What methods can be used to propagate water lilies?
Water lilies are mainly propagated by division, usually carried out in spring after the last frost. First, dig up vigorous rhizomes from the pond mud, select a section with new shoots, cut it into 6--10 cm long sections of rhizome to serve as the parent stock for division, then plant them flat in the mud, but not too deep. Usually keep the new shoots on the rhizome level with the soil surface. After the rhizome parent stock is planted, let it sit in the sun for a while before adding water. At first the water should be shallow rather than deep; once the temperature rises and the new shoots begin to sprout, deepen the water level. At this time the pond water should not flow too strongly, and the deepest water level must not exceed 30--40 cm. Because the leaf stalks of water lilies are slender and weak, when the water level exceeds 40 cm the new shoots cannot emerge. If water lilies are to be planted in a deep pond with water deeper than 40 cm, the cultivation method should be changed to growing them in vats; or they can be grown in baskets and then moved into the water; or the baskets can be raised to the specified water depth before planting. The soil used for growing water lilies in baskets should generally be paddy field soil that has been sun-dried and crushed, with fermented soybean cake and bone meal added to ensure good growth of the newly planted water lilies.
Water lilies can also be grown from seed. However, because the fruit of the water lily ripens in water, and the ripe seeds often sink naturally to the mud at the bottom of the water as the fruit shell rots, the seeds must be retrieved from the mud bottom. After the seeds are retrieved, they must still be stored in water. If this is not done, once the seeds dry out they lose their ability to sprout. When sowing in spring, take the seeds out of the water and sow them in shallow muddy water. After the seeds sprout, gradually deepen the water level. (This article is excerpted from the complete book "Rural Aquaculture Industry")
How do water lilies propagate? The three propagation methods for water lilies (cuttings/division/sowing)
The water lily, similar in appearance to the lotus, is a rather precious flower. It is mostly seen beside park lakes, and is also often grown by people as a potted plant at home. In everyday cultivation, you only need to know the planting methods for water lilies, but for experienced growers, mastering the propagation methods of water lilies is equally important. So how do water lilies propagate? Follow the editor to find out.
I. How do water lilies propagate? Cuttings/division/sowing
There are many varieties of water lilies, and their flower colors are also very rich, so propagating several different kinds of water lilies and growing them together makes for a beautiful sight worth looking forward to when they bloom. As for how water lilies propagate, there are three methods: cuttings, division and sowing. Let's continue reading for the specific steps.
II. The three propagation methods for water lilies
Cutting propagation, division propagation, sowing propagation
(1) Cutting propagation of water lilies
① Cutting time
Among the propagation methods for water lilies, the choice of time is very important. For water lily cuttings, spring and autumn should be chosen, as these are the periods of vigorous growth.
② Selection of cuttings
In the cutting propagation of flowers, the most important thing is the cutting itself; a good choice directly affects the survival rate after propagation. When choosing adventitious buds for cutting propagation, growers should select mature, robust leaves of the water lily.
③ Preparation before cutting
Before cutting, growers also need to make some preparations. First, fill the flower pot with field soil or clay soil, then water it thoroughly, and then apply a small amount of organic fertilizer.
④ Starting the cutting
Place the cutting into the prepared flower pot, press the leaf upside down into the water, and press mud around it. The adventitious buds should face upward, and the leaf should be submerged in the water.
⑤ Management after cutting
After completing the above work, the cutting propagation of the water lily is basically done, and what remains is care. Water lilies love strong light, so growers should cultivate them in a place that receives half a day of sunlight or more. Apply organic fertilizer once a year, and after two or three years the roots can be trimmed and the soil replaced.
(2) Division propagation of water lilies
Besides cuttings, water lilies mainly adopt division propagation. Depending on the water lily variety, the division time is different:
① Division time
For hardy water lilies, division is carried out in early spring before sprouting, in March-April; for tender water lilies, division must be carried out when the climate is warm, generally around mid-May.
② Division method
First, dig out the rhizome of the water lily, select rhizomes with plump new shoots, cut them into 8-10 cm long root sections, each section carrying at least 1 bud. Then, bury them in the surface soil with the terminal bud facing upward. The soil depth in the flower pot should preferably be such that the bud eye is level with the soil surface.
③ Care and management
After planting, let it sit in the sun for a while before adding shallow water, which helps maintain the water temperature, but the water added should not be too deep, otherwise it will affect sprouting. When the temperature rises and the new shoots begin to sprout, deepen the water level. Then place it in a well-ventilated, sunny place for care. Note: in high temperatures, keep the water in the pot clean.
(3) Sowing propagation of water lilies
Any flower with seeds can be propagated by sowing, and water lilies also bear fruit after flowering, so water lilies can also be propagated by sowing. Specific steps: after the water lily seeds are harvested, they must be stored in water. Sowing should be done in March-April. Use fertile clay loam for the pot soil, and do not fill the pot too full; leave about 5-6 cm from the pot rim.
After the water lily seeds are sown, cover with 1 cm of soil, press firm and immerse in water, with the water surface 3-4 cm above the pot soil. Then cover the pot with glass and place it in a sunny, warm spot to raise the temperature inside the pot. The sowing temperature should preferably be 25-30°C. After about half a month they germinate, and they can bloom the following year.
Propagation methods for water lilies
The water lily is an ornamental plant with both beautiful flowers and leaves. In ancient Greece and Rome it was initially revered and offered as a goddess; in 16th-century Italy, parks often used it to decorate fountain pools or accent the outdoor views of halls. Today we will introduce the propagation methods for water lilies.
Propagation methods for water lilies:
Division propagation
Water lilies mainly adopt division propagation. Hardy varieties are usually divided in early spring before sprouting, in March-April; tender varieties have high requirements for air and water temperature, so division can only be carried out around mid-May. When dividing, first dig out the rhizome, select rhizomes with plump new shoots, cut them into 8~10 cm long root sections, each section carrying at least 1 bud, and then plant them. Bury them in the surface soil with the terminal bud facing upward, and the covering soil depth should preferably be such that the plant's bud eye is level with the soil surface. Plant 5~7 sections per pot. After planting, let it sit in the sun for a while before adding shallow water, which helps maintain the water temperature, but the water added should not be too deep, otherwise it will affect sprouting. When the temperature rises and the new shoots begin to sprout, deepen the water level. Place it in a well-ventilated, sunny place for care. The cultivation water depth is 20~40 cm; in summer the water level can be appropriately deepened, and in hot seasons take care to keep the water in the pot clean. When growing only a small number in pots, the water lilies that have been planted for 2~5 years can be taken out of the pot, cut into 2~4 pieces, and planted back into the pot.
Sowing propagation
Water lilies can also be propagated by sowing, that is, after flowering they shift into the water, and before the fruit ripens, wrap the flower in a gauze bag so that when the fruit splits the seeds fall into the bag. After the seeds are harvested, they must still be stored in water; if stored dry they will lose their ability to germinate. Sow in March-April. Use fertile clay loam for the pot soil, and do not fill the pot too full; leave about 5~6 cm from the pot rim. After sowing the seeds, cover with 1 cm of soil, press firm and immerse in water, with the water surface 3~4 cm above the pot soil. Cover the pot soil with glass and place it in a sunny, warm spot to raise the temperature inside the pot. The sowing temperature should preferably be 25~30°C. After about half a month they germinate, and they can bloom the following year.
The propagation methods for water lilies are introduced here. The water lily is a precious flower among aquatic flowers. Its appearance is similar to the lotus, but the difference is that the lotus's leaves and flowers rise above the water surface, while the water lily's leaves and flowers float on the water surface. Because it opens by day and closes by night, the water lily is known as the "sleeping beauty among flowers."