skip to main content

Ponds & Aquatic Plants

how to divide pond lilies? my obsession with ..

16 years ago

The pond lilies I had sunk in a barrel in the garage for winter are now ready to go back into the pond, but...

the roots/?new shoots are growing out in all directions & are huge! Way too big for my small pond so I was wondering how to divide them? Cut the plant apart or break it apart?

Also, I've learned from this forum that my 'ideal crystal clear' pond water is just an unnatural dream! Ok, right now the horrible string algae has stopped growing so much & what is left I scoop out with the toilet brush that someone on this forum recommended ... works great! I can see the fish now though not real clearly as the water is still greenish looking. I want so much (!) to drain the pond,scrape down the junk on the sides & bottom & start over with lovely, clear water again ... how can I make myself resist this 'no-no'compulsion?!! I know if I do so, it will not be long before the 'green stuff' comes back again, 'au natural' as it always has done in the past! Can't get duckweed to grow much on the pond surface like others say they do & even call it a 'weed' ... my fish eating it? I see these photos of koi ponds on different sites that are 'crystal clear' & I'm so jealous! I do have batting & pump pre filters as well as starting up the skippy filter again (shut down when temps got to freezing.)Bet you 'professional' ponders get tired of all of us complaining about our 'green water'algae' problem?!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

mike2011
16 years ago
vieja,

the solution to your green water problem is a uv light treatment which can be ordered. its a pump that runs the water around a uv light killing the microorganisms which turn green when put in sunlight. putting a cover over the pond will possibly help as well.
sheepco
16 years ago
Hang in there!!! Don't drain it! My 300 gal pond is 5'x5'x 28" deep and after I go thru my spring algae cycle I can see the bottom! I don't use a UV.

Keep removing the string algae. And keep using a prefilter. You've got to let the skippy have time - the bacteria won't grow til the temps warm up! But give us more info. How big is your pond? Plants? Lots of plants help?

Search this forum for 'green water' for more answers. We're here to help. S
Related Discussions
Divide my lily?
Q
Comments (7)
(I thought that's what you meant, H.) Agree with Al's advice, and don't at all miss trying to pack dirt evenly around the sides of the old root ball. Haven't done that in years, and try not to "pack tightly" anyway. After doing tons of both, potting up and repotting, repotting is definitely easier for me to do, and I haven't had a bad result yet. Slicing off a 'pancake' of circling/tangled roots at the bottom is often all that's needed. That also allows the old soil to fall off/out of the rest of the roots more easily. If you've never trimmed roots before, feel free to add another pic of the rootball out of its' pot, to get more specific advice.
...See More
my water lilies I made for my pond
Q
Comments (7)
How did you make the flower part. I could use some of these in the koi pond. They eat any live plants that I put in with them, even the ones in the netting are eaten when the roots grow through.
...See More
Lilies in the duck pond, any tips on lily protection?
Q
Comments (6)
plum sauce: * 8 cups plums, pitted, Halved (3 lb/1.5 kg) * 1 cup onion, Chopped * 1 cup water * 1 teaspoon gingerroot, Minced * 1 clove garlic, minced * 3/4 cup granulated sugar * 1/2 cup rice vinegar or cider vinegar (pineapple juice might be nicer) * 1 teaspoon coriander, Ground * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon * 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper * 1/4 teaspoon clove Directions 1 In large heavy saucepan, bring plums, onions, water, ginger and garlic to boil over medium heat; cover, reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until plums and onions are very tender, about 30 minutes. 2 Press through food mill or sieve and return to clean pan; stir in sugar, vinegar, coriander, salt, cinnamon, pepper and cloves. 3 Bring to boil, stirring; reduce heat to low and simmer until mixture reaches consistency of applesauce, about 45 minutes. 4 Fill and seal jars; process in boiling water bath for 30 minutes. 5 Makes about 4 cups Now, where's the duck...
...See More
How do you lift the lilies out of the pond?
Q
Comments (19)
kalevi........would you be able to post a picture of your device? I'm having trouble picturing it. I like the idea of using heavy coated clothesline wire and crisscrossing it over and under the pot a couple times. Then all you'd have to do is make some kind of long-reaching hooked pole thing to bring it closer to you. Then maybe (using leather gloves), lift it out of the pond with the wire. I don't know though.....those pots can be pretty heavy. I use some pots I get at the Tractor supply store that are about 18' across and 9" deep. They are rigid and have a good lip around them to hold on to. If pots have lips, you can tie a rope around that lip and also make a handle for it. Someone needs to invent something that makes this alot easier to do, since some of us are just getting older and older. ;) Wouldn't it be great to be able to use something like an electric hoist? Life would be so easy!
...See More
youreit
16 years ago
There's green water (pea soup or suspended algae), then there's string algae...2 different forms of algae. UVs won't work on string algae. String algae, to an extent, keeps my water clear until my plants get growing in spring. The more healthy, actively growing plants, the more competition for nutrients with the string algae.

The brush works great when the string algae gets out of hand in my pond; actually, I use a rake, but I wouldn't try this at home, kids. :D I've never had suspended algae, but there's a great article in the FAQ section (see link below).

Brenda

Here is a link that might be useful: What do I do about algae or green water or string algae?
johnkr
16 years ago
vieja, I use a small tree trimming saw to cut the roots when I divide my lilies. I think pulling them apart would cause more damage to the plants. Cutting (sawing) has worked well for me. The divided plants have always survived.
catherinet
16 years ago
I use a pruning saw too. Sometimes the pot is so full that I have to cut right through the pot.

Related Stories

FLOWERS Lessons from Monet's Garden

See how to bring the impressionist painter's vision to life in your own landscape with these flower choices and garden design ideas

HOUZZ CALL Show Us the Best Kitchen in the Land

By Mary Jo Bowling

The Hardworking Home: We want to see why the kitchen is the heart of the home

MOST POPULAR My Houzz: Open-Air Living in the Mountains of Bali

Community, jaw-dropping beauty and sustainability come together in a tropical paradise for a London expat

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Garden Designer Chooses the Timeless Over the Trendy

By Emily Hutchinson

This lush and restful garden provides a place for a family to retreat from their busy lives

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Tips to Start a Garden — Can-Do Ideas for Beginners

By Alison Hodgson

Green up your landscape even if you're short on time, money and knowledge, with these manageable steps for first-time gardeners

SUMMER GARDENING Houzz Call: Please Show Us Your Summer Garden!

By Annie Thornton

Share pictures of your home and yard this summer — we’d love to feature them in an upcoming story

HOUSEPLANTS 10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors

Brighten a room and clean the air with a houseplant that cascades artfully, stretches toward the ceiling or looks great on a wall

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Farmhouse!

Bring on the chickens and vegetable patches. If your home speaks country, it might appear in a featured ideabook

PETS Houzz Call: Send in the Dogs

By Sheila Schmitz

Have the greatest dog in the world? Share your best design photo featuring the dog you live or work with

GARDENING GUIDES 4 Ways to Break the Rules in Your Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

For a more creative landscape design, take a different approach to planting

Sponsored

More Discussions

Leak in my small inground prefab watergarden...?

1

pothos with yellow leaves

7

Stock tank cracked, New tank has brass drain

1

Growing impatiens in water

1