What are the precautions for growing mini water lilies at home?
The mini water lily is a miniature version of the water lily. For places with relatively small growing space, the mini water lily is the most commonly used option. So what are the methods for growing mini water lilies? Let us take a look together!
Basic information about mini water lilies:
The water lily is a precious flower among aquatic flowers. Its appearance is similar to that of the lotus, but the difference is that the leaves and flowers of the lotus stand out above the water, while the leaves and flowers of the water lily float on the water surface. The water lily is also known as the "sleeping beauty among flowers" because it opens by day and closes by night, and it is increasingly used in aquascaping. For homes or places with limited growing space, growing water lilies requires choosing the right variety, and the mini water lily is the most suitable one.
The mini water lily can also be called "water floating lotus". It is a perennial aquatic plant with slender and beautiful leaf stalks and strong cold tolerance; in the Northeast region, it can overwinter safely with a little protection. The underground rhizome of the mini water lily grows horizontally or the tuber grows upright, short and thick. The leaves grow in clusters and float on the water surface, thick and glossy, round or oval, with the upper side of the leaf dark green and the underside dark purple or purplish red. The flower color varies greatly by variety, bright and beautiful.
Now let's start planting the water lily:
1. Flower pot: Try to choose one with an outward-flaring opening. Leaves with an outward-flaring opening will grow better than those with an inward one. The wider the pot opening, the larger the flowers will be (the size of the pot bottom matters little). The depth of the pot affects the flowering interval; the deeper it is, the longer the interval.
2. Soil: Try to choose soil with relatively high stickiness, such as: clay, Yangmingshan soil.
3. Next, place a small amount of slow-release fertilizer or root fertilizer at the bottom of the pot (too much will rot the roots). Put about 1/4-1/3 soil in the flower pot, press it firm, then bury the tuber with the bud point facing up in the soil. If the tuber is buried deep, the flowering interval will be longer but the flowers will be larger; if buried shallow, the interval will be shorter and the flowers smaller. After planting, move it to a place with sufficient light, fill it with water, and wait for leaves to grow and flowers to bloom (if there are too many leaves, some can be pruned).
4. If you want to plant more than two tubers together, unlike planting other flowers, the two tubers should be planted right next to each other. If planted separately, when the leaves of the stronger one shade the bud point of the weaker one, the weaker one cannot get light and will die. In addition, when planting them together, it is best to use the same species or the same color series, because dark colors (such as: purple, blue) are stronger than light colors (white, yellow). Remember this!
5. After flowering, the flowers can be cut for arranging (except for the Zishi lotus). The life span of a flower is about 3-6 days. On the first day the flower is relatively straight, then it becomes more and more curved, until it bends into the water. If flowers are cut for arranging, the flowering interval will be shortened; if they are left to fade, the interval will be longer.
6. Fertilizing: About every one and a half months to two and a half months, apply slow-release fertilizer or root fertilizer about 3-5 cm away from the tuber, but do not apply any more after the end of September, because autumn is gradually approaching and the water lily will enter its dormancy period; fertilizing instead will cause root rot.
7. After entering autumn and winter, the water lily will also enter its dormancy period as the temperature drops. At this time, it is best not to disturb it; only fill it with water when there is little water. For the perfume lotus, varieties with spotted leaves have a longer dormancy period than those without spots, and light-colored ones have a longer one than dark-colored ones.
Five precautions for growing mini water lilies at home
1. A completely water-grown water lily is very simple; just put the rhizome directly in the water. Only with nutrient solution added can it grow normally in complete water culture!
2. If adding soil for growing, ordinary soil is fine; just pick out the impurities in the soil: water lilies are very easy to grow and have no special soil requirements; ordinary soil is generally fine, because in soil-and-water culture the soil soaked in water for a long time naturally forms silt. Of course, if ready-made silt/pond mud is available, that is best.
3. Plant appropriately shallow: it is enough for the soil to cover about 2CM above the rhizome; burying it too deep is not good for early growth and rapid development.
4. Sufficient light: water lilies like a climate with plenty of sunshine, warmth and humidity, and good ventilation. For water lilies grown in pots or tubs, place them in a position with sufficient light and let them receive full sunlight. If they are grown indoors and cannot see sunlight for a long time, there is no major problem; it is just that compared with water lilies with sufficient sunlight, there will be some differences in growth speed and flowering!
5. Prune dead leaves: in hot seasons, pay attention to keeping the pot water clean. After flowering, promptly cut off dead leaves, leaf stalks and flower stems to prevent nutrient consumption and keep the plant looking attractive.
The above is all the content of the precautions for growing mini water lilies at home that I have summarized for everyone. I hope this article can help everyone. Please also continue to follow us.
Prevent nutrient consumption and keep the plant looking attractive.The above is all the content of the precautions for growing mini water lilies at home that I have summarized for everyone. I hope this article can help everyone. Please also continue to follow us.