Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Eradicating water lilies

I'm new to this board and have spent some time reading other posts on this topic, but still have some questions that, hopefully, someone(s) can help me with.

First, my husband and I have a small farm in central Texas which we are in the process of getting certified as organic. Our pond is about 1/2 acre and had been seasonal until last year, when we were able to supplement water to it from our well. Since then, it has seemed to have sealed itself and now stays full with minimal addition of water. We stocked it with minnows, perch, bass and 5 or so catfish. The fish are thriving, but so now are the algae and water lilies. We don't want to use chemicals so have investigated other means to stop the proliferation.

We started using cornmeal 2 months ago and the algae seems to be clearing up.

On the water lilies, have read the post about using a pole with a hook to pull them out by the root. Also saw a tool that cuts the water lilies. Read somewhere else that by pulling them/cutting them, they eventually die out. Does this work and how long will it take to get this to occur (months vs years??).

Also, I read somewhere that the water lilies grow because the chemical or other? balance in the pond is wrong and by solving that, they will not grow any longer. Any truth to that? If so, what is the right balance?

I saw the posts re the use of HABITAT, but it doesn't sound like something we could use in an organic program. Can someone confirm that?

Thanks for any and all help with this.

Susan

As you are probably realizing cornmeal will not affect the lily growth. I don't think you will ever be able to adjust the chemical -nutrient balance enough to reduce growth of water lilies. To organically control the water lilies (fragrent or spadderdock type) you are in for a lot of effort.

Repetitively cutting the new growth will in theory eventually cause them to die. But you could be come very frustrated and tired before the lilies completely die out. Any new leaves at the surface are sending food reserves to the roots for future growth. You figure out how often to cut off newly appearing leaves.

The Bad News. Quickest way to organically get rid of them is to drain the pond and scrape out the sediments. This may be the last option for you but it is quick organic removal. Time frame is sometimes important and valuable.

I personally do not see how use of a synthetic herbicide would ever be considered organic.

Thanks so much for your input. You are right, draining the pond is our last option, but one we will consider, I guess, if all else fails.

I'm off to start cutting lilypads :-(

Susan,

Welcome to the Pond Boss forum. good luck with your organic certification. Going organic is more work as you are finding out, but, there are advantages and rewards that make it worth the effort.

If you can keep the water lilies under control, keeping some of it does make for great bass habitat.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

JW

Funny, I am trying to establish some water lilies, for their looks and as cover for smaller fish. I have stocked a fish called red bellied pacu that just loves to eat water lilies. I put them in the pond on March 29 at 1 1/2", about the same time a little girl stocked a turtle. I soon noticed that the water lilies were slowly disappearing, blamed the turtle, and planted more water lilies.

Last evening I was sitting by the pond and watched the pacus eat three water lily leaves, about 14" across, in about 10 minutes. Closely looking at the rest of the lilies I noticed that the edges looked like they had been cut with pinking shears. The pacu are now 8 to 10" long and have a mouth full of teeth, including molars, I am told. I don't know where in the US they are legal, but they are an aquaculture fish so maybe some of you have access. They are herbivores and get quite large.