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Articles/FAQ
Why Water Lilies?
Water Lilies play an important part in your ponds delicate balance. This goes hand in hand with a crystal clear pond, which is a pond owners' goal. How does a Water Lily help your pond?
To help control problems with green water, cover 60-70% of your water surface with water plants, and nothing covers the surface of a pond like a Water Lily. Most plants spread up to four feet, so you can easily cover a 15 X 15 foot pond with four Water Lilies. They provide shade for your fish on those hot summer days, as well as protection from four legged and feathered
predators that are always looking for a free meal.
Now lets talk about the real reason you want water lilies in your pond, the flowers. Imagine each morning being greeted at your pond by an array of colorful blooms and a subtle perfume smell in the air. Some blooms are as big as your hand and some can be as small as a quarter.
Hardy and Tropical Lilies need the same basic care. Keep them healthy and pests away by trimming spent blooms and tattered leaves.
Fertilize each month with aquatic fertilizing tablets. Regular monthly fertilizing will result in numerous daily blooms, skipping a month or two will result in fewer blooms. So mark your calendar and stick to a monthly fertilizing program, it's worth the effort. How long does a bloom last? Unfortunately only three days, but what a wonderful 3 days. This is why it is important to fertilize your plants. You will always have a bloom to replace the one that dies. Other products that help your plants to bloom include Microbe-Lift Ensure and Microbe-Lift Bloom and Grow, both products are safe to use with fish. Don't worry about algae blooms from these products. I have used these products for 4 years and the only problem I have had is too many blooms. This water lily has been fertilized every month, so each day I have at least four blooms to greet me as I relax near my pond.
Koi can be a challenge with your plants. These fish are very interested in getting the fish food that has landed on the leaves. In the process they have tattered the leaves. Always feed your fish away from your plants. An easy way to do this is by leaving an open area in the pond to feed the fish. Before long they will be waiting for you when you visit your pond.
Written by Ledean Paden AKCA
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