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Caring For Your New Plants |
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| Each variety will be packed in damp paper and placed in a plastic bag with an identifying label. Carefully unpack your plants as soon as possible after arrival (taking care keep the right label with the right plant!). The plants should ideally be planted immediately. If this is not possible, they should still be unwrapped and placed with their roots in water in a cool, shady, frost-free place. During this time, the plants must be kept out of direct sunlight. | ||||
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Planting Out |
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| Most people will wish to pot their new plants, while some will
prefer to plant them directly into the ground in the chosen spot. |
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Potting Materials |
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| Firstly make sure that you have as many pots as you will need, of
the appropriate sizes. I recommend that each variety of plant is potted
individually. When choosing a pot, it is best to opt for open-mesh
aquatic baskets rather than conventional pots, as these allow greater
contact between the plant’s roots and the pond water. These are
available from most garden centres or aquatic shops. If using large-mesh
pond baskets, note that you may need a basket liner to hold the soil in.
If you can’t get hold of pond baskets, a great alternative is Tetra’s
AquaPlanters . These are strong, flexible rot-resistant mesh
planting ‘bags’, available in two sizes. Unlike pots, these adapt to
uneven surfaces and do not need any internal liner to hold the soil in
place. They also allow a free flow of water to reach the plant’s roots.
Ensure whatever pot you choose gives your plants enough room. Water
lilies in particular need the space for a large root area so do not
place these in small or cramped pots if you want them to perform and
flower well. Use a heavy, loam-based compost, preferably special aquatic soil, available in most garden centres. Do not use standard potting compost or any garden soil that has recently been fertilised, as this can cause excessive algae and/or green water. A layer of fine, washed gravel over the top of the soil will improve the look of the plant, and help to prevent fish from digging it up. |
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Potting Your Plants |
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| Take your pot, and insert the liner if required. | ||||
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| Fill approximately one third of the pot with soil, and press it down very firmly. | ||||
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| Place the plant in the pot, and spread its roots out. | ||||
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| Holding the plant at the base of the growing point, carefully fill the rest of the pot with soil, firming it up as you go, and just leaving a small space at the top for the gravel layer. Make sure the plant’s growing point is just above the soil level when you have finished. | ||||
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| Add a thin layer of gravel to finish off. | ||||
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| Cut off any excess pot liner, if using this. | ||||
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Sprinkle the plant with water until the soil is thoroughly wetted
through. Alternatively, stand the pot in a tray of water, allowing it to
absorb the water until the soil is saturated. If you do not do this the
soil may float away when you put the plant in the pond. |
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You are now ready to place your plant into your pond. |
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Choosing The Right Position |
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| Positioning Water Lilies: | ||||
| Make sure your plant will be in the correct depth of water. (Please
see the plant description for the preferred water depth). I recommend
keeping water lilies in shallow water when first planted, to help the
plant establish. Arrange them so that the depth of water over the crown
is towards the minimum end of the preferred range for that variety,
usually 15-30cm (6-12 inches). Plants can be raised on pots or house
bricks if necessary, or simply placed on a shallower shelf. It is not
advisable to use concrete blocks to raise plants. Wherever the plant is
placed, make sure that its crown is below water at all times. For best results always plant in the sunniest spot available. The amount of sunlight a water lily receives will affect the number of flowers it produces, and also the colour of the flowers. To see water lilies at their best I recommend that they are placed in a spot where they can receive a minimum of six hours direct sunlight a day, and eight is even better. During this time, keep the water lily away from large fish, especially koi, which could dig it up before it has established itself. Please note that it is normal for newly-established water lilies to display rather pale flowers. As the plant matures the flowers will attain their true form and depth of colour. Once your lily has grown about half a dozen floating leaves it can be lowered to its permanent depth. This will give it the best start in life. |
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| Positioning Marginal Plants; | ||||
| Generally speaking, marginals are less fussy than water lilies.
However, avoid planting them in very shady spots as this will reduce the
number of blooms they produce. Unlike water lilies, marginal plants can normally be planted at their permanent depth right away. (Please see the plant description for the preferred water depth). |
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