1. Do potted water lilies need soil?
Water lilies can’t just be placed in water; certain cultivation techniques and tips are essential:
[Choose the Right Soil]: Water lilies prefer humus-rich, fertile, clay soil. Therefore, it’s best to cultivate them in mud that has long accumulated in rivers or ponds.
[Choose the Right Seed Stems]: Water lilies are often cultivated by division. The quality of the seed stems is crucial to the success of cultivation. For planting, select vigorous, robust rhizomes that are virus-free, undamaged, and free of rot. Cut them into 6-10 cm long segments.
[Shallow Planting]: If the rhizomes are planted too deep in the soil, the soil temperature will be low and oxygen will be depleted, hindering rapid growth. The planting depth should generally be appropriate, keeping the new shoots on the rhizomes level with the soil surface. [Sufficient Light]: Water lilies prefer sunny, warm, humid, and well-ventilated climates. Water lilies grown in pots and jars must be placed in a well-lit location, receiving full sunlight. [Daily Care and Maintenance]: Water lilies are long-day plants, so the planting area should be well-lit and well-ventilated. Water lilies require different water levels at different growth stages. Initially, the water level should just cover the rim of the pot. Gradually increase the water level as the leaves develop. In the early stages of potted water lilies, apply ample base fertilizer and no topdressing is necessary. Apply fast-acting potassium dihydrogen phosphate during flowering. Throughout the growing season, be sure to remove weeds, dead leaves, and algae from the pot. If algae are excessive, spraying with a 0.3% to 0.5% copper sulfate solution twice a month for several times can help control the growth. [Pest and Disease Prevention]: Strengthen cultivation management and promptly remove diseased leaves. Plants with severe disease should be repotted with fresh soil. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer. When disease breaks out, spray with a 600-800 times diluted solution of 75% chlorothalonil for prevention and control.
[Overwintering Management]: Water lilies’ rhizomes must overwinter in mud. In winter, the water level must be deepened to at least 1 meter to prevent freezing damage to the rhizomes. If the water is shallow and susceptible to freezing, the rhizomes should be dug out, and the potted plants can be removed with the pots and brought indoors to overwinter. Cold-resistant species require a winter temperature of around 3°C. After planting, water lilies can generally be re-dug out and replanted after 2-3 years, eliminating the need for annual digging and replanting.
[Summer Management]: Maintain a stable water depth, maintain clean water quality, and change the water regularly. Change the water early in the morning to prevent a significant temperature difference between the new and old pond water, which could affect the normal growth of flowers and leaves. At the same time, clean the pool and remove rotten leaves and broken petals, but do not remove the receptacle to allow it to be strong. 2. Do you need to put soil under the potted water lilies? We all know that the bowl lotus is a smaller version of the lotus we know. In fact, the water lily is the best aquatic plant. Xiao Qi likes to raise water lilies because the water lilies generally have beautiful flower shapes, and most of the flowers are double-petaled, with many colors. If it is properly maintained, it can bloom continuously throughout the summer, and it is possible to plant three, four or even more than ten flowers in a pot at a time. The single flower has a longer flowering period, and the color and shape of the flower are very beautiful. So how should we raise water lilies?
In fact, the cultivation of water lilies is very simple. The water lilies we buy are often just a rhizome with a very thick lump underneath. After receiving it, we must first clean up the rotten roots at the bottom of it and cut it off with scissors. Then find some carbendazim and some rooting liquid, soak the root lump at the bottom of it in water, and soak it for 1 to 2 hours. Before we want to buy water lilies, we should prepare the soil in advance. How to prepare the soil?
Find some plain soil, such as garden soil or pond mud, and then add it to a large hydroponic tank. The diameter of the tank should be at least 30 to 40 cm. Put a layer of soil on the bottom. If there is fermented sheep manure, you can add a thin layer of sheep manure, and then cover it with about 10 cm of soil. Add water to it, and put it under the sun after adding water. Expose it to the sun for more than a week, and the water will become completely clear. After our water lily has been soaked in the rooting liquid carbendazim, bury its roots directly in the water we have prepared. The roots must be completely covered with soil, and the leaves float on the water. Then we can put it in a place with sufficient light and maintain it normally.
Sheep manure fermented organic fertilizer, flower and green plant vegetable nutrient soil, universal flower fertilizer, potted plant fertilizer
It is very simple to grow water lilies in water. All we have to do is not to make the water level too shallow. If we see that the water is low, add water in time. When the cultivation temperature is above 15 degrees, it will gradually grow leaves quickly. Before June, which is before the arrival of summer, it will grow rapidly and produce flower buds quickly. During this period, we can add fertilizer to it. For fertilizer, just press the slow-release fertilizer into the mud, or you can Dropping a few drops of nutrient solution in the water can also play a supplementary role. For normal maintenance, it must be placed in a place with sufficient light. Sufficient light is the prerequisite for it to bloom. If there is a lack of light, it will only grow leaves but not flowers. In this way, if we grow a pot of water lilies in the summer, it will quickly grow roots underneath. If the root system grows well, it will inevitably bloom continuously throughout the summer. Moreover, its root nodules can continuously grow small water lily rhizomes. In the second year, we can cut it off and cultivate it separately, and we will have another pot or even more pots of water lilies.
It does not require frequent watering during maintenance because it is an aquatic plant. As long as the light is good and the temperature is suitable, it can bloom normally at home. It is very easy to raise, and when it is hydroponically cultivated, there are easily mosquito larvae in the water. We can sprinkle some small white medicine in it, or raise a few small goldfish in it, so as to avoid the harassment of mosquitoes.
3. Do potted water lilies need soil?
You can use transparent crystal clay or buy a ceramic ring and place it around the roots. Water lilies prefer sunlight and good ventilation, so tropical and hardy water lilies that bloom during the day will close their flowers at night and open again in the morning. In a pond shaded by trees, although they will bloom, their growth is weaker. They are not very particular about soil quality; a pH of 6-8 will allow them to grow normally. The optimal water depth is 25-30cm, and the maximum depth should not exceed 80cm.
Extended Information
Cultivation Method
Pot Planting
For planting, choose a bottomless pot about 50cm tall and as large as possible. Fill the pot with well-mixed nutrient soil, keeping the filling depth to 30-40cm to facilitate water storage. Plant the well-grown propagules in the center of the pot, so that the top buds are slightly exposed above the soil.
After planting, add water but do not fill it up. It is best to add 2 to 3 cm above the soil layer to facilitate temperature rise and ensure the survival rate. Gradually increase the water level as the plant grows. The advantage of this method is that it is easy to manage. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to overwinter in the Beijing-Tianjin area in winter and needs to be moved into a greenhouse or sunk into a pool.
Potted submerged
Use a non-porous nutrient pot, 30 cm high and 40 cm in diameter. The planting method and nutrient soil are the same as those in a tank. The filling height is about 25 cm. After planting, sink it into the pool. The water level of the pool should be controlled to just submerge the nutrient pot. As it grows, gradually increase the water level.
The advantage of this method is that it is easy to overwinter. You only need to increase the water level in winter to keep the top buds of the water lilies below the ice layer to overwinter. The disadvantage is that you must enter the pool for management, which is slightly inconvenient.
Pond Cultivation
Choose a pond with fertile soil and at least 30cm of mud at the bottom. The propagules can be planted directly in the soil. The water level should be shallow initially, at 2-3cm, to allow for warming. Gradually increase the water level as the plant grows.
4. Do Water Lilies Need Soil?
You don’t need mud. Water lilies grow in soil; they don’t need soil, but the nutrients in it. Simply add some nutrients to the aquarium, such as flower nutrient solution, and they’ll thrive. If you prepare your own nutrient solution, it’s crucial to use a light solution rather than a strong one. A light solution will have fewer nutrients and slow growth, but the plant won’t die. A strong solution can burn the roots and kill the plant. The same applies to commercially available nutrient solution.
5. Can Water Lilies Be Grown in Soil?
If you’re just using the water lily for decoration, pebbles will suffice, but the smaller the pebbles, the better. Apply foliar fertilizer or phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. If you’re aiming to grow water lilies well and ensure they bloom more, soil is recommended. Transparent tanks are not ideal, as direct sunlight can easily burn the tender stems and buds. River mud is ideal for soil, and fertilizing should be done by wrapping a cooked fertilizer or a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer in a napkin and burying it in the mud.
6. Do I need soil for water lilies in an aquarium?
The pots, soil, fertilizer, and filling methods for potted water lilies are similar to those for potted lotuses. However, the placement of the stems and lotus roots differs. ① For water lilies, choose a thick rhizome and cut it into 6-10 cm segments. Each segment should have at least two buds. Plant them flat in the tank or pot, with the buds facing up and level with the soil. Each pot can hold 5-7 segments. After planting, add 1-3 cm of shallow water to increase the ground temperature. Watering too deeply will affect germination. After planting, place in a well-ventilated, sunny location. Once one or two leaves have grown, add water to the top of the pot. ② Water the pot to a depth of about 25 cm in summer and maintain this depth regularly. During hot seasons, be sure to change the water frequently and keep it clean. After flowering, remove any remaining flowers and leaves to reduce nutrient loss and water contamination. ③ Apply a thin layer of cake fertilizer 2-3 times during the growing season, generally between July and August. It’s best to wrap cake fertilizer powder and superphosphate in small bags in paper and place them in the soil slightly away from the root system to prevent root damage. ④ If sphagnum moss infestations occur during the growing season, fill a gauze bag with a small amount of copper sulfate and move it back and forth in water until the solution dissolves. This solution effectively controls sphagnum moss. ⑤ If aphids are found infesting the leaves, spray with a pesticide such as dimethoate. ⑥ In northern regions, empty the potting soil around the Cold Dew season and move the pot indoors. Overwintering temperatures should be maintained above 3°C for cold-tolerant species and above 15°C for less cold-tolerant species. Keep the soil moist during the winter.
7. Do water lilies need soil?
No
1.
Pot: Prepare a pot and fill it with fertile, loose soil.
2.
Planting: First, loosen the soil in the pot, then insert the flower, cover, and gently press it down.
3.
Watering: Watering is very important. Water generously the first time, thoroughly watering the entire flower and leaves. Then water the pot daily in appropriate amounts.
8. What kind of soil should I use for water lilies?
It depends on the plant you’re growing. Some plants prefer acidic soil, while others prefer alkaline soil. Compacted soil is generally (mostly) alkaline. If your plant is suited to alkaline soil, there’s no need to modify it. For plants that prefer acidic soil, the easiest way is to add a drop of white vinegar when watering to make the water acidic, gradually improving the soil. (Don’t use aged vinegar, as many contain salt, which can salinize the soil. Citric acid is best. Alum fertilizer is also acceptable.) Directly applying yogurt is not recommended, as it will deprive the soil of oxygen and breed insects. The fermentation of farmyard manure and yogurt are two separate processes. Change the soil after the seedlings have grown. Prepare the soil well before planting seedlings. Gardening is like decorating a house: once it’s already been decorated, it’s difficult to change it.