits for air circulation. Maintain a storing temperature of 2-10°C. During the winter, control the moisture of the clay soil mixture, so that it does not dry out. Lightly watered if necessary.
Transplanting
The growth of the root system and the development of the entire volume of the pot is evidenced by the shallowing of leaf plates and flowers. To restore the ornamentality of water lilies, plants are transplanted: they are removed from the old pot and transplanted into a dish with greater depth and diameter. Try not to disturb the clod so as not to disturb the roots. If the specimen is old, it is worth to divide it into dividers and get new, young plants.
Protection against pests
Water lilies are very immune. But in periods of summer heat, when the air is very dry, its shoots are infested by aphids. The pest is a great danger because of the rapid rate of reproduction. Water plants are protected from mass invasion by insecticide preparations. If the pond is inhabited by representatives of fauna, the chemistry replaced by biopreparations or folk remedies. An effective way is to spray the shoots with a soapy solution, and then wash it off with plain water under high pressure. Spraying when it is dry and cloudy. If the days are sunny, the appropriate time for protective measures is morning or evening.
How to propagate water lilies
A simple method of propagation of nymphaea is division. The vegetative method allows to keep varietal qualities of the parental specimen. Carry out the procedure immediately after wintering or when transplanting. The method is not labor-intensive and involves dividing the rhizome into several parts. Each plot should have 2-3 buds and thin roots. The parts are placed in individual containers and placed at a depth of 20 cm. As they mature, they are moved to the right level.
Nymphaea – an unpretentious decoration of water bodies. It easily adapts to the artificial growing environment. The main thing is to plant correctly and take care of the plants as needed.
