Water Lilies in the Countryside Landscape: Growing Tips

Lilies are a staple pond plant. They are beautiful and easy to maintain, pleasing to the eye and creating a special atmosphere. They are classified into four sizes: giant, large, medium, and dwarf. Experts advise against planting lilies directly in the soil, as this complicates care and makes overwintering difficult.

Description of the plant

The water lily, water lily, or water lily has many names, but only one meaning. Nymphaea (Latin) is an aquatic plant of the water lily family. This family contains nearly 35 plant species, but according to the classification of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), they are grouped into four genera:

• Hardy (H);
• Day-blooming (D);
• Night-blooming (N);
• Tropical (T).

In temperate climates, the white water lily (N. candida) is most often found in natural reservoirs, but for artificial ponds it is better to use hybrid species, pink in color, since they do not grow very much and are more resilient.

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Landing

The best time to purchase and plant water lilies is from early May to late June. You can introduce water lilies to your home pond using the following methods:

• directly into the ground from the bottom;
• using container packaging.

Planting crops in containers is preferable, since the limited space will prevent the water lily from growing much. However, a five-liter mesh container (for larger varieties, it is better to choose baskets with a larger volume) will allow the plant to develop its root system over the course of 5-6 years.

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Before planting, prepare the container. First, line the sides of the container with burlap (or fabric) and fill it to 10-8 centimeters above the top. Next, place the plant's roots on the soil and cover with the substrate. To prevent the soil from washing away, it's best to cover it with pebbles or the remains of the burlap used previously (make sure the growing point is above the soil, pebbles, or fabric). Then, carefully lower the container to the bottom of the pond.

Care

Plant containers don't need to be disturbed often; once every 3-4 years is acceptable. This should be done before the lilies bloom. The container should be inspected and cleared of debris, and the pond should be cleaned of any debris as well. Throughout the season, remove yellowed leaves and faded buds.

The most challenging aspect of caring for flowers is overwintering. For our region, it's advisable to choose frost-hardy varieties, as they can be left in the pond if the depth is more than 0.5 meters and the water doesn't freeze to the bottom. If the pond is shallow or drained, it's best to keep the plants in a cool, but frost-free, place.

If water lilies are planted in the ground, dig up the plant, roots and soil, and transfer it to a plastic bag. Tie it loosely, monitor the soil, and keep it moist. The key is to prevent the soil from drying out.

Planting in containers is much simpler. Baskets of water lilies are brought to a cool place (like a basement) and left in prepared containers filled with water. If you decide to overwinter water lilies in a pond, it's a good idea to pile plenty of snow on the frozen surface of the pond to create a mound at least 1.5 meters high. This will prevent the pond from freezing all the way to the bottom, and the plants will feel more comfortable.

Reproduction and diseases

Excessively humid and hot weather can cause fungal infections in water lilies. Signs of this attack include red or brown spots. These leaves should be treated with a special solution, but any severely damaged leaves should be promptly cut off and destroyed.

Water lilies suffer from:

• aphids;
• leaf beetle;
• fireflies.

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Aphids and moths can be controlled by spraying the leaves with horsetail infusion. Adult leaf beetles, however, will have to be collected by hand.

For propagation, use a portion of the rhizome with a bud. After cutting, sprinkle the cut with crushed charcoal or ash. All parts of the plant do not tolerate drying out, so this process should be accelerated. Place the cut roots in planting containers. Then transfer them to larger containers filled with water, covering the container with the seedling by 2 cm. Place these containers in the sun and allow them to root.

When planning the design of a summer cottage, people try to add a personal touch using various techniques. The most common of these is the addition of a pond. But bringing an artificial pond to life requires considerable effort. Breathing life into a pond is a painstaking task that requires specific knowledge. The most common method of landscaping is filling the pond with plants. Water lilies are often chosen for this purpose.