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#1
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
Hi All,
At least, for the last 3 weeks, I have the problem solved. Seems like no matter what I try, those koi get the lilies! My koi are about 6 years old and getting a bit big. About 2 years ago they discovered that Tropical lilies taste very good. I have tried 3 types of netting around each lily, suspended with cork or Styrofoam to keep the fish out, but eventually they figure out how to swim right over the top and into the lily. I needed a harder wall around the lilies, but what? I noticed I have all these milk crates laying around. I had converted all my lilies to pvc shelves when the koi got too big to use the milk crates as hiding places. On a whim, I pulled off the netting to one of the lilies, turned the milk crate open side up and place it right on top of the lily. Carefully pulling the lily's leaves through the 'bottom' of the milk crate, add a few rocks to weigh down the milk crate and Wella! The koi can't get inside!!! The milk crate comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! One draw back is when it's time to feed the lilies, you have to pick up the milk crate just enough to get your hand inside to shove in the fertilizer. But I now have a Wood's White Knight that is growing for the first time in 3 years!! The WWK that I bought last year and the year before got eaten within 2 days, even with netting around it. I hope I didn't jabber on and on, I just wanted to share my discovery and hope it helps someone! -- Wendy* in N. California, "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right." - Mohandas K. Ghandi |
#2
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
Wendy Kelly Budd wrote:
Hi All, At least, for the last 3 weeks, I have the problem solved. Seems like no matter what I try, those koi get the lilies! ... On a whim, I pulled off the netting to one of the lilies, turned the milk crate open side up and place it right on top of the lily. Carefully pulling the lily's leaves through the 'bottom' of the milk crate, add a few rocks to weigh down the milk crate and Wella! The koi can't get inside!!! The milk crate comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! ... Wendy, thanks for sharing this! I was just getting ready to wrap all my lily pots in bird netting to try to keep the koi from playing water lily tuber keepaway! I'll look for black crates when I'm shopping this weekend -- can't wait to try this. -- Kathy B, zookeeper 3500gal pond, 13 pond pigs (10" to 34") Oregon |
#3
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
Wendy, that's a very good solution! If started early enough in the year, the
leaves will grow right through without having to pull established stems/leaves through. Very good idea . . . Lee "Wendy Kelly Budd" wrote in message ... Hi All, At least, for the last 3 weeks, I have the problem solved. Seems like no matter what I try, those koi get the lilies! My koi are about 6 years old and getting a bit big. About 2 years ago they discovered that Tropical lilies taste very good. I have tried 3 types of netting around each lily, suspended with cork or Styrofoam to keep the fish out, but eventually they figure out how to swim right over the top and into the lily. I needed a harder wall around the lilies, but what? I noticed I have all these milk crates laying around. I had converted all my lilies to pvc shelves when the koi got too big to use the milk crates as hiding places. On a whim, I pulled off the netting to one of the lilies, turned the milk crate open side up and place it right on top of the lily. Carefully pulling the lily's leaves through the 'bottom' of the milk crate, add a few rocks to weigh down the milk crate and Wella! The koi can't get inside!!! The milk crate comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! One draw back is when it's time to feed the lilies, you have to pick up the milk crate just enough to get your hand inside to shove in the fertilizer. But I now have a Wood's White Knight that is growing for the first time in 3 years!! The WWK that I bought last year and the year before got eaten within 2 days, even with netting around it. I hope I didn't jabber on and on, I just wanted to share my discovery and hope it helps someone! -- Wendy* in N. California, "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. It passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious right." - Mohandas K. Ghandi |
#4
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
The milk crate
comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! ... When the koi get bigger than the milk crates they will move them around at will....it is like a ball game in my pond they move whatever they like at will Jerri http://www.fringeweb.com/Ponds/JerrisPond |
#5
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
Congrats, Wendy!
I won't tell my koi that they can eat my lillies. Jim -- ______________________________________________ See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net ______________________________________________ "zookeeper" wrote in message ... Wendy Kelly Budd wrote: Hi All, At least, for the last 3 weeks, I have the problem solved. Seems like no matter what I try, those koi get the lilies! ... On a whim, I pulled off the netting to one of the lilies, turned the milk crate open side up and place it right on top of the lily. Carefully pulling the lily's leaves through the 'bottom' of the milk crate, add a few rocks to weigh down the milk crate and Wella! The koi can't get inside!!! The milk crate comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! .... Wendy, thanks for sharing this! I was just getting ready to wrap all my lily pots in bird netting to try to keep the koi from playing water lily tuber keepaway! I'll look for black crates when I'm shopping this weekend -- can't wait to try this. -- Kathy B, zookeeper 3500gal pond, 13 pond pigs (10" to 34") Oregon |
#6
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
Phyllis and Jim Hurley wrote: Congrats, Wendy! I won't tell my koi that they can eat my lillies. Jim Jim -- maybe we can train them to do the pruning of the old leaves and buds and leave the new stuff alone John Rutz Z5 New Mexico good judgement comes from bad experience, and that comes from bad judgement see my pond at: http://www.fuerjefe.com |
#7
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
John Rutz wrote:
-- maybe we can train them to do the pruning of the old leaves and buds and leave the new stuff alone Not in my pond! They are always knocking off new shoots and buds. It's only after the water warms sufficiently that the lilies can stay ahead of the maraudering carp. -- Kathy B, zookeeper |
#8
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
We won't ask you where you "Got Milk?" crates from, but I bet from now
on Circle K employees will be scouring our ponds! (OK that was really bad...) Kal El |
#9
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
Jim,
Your koi don't root around in the lily containers? Now I know you & Phyllis have large koi also. Why do you think your koi don't bother the lilies? I'm sure I remember yous having tropical lilies? -- Wendy* in N. California, "Hear and you forget; see and you remember; do and you understand." - Confucius "Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message ... Congrats, Wendy! I won't tell my koi that they can eat my lillies. Jim -- ______________________________________________ See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net ______________________________________________ "zookeeper" wrote in message ... Wendy Kelly Budd wrote: Hi All, At least, for the last 3 weeks, I have the problem solved. Seems like no matter what I try, those koi get the lilies! ... On a whim, I pulled off the netting to one of the lilies, turned the milk crate open side up and place it right on top of the lily. Carefully pulling the lily's leaves through the 'bottom' of the milk crate, add a few rocks to weigh down the milk crate and Wella! The koi can't get inside!!! The milk crate comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! ... Wendy, thanks for sharing this! I was just getting ready to wrap all my lily pots in bird netting to try to keep the koi from playing water lily tuber keepaway! I'll look for black crates when I'm shopping this weekend -- can't wait to try this. -- Kathy B, zookeeper 3500gal pond, 13 pond pigs (10" to 34") Oregon |
#10
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
Two of my koi are larger than the crates. I suppose I will be putting
zipties on two sides of the crates to hold them in place until the lilies get large enough. -- Wendy* in N. California, "If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart. " Socrates "Jerrispond" wrote in message ... The milk crate comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! .... When the koi get bigger than the milk crates they will move them around at will....it is like a ball game in my pond they move whatever they like at will Jerri http://www.fringeweb.com/Ponds/JerrisPond |
#11
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Lilies & Koi problem solved
In article ,
"Wendy Kelly Budd" wrote: Jim, Your koi don't root around in the lily containers? Now I know you & Phyllis have large koi also. Why do you think your koi don't bother the lilies? I'm sure I remember yous having tropical lilies? Using pieces of slate arranged around the lily can help quite a bit. jay Mon, Jun 16, 2003 -- Wendy* in N. California, "Hear and you forget; see and you remember; do and you understand." - Confucius "Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message ... Congrats, Wendy! I won't tell my koi that they can eat my lillies. Jim -- ______________________________________________ See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley Check out Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $140+ per child) at: jogathon.net ______________________________________________ "zookeeper" wrote in message ... Wendy Kelly Budd wrote: Hi All, At least, for the last 3 weeks, I have the problem solved. Seems like no matter what I try, those koi get the lilies! ... On a whim, I pulled off the netting to one of the lilies, turned the milk crate open side up and place it right on top of the lily. Carefully pulling the lily's leaves through the 'bottom' of the milk crate, add a few rocks to weigh down the milk crate and Wella! The koi can't get inside!!! The milk crate comes about 1" below the surface of the water and once the lilies actually start to GROW for a change, you can't see the black milk crates at all! ... Wendy, thanks for sharing this! I was just getting ready to wrap all my lily pots in bird netting to try to keep the koi from playing water lily tuber keepaway! I'll look for black crates when I'm shopping this weekend -- can't wait to try this. -- Kathy B, zookeeper 3500gal pond, 13 pond pigs (10" to 34") Oregon -- Legend insists that as he finished his abject... Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move." |
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