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#1
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
Our lilies have jumped the pots and as THRIVING on the pond floor. In
fact, they do better there than in the pots. But they are not flowering a whole lot. Any ideas about fertilizing them? Or otherwise makeing them bloom? Jim |
#2
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
"Phyllis and Jim" wrote:
Our lilies have jumped the pots and as THRIVING on the pond floor. In fact, they do better there than in the pots. But they are not flowering a whole lot. Any ideas about fertilizing them? Or otherwise makeing them bloom? I had this problem. I had one water lily that in about 30 years had taken over our entire pond which is about 15' x 45'. A couple years ago in the fall I took the entire lily tuber out. I broke it into healthy sections about 8" to 12" long with crowns. Much had to be thrown away because it had soft spots. I then planted 12 pieces in pots and am tending them to keep them in the pots. I will add the once-a-year fertilizer spikes in May. They are doing very well in pots and are blooming their heads off. -- Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to 18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6 Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA |
#3
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
They are doing very well in pots and are
blooming their heads off. How did they do when they were on the loose? Lots of blooms to go with the leaves? I will be very interested in how they do with your fertilizer! Jim |
#4
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
"Phyllis and Jim" wrote in message
oups.com... They are doing very well in pots and are blooming their heads off. How did they do when they were on the loose? Lots of blooms to go with the leaves? I will be very interested in how they do with your fertilizer! Jim I did a mini-experiment (read: too lazy to repot a large hardy lily) a few weeks ago. The potted lily in one of my above- ground ponds was growing way out of the container (a dishpan). I divided it (don't ask how...), moved the pot with about half the lily to another container, left the free-floating (?) remains in the pond in which it had been growing. Large roots sticking out and about. So far it continues to put out new leaves. Still a bit cool for flowers. I stuck one of those season-long fert sticks in the midst of the mass of roots which might work or might not. IIRC the original hardy lily (now in three different ponds) came from a local nursery where it was just hanging around a metal stocktank, not even potted. I'm also a "minimalist" gardener - water or soil. I'll report on what happens to my mutilated water lily. Gail near San Antonio TX Zone 8 USA |
#5
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
Hi Gail,
Nice to see you here. I look forward to hearing about your result. I was thinking about mine, it now covers about a 4 x 6 area. Might be hard to fertilize that much! I haven't approached it as it is entwining a bunch of milk crates that used to hold up the lily dishpans. Jim |
#6
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
"Phyllis and Jim" wrote:
How did they do when they were on the loose? Lots of blooms to go with the leaves? They had fewer blooms when the tuber ran all over the pond than when I just had 12 pots. I didn't fertilize the pots and I still got blooms. This year will be the first time I fertilized since I just found the once per year spikes. I will be very interested in how they do with your fertilizer! I am interested also. The spikes came in the mail yesterday, but I am waiting until the pond warms up a little before I put the spikes in. Our last killing frost date is May 15. -- Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to 18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6 Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA |
#7
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
On Mon, 2 Apr 2007 23:09:11 CST, "Gail Futoran"
wrote: I'm also a "minimalist" gardener - water or soil. I'll report on what happens to my mutilated water lily. I'm working real hard towards this type of gardening. ;-) As in my big flower pots out by the front door, instead of the usual soil and annuals, I put water in them and my iris that winter in the koi ponds. When the cannas take their place in the koi ponds, the iris go in these pots with a small floating island that holds plants that can handle soggy soil. We have drippers set up to keep the water level up. ~ jan ------------ Zone 7a, SE Washington State |
#8
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
Phyllis and Jim wrote:
Our lilies have jumped the pots and as THRIVING on the pond floor. In fact, they do better there than in the pots. But they are not flowering a whole lot. Any ideas about fertilizing them? Or otherwise makeing them bloom? I run my tiny pond much like an aquarium. I fertilize the water with the same mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate, and hydroponic trace element/iron fertilizer that I use in the indoor tanks. Phosphate in the water column makes the WH and canna lilies bloom like crazy. I don't see why it wouldn't do the same for a bare-root lily. --Altum -- My other fish and pond forum is: http://groups.google.com/group/The-Freshwater-Aquarium Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com |
#9
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 17:05:18 CST, Altum
wrote: I run my tiny pond much like an aquarium. I fertilize the water with the same mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate, and hydroponic trace element/iron fertilizer that I use in the indoor tanks. Phosphate in the water column makes the WH and canna lilies bloom like crazy. I don't see why it wouldn't do the same for a bare-root lily. That's interesting. It does sound suspiciously like it might contain the same stuff as a numbered soluble fertilizer like 15-30-15, that I find at Walmart. I don't know where these chemicals come from, or if they are in combination with potassium but my understanding is they are simply nitrates, phosphates and potassium. What is the difference in using a mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate? Sounds like potassium comes with everything and I wonder why, and if it works better? Regards, Hal |
#10
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
"Hal" wrote in message ... On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 17:05:18 CST, Altum wrote: I run my tiny pond much like an aquarium. I fertilize the water with the same mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate, and hydroponic trace element/iron fertilizer that I use in the indoor tanks. Phosphate in the water column makes the WH and canna lilies bloom like crazy. I don't see why it wouldn't do the same for a bare-root lily. That's interesting. It does sound suspiciously like it might contain the same stuff as a numbered soluble fertilizer like 15-30-15, that I find at Walmart. I don't know where these chemicals come from, or if they are in combination with potassium but my understanding is they are simply nitrates, phosphates and potassium. Some come with trace elements. I'm experimenting with Miracle-Grow and products like it right now. It's not toxic to fish that I can see. The 5-10-5 for gardens works well in the water I grow pond plants in. It doesn't seem to bother the frogs but has no trace elements listed on the bags. I think I'll add MG next time and see if there's a difference. What is the difference in using a mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate? Sounds like potassium comes with everything and I wonder why, and if it works better? Regards, Hal -- RM.... Frugal ponding since 1995. rec.ponder since late 1996. My Pond & Aquarium Pages: http://tinyurl.com/9do58 Zone 6. Middle TN USA ISP: Hughes.net ~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö |
#11
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
Hal wrote:
On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 17:05:18 CST, Altum wrote: I run my tiny pond much like an aquarium. I fertilize the water with the same mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate, and hydroponic trace element/iron fertilizer that I use in the indoor tanks. Phosphate in the water column makes the WH and canna lilies bloom like crazy. I don't see why it wouldn't do the same for a bare-root lily. That's interesting. Yeah. I'm really into planted aquaria and someone here advised me to treat my little pond/water garden the same way. Imagine my surprise the first time I added my aquarium fertilizer with the phosphate and every single WH bloomed! It does sound suspiciously like it might contain the same stuff as a numbered soluble fertilizer like 15-30-15, that I find at Walmart. I don't know where these chemicals come from, or if they are in combination with potassium but my understanding is they are simply nitrates, phosphates and potassium. The stuff at Walmart generally contains ammonium nitrate. The first number in the N-P-K fertilizer ratio isn't nitrate, but nitrogen. Ammonium nitrate is the most common source of it for fertilizer. You can get away with burying a fertilizer spike with some ammonium nitrate deep in a pot, but of course you wouldn't want to add ammonium to a pond with fish. If you find a brand without any ammonium, I'm all ears! What is the difference in using a mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate? Sounds like potassium comes with everything and I wonder why, and if it works better? I use the bulk chemicals because 1) they're wonderfully cheap and 2) I can tailor the mix to my individual tanks and pond depending on my water change schedule and fish load. The nitrate and phosphate have the potassium counterion (K, potash) because aquatic and pond plants need a lot of it. Potassium is the K in the N-P-K number. The chemicals are set up avoid adding undesirable sodium and chloride to the water. Some people don't even need potassium sulfate when they use potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate. I find my plants do better with some extra potash so I add the potassium sulfate. BTW, people in sof****er areas also add calcium and magnesium to the fertilizer. My water is hard so I don't worry about it. I doubt it's too much of a problem in most ponds since everyone tends to add coral and/or oyster shells to harden the water a little for koi and goldies anyway. I saw mention of algae blooms with water column fertilizers. My 3 half-barrel pond has a LOT of plants and very few fish compared to a typical formal koi pond - it's practically a veggie filter. LOL! If I don't fertilize the water, the WH goes reddish, chlorotic, and straggly and the algae grows like crazy. When I fertilize well, the WH gets lush and green, the cannas bloom, and algae is much less troublesome. I would expect a lot more algae bloom problems in systems with more fish and fewer plants, since there are often traces of ammonia in the water until it passes through the filter. Ammonia + iron + sunlight = instant algae. --Altum -- My other fish and pond forum is: http://groups.google.com/group/The-Freshwater-Aquarium Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com |
#12
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
In article ,
Hal wrote: What is the difference in using a mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate? Sounds like potassium comes with everything and I wonder why, and if it works better? Also consider: ammonium nitrate ammonium phosphate ammonium sulfate -- Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to 18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6 Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA |
#13
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
On Apr 2, 9:38 am, "Phyllis and Jim"
wrote: Our lilies have jumped the pots and as THRIVING on thepondfloor. In fact, they do better there than in the pots. But they are not flowering a whole lot. Any ideas about fertilizing them? Or otherwise makeing them bloom? Jim Jim now that your lilies are in the ground as they should be your plants will not only thrive they should flower with no fertilizer at all. You fish waste and the such is all the lily needs to stretch its roots. In fact if you dont fertilize, it should break down the waste quicker. Most lilies need sun light to bloom. also if you just transplanted it may take a while longer or miss a cycle to bloom. Peter http://www.relaxingdecor.com |
#14
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
Stephen Henning wrote:
In article , Hal wrote: What is the difference in using a mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate? Sounds like potassium comes with everything and I wonder why, and if it works better? Also consider: ammonium nitrate ammonium phosphate ammonium sulfate Umm... I was talking about fertilizing water in a pond where there are live fish. You don't add ammonium to the water. -- My other fish and pond forum is: http://groups.google.com/group/The-Freshwater-Aquarium Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com |
#15
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How do I fertilize lilies growing on cement?
On Apr 4, 4:57 pm, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
"Hal" wrote in message ... On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 17:05:18 CST, Altum wrote: I run my tinypondmuch like an aquarium. I fertilize the water with the same mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate, and hydroponic trace element/iron fertilizer that I use in the indoor tanks. Phosphate in the water column makes the WH and canna lilies bloom like crazy. I don't see why it wouldn't do the same for a bare-root lily. That's interesting. It does sound suspiciously like it might contain the same stuff as a numbered soluble fertilizer like 15-30-15, that I find at Walmart. I don't know where these chemicals come from, or if they are in combination with potassium but my understanding is they are simply nitrates, phosphates and potassium. Some come with trace elements. I'm experimenting with Miracle-Grow and products like it right now. It's not toxic to fish that I can see. The 5-10-5 for gardens works well in the water I growpondplants in. It doesn't seem to bother the frogs but has no trace elements listed on the bags. I think I'll add MG next time and see if there's a difference. What is the difference in using a mix of bulk potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate? Sounds like potassium comes with everything and I wonder why, and if it works better? Regards, Hal -- RM.... Frugal ponding since 1995. rec.ponder since late 1996. MyPond& Aquarium Pages:http://tinyurl.com/9do58 Zone 6. Middle TN USA ISP: Hughes.net ~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö i would say the time release capsules that you normally use for plants like impatients and wild flower seeds works and fish ignore it. Peter http://www.relaxingdecor.com |
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