Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Lilly Pads

My pond is deficient vegetation cover for bass.

I have the opportunity to relocate some Lilly pads to my pond and wonder if there is a downside to this.

What say yee......???

My neighbors pond is almost covered all the way across, his 7 acre is shallow not more than 6-8�

Lilly pads can be a dangerous experiment. I have read that some of the hybrids are less likely to cause you troubles and potting them in your pond can give you more control if your willing to maintain them.

Tbar, could you post some pics of the lilies you're looking to move to your pond?

It depends on the pond depth and topography, the varieties you plant, and what you desire for your pond. I have planted multiple varieties and colors in my ponds and wetlands, and I enjoy the flowers and cover they give to the fish. Planting in pots is what many recommend, but mine are in the pond bottom.

If you want slow growth in more of the shallow water then buy the dwarf and small varieties of hardy lilies. The Medium and Large varieties grow in deeper water 7-9ft and spread faster esp the larger white and yellow varieties. In ponds, I highly suggest not using the wild species of water lilies because the grow deep and their seeds are fertile and rhizomes fragment both allow fast spreading. Soft sediments allow for faster spreading.

Amazing how deep some of the large varieties will spread. Have a beaver taking out a bunch, but they could use a lot more thinning. Problem is that the rodent dug under my trash guard and is using the rhizomes to clog the exit pipe. Seems to have gone completely nocturnal so I clean out the water-control box daily.

Al,

These are the ones I am considering.

Gorgeous. I want my pond to look like yours when it grows up!

Tbar, I can't tell you what it is, but there one thing I see, and one thing I don't, that would make me pass on that plant.

First, there are mixed stalks with some above the water. That's what I'm seeing. What I'm not seeing is a split in the leaves like all the hybrid lilies I've seen have. Without seeing a flower, my first thought is that it's American Lotus. Maybe RAH or Bill Cody will have some thoughts.

This is my African Queen moment in 2016. I had to drag my spray boat into the core of the lotus just to get to it all.

Here are some others that are available. They are larger than those in the first picture.

Very nice!!!

Thanks for the information. I have a decent size grass carp in this pond. Is he going to be hard on new plants?

Al, you once mentioned a place where you shopped for these type of ornamental plants. I think it was located in the DFW area. Did you purchase some there and how did that turn out? Would you do it again? And if so, which have performed the best? Easy to control, color etc? Lessons learned? Hope I am not putting in a bad spot here. I know "it depends" on a lot of things when it comes to growing these types of plants in one's pond.

Tbar - The plants in your picture appear to be lotus. I planted a lotus in my newest (3rd) pond this spring and it has already sent leaves 8' out into the pond from the original planting site. No flowers yet, but the pond bottom is clay. I have previously shied away from lotus due to their reputation as being aggressive, but decided to experiment a bit on this newest pond. My 2nd pond is looking pretty nice around the edges this year as well (water lilies and other plants spreading and blooming well). The picture above is of my 1st pond. My goals are related to wildlife and I use a lot of natives, but am not a purist. Many plants currently considered "naturalized" were introduced in the last couple hundred years. Of course so were those we fight as invasives!

I just planted lilys in my pond and what I did was got a big tote from walmart, filled it up with garden soil, planted some lilys that where growing down the road from me and topped it with river rock to hold the soil down. It has worked great they are growing really good and I can place them where I want with out them taking over. You have to use river rock instead of pea gravel to cover it up or the bluegills will fan it all out and your tote will float up, ask me how I know lol. hope this helps!

My observation on the lotus (variety "The President") that I planted this spring is that it is spreading much much faster than my water lilies ever did. They talk about potting these, but I think that would require a lot of re-potting to avoid "root binding".

I have 3 hardy dwarf water lily bulbs I plan to plant on Saturday. I have a 18x6" kitty litter pan to pot them in.
Should the bulbs be partially buried in the soil or fully?

If my water is turbid, should they be placed at a depth the sun can reach?

If I get them started in the shallow water, can I then relocate them to deeper water?

Probably common sense, but ya never know!

Plant the rhizomes at an angle so the growing tip just sticks out of the soil. Place the container in shallow water until the leaves are growing well then you can move them into 2ft of water. Be aware that some critters including ducks - geese could eat the leaves and or uproot the plants. Once they are growing well maybe next spring transplant them the out of the containers because the dwarf and small varieties will never be a spreading problem for your pond.

Tbar Those are lotus not water lilies. Stay far away from them because they will be your pond nightmare by spreading into all water areas less than 10ft deep.

Thanks. where would be a good place to get true lilies?

I got my bulbs and rhizomes at petco.

I'll try post pictures as my lotus spread. Bill and others have given me fair warning, so problems are on me:)

Here is an aerial pic of a small pond which was chock full of American Lotus. Taken in late June, it was nearly 100% covered by late summer. Note some brown spots along the edges where someone may have sprayed herbicide. I drained this pond over the winter and sprayed the mud with Oust XP. Killed 95% of it.



Note in the background clearing has started for my new pond.

Glad my new pond has mostly steep edges!