Tropical
Water Lily Culture in Temperate Climates
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Appeal:
Although they require more specific care than hardy water lilies,
the tropical varieties of Nymphaea can reward the grower with exotic
features that are not available in the hardy varieties. The most
obvious difference is the range of flower colours: in addition to
shades of red, pink, white, and yellow; many tropical varieties
produce flowers in blue, purple and even green hues. It is also
common for the flowers of tropical lilies to be extremely fragrant,
a feature assisted by the tropicals' habit of elevating their flowers
up to 12" or more above the water surface. Blooming is usually more
profuse in tropical lilies compared to the hardies; it is not unusual
for a single plant to have multiple flowers open simultaneously.
Some varieties are sought after due to their colourful foliage,
often heavily mottled in shades of purple or maroon. There are also
many night-blooming varieties of tropical lilies, a very pleasing
sight at dusk and particularly appealing at nightfall in an illuminated
pond.
Care: Place tropical lilies outdoors after
the water temperature has warmed up to 18 Celsius (65 F) or more;
usually by late June in the Pacific northwest. Tropicals destined
for an in-ground pond can be temporarily placed in a large ceramic
bowl or plastic (resin) tub situated in a sunny sheltered area outdoors
if the pond is slow to reach this temperature. You can also give
your tropicals an early start by adding a submersible aquarium heater
to the outdoor lily tub; or by placing the planted tubers in a well-lit
aquarium indoors. Initially, the lily tuber should be planted in
a small pot, usually only 3" to 4" in diameter; using a moistened
heavy loam. Once the plant is well-established and roots begin appearing
from the drainage holes of the pot, the lily is ready for transplanting
into a larger pot. Use a pot approximately 8" in diameter but not
too deep, a #2 short nursery pot is ideal. Tropical water lilies
are heavy feeders, adding a scoop of bonemeal around the roots helps
promote healthy growth. You should also add water lily fertilizer
tablets, approximately 3 tablets for an 8" pot. After planting,
the pots should be placed in shallow water with only about 6 to
12 inches of water above the crown of the lily tuber. Placing a
tropical lily in deep water, particularly in the cool Pacific northwest,
will be detrimental to the growth of the plant.
Winter Prep.: Tropicals will bloom late into
the fall but should be moved indoors by early November in the Pacific
northwest, earlier in the colder parts of Canada. Winter preparation
consists of a thorough washing to remove the soil, followed by the
trimming away of all the leaves and roots from the tuber. It is
prudent to briefly soak the tuber in a fungicide solution prior
to storage. The tuber can then be buried in a clean container filled
with damp sand and stored away for the winter at a temperature of
approximately 10 to15 Celsius ( 50 - 60 F.)
Jack Wootton
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