The latest water lily leaves turning black and rotting, what is going on?

The water lily is quite ornamental with its elegant posture and brilliant, delicate flowers. If grown in a pot, when the flowering season arrives in summer, it not only brings us a delightful experience but also has a strong wild charm. But when growing water lilies in summer, you must pay attention to the method, otherwise the plant is relatively prone to leaves turning black and rotting. So, what is going on when water lily leaves turn black and rot? Today, the editor will discuss with everyone the reasons why pot-grown water lilies develop blackened, rotting leaves.

As for the main cause of water lily leaves turning black and rotting, many potting enthusiasts think it is caused by improper fertilizing or lighting. The real trigger for this situation is usually not because you fertilized too much or at too high a concentration, nor is it caused by too strong sunlight or too long a light period. The reason, most likely, is that we did not control the water depth well.

But what water depth is suitable? Is it the result of the water level being too high or too low? In fact, the cause of water lily leaves turning black and rotting is generally due to the water level being too low, that is, the amount of water being too little. Usually it may be because we are too busy or forget to add water in time; when the water level stays relatively low for a long time, the water lily leaves gradually turn black and rot.

Although water lilies are suitable for planting into mud in spring, when growing water lilies in spring you cannot add too much water; it is more suitable to keep the water level relatively shallow, but this is also a relative practice. However, it cannot be too shallow for a long time, because the plant is constantly growing, especially as its stems and leaves keep emerging. When the leaves spread out and lie on the water surface, you should add water to the pot in time.

Not only should you add water in time, but as the water lily stems and leaves keep rising, we should also add water gradually, not all at once, and it is impossible to do it all at once. Water should be added layer by layer, so that the water level always maintains a certain proportion with its stems and leaves, neither too high nor too low. Only in this way can we ensure that the water lily stays healthy and keeps vigorous growth.

But if summer arrives, as the temperature gradually rises, the weather will also gradually become hot. Especially if the water lily is exposed to the scorching summer sun, if the water level is low and the amount of water is small, the water temperature will suddenly rise, causing its leaves to be scorched, often developing curled leaves and dry leaves until they rot. And as the leaves rot, their stems will also rot along with them, and eventually the entire water lily may be smothered to death.

Therefore, spring is suitable for growing water lilies with a low water level, mainly because spring temperatures are relatively low and light intensity is not great; growing them in shallow water can raise the water temperature faster, thereby accelerating the growth of the water lily. But if it is in the hot summer with fierce sunlight, if water lilies are still grown in shallow water, it is very easy for their stems and leaves to turn black and rot; this is mainly the result of root suffocation caused by the rapid rise in temperature in the pot.

Therefore, when growing water lilies in summer, we cannot grow them shallowly as in spring. Instead, we should raise the water level in time to ensure the plant will not suffer from smothering due to a sudden rise in temperature in the pot, thereby avoiding the occurrence of blackening and rotting of its stems and leaves. At the same time, pot-grown water lilies should not be placed in full-day scorching sun exposure in summer; they need appropriate shading, otherwise the plant's leaves may be sun-wilted or even develop curled edges, which will inevitably reduce the ornamental value of the potted plant and may also affect its normal growth.