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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Couple water lily questions

catherinet (5IN)

2 years ago

I've started seeing a lot of these little insects on my water lily blossoms. Any idea what they are?

Also, in the second picture, it shows my water lily in my 300 gallon stock tank. It behaved itself last year, and also this spring I actually thinned it to half. Now it's piling up on itself. I have been fertilizing it and getting 3-4 blossoms at a time. Am I just fertilizing it too much? I read somewhere that you can cut back some of the leaves without hurting the plant. Are there any rules to that? Of course, this wouldn't be a problem in a much larger pond, but this is all I've got. I probably should invest in a smaller lily......but for the last couple of years, this wasn't a problem.

Any ideas? Thanks!

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Comments (3)

papnnana
2 years ago
Well,maybe the bugs are harmless. I don't think fertilizer is all hat important. Sun,they need lots of sun.
catherinet (5IN) thanked papnnana
Jeb zone 5
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Those are aphids on you lily flower - I'm sure your stock tank is in plenty of sun - - - and as you probably already know, fertilizer IS important to water lilies and lotus, if you want them to grow and bloom well.

When I see aphids on anything I spray them off with a hose using good old - fashioned water.

The only reason I know water lilies stack up their leaves is because of too many growths coming from the rootstock. Maybe divide it down even further to just a couple of growing points next season.
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catherinet (5IN)
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks jeb! Duh! I hadn't thought of dividing it down even more next season! I'll spray it with water ASAP. We're very dry now and keep missing the rain, so that would have helped.

I don't believe I've ever seen aphids on my water lilies before. Lots of the usual things changing with climate change. With aging, I've been trying to think how to cut back. Since this lily has to be taken out of the stock tank and then buried in the ground and covered with leaves, I've been playing with the idea of buying just a tropical lily. I don't like getting a lot of tropical things (zone 5), and then just discarding them at the end of the season.......but it's an alternative. I grew Juno one year......a white tropical and it was fantastic the whole season. I love the purple ones too (especially Panama Pacific). I've tried over-wintering them, but it just didn't work........plus, it's more work. Maybe I should just move to the tropics? :) Hmmm....I just thought of this........We grow the lilies in 7 gallon tubs.....which are extremely heavy. How would they work in a small pot........like 5 gallon? I think I remember hearing that they may not even need a pot..?? Anyhow......I'm always trying to think of simpler/easier ways to water garden. Thanks so much for your suggestions!

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