Enjoying the delights of glorious water lilies
HAVE previously featured the graceful beauty of the lotus in this column. Recently, I was awestruck by glorious water lilies in pink and yellow. They were so elegant in the quietness of the pond at Terminal 4 of Singapore Changi Airport. We have several species of water lilies here locally too.
Water lily or lotus?
Water lily is known botanically as Nymphaea spp. There are over 400 varieties of water lilies in the world. The lotus belongs to the species Nelumbo spp, which has over 600 varieties and hybrids.
We can tell the difference between them by looking at their leaves. For the lotus, the leaves will be above the water’s surface. For waterlilies, the leaves will float on the water.
Another difference is lotus flower pods bear seeds and the rhizomes are considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. The water lily’s root rhizome is buried in mud and not suitable to be eaten at all.
Planting guide
Planting water lily is somewhat of a new subject to most gardeners. It is important to plant the right variety as there are many new hybrids to choose from. If this is your first time planting water lilies, it is best to start with hardy tropical varieties that will bloom during the day. Buy only the best robust and healthy plants. If you don’t have a pond or water feature in your garden, it is actually possible to just plant water lilies in a pot. However, the pot must have a large surface area of at least over one foot. Water lilies love sunlight, so you need to place the pot where there is direct sunlight every day for good growth. Water lilies actually need six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. For an easier time, prepare the planting medium and plant the water lily rhizome before adding water. It is important to note that this plant does not like an alkaline medium, but it can tolerate slightly acidic water. It will certainly not be able to grow in salty water.
You should use a base of riverbed mud or heavy clay soil to plant the rhizome. It is true this medium will need to have fertiliser added to enable good growth.
Insert a slow release fertiliser such as NPK pellets in the mud. One treatment can last for around three months.
Anchorage of the rhizome could also be a problem. If you’re planting it in water, you may not be able to see the depth that you’re placing it at.
Use an anchorage basket for deeper ponds so you can sit it at a suitable level. I have used some bricks or other solid support to place the basket on top of.
As the roots of water lilies spread out, you can fill in some gravel to weigh the roots down in place. Otherwise they may get washed away. Aftercare • Remove spent leaves to reduce water pollution • Add mosquito larvicide • Remove weeds, algae, and other aquatic weeds regularly • Top up the water level when needed • Transplant into bigger pot or ponds when necessary • Remove larvae or caterpillars – do not use insecticide or the plants will suffer
Do send me an email if you have questions, comments, or suggestions.
Happy gardening.