Another Lily Question

[nancyp]

My lily is growing very nicely, although I do see an issue. Several of the pads start to yellow and have holes in them. I thought that it was the koi nibbling and maybe it was normal for the pads to yellow after they were nibbled on. But today I cut off several of the yellowed pads, and examined them on the underside. There were many tiny 'worms', or maybe some type of parasite that is eating them. Now I see that they are also on my lower leaves of the cardinal plant too. They are too minute to even photograph with the camera I have. I do have pics here of the lily pad, upper and under sides. Any idea what they are, and if there is anything to do about them?

 

[Nepen]

The snails love my lotus and would make holes everywhere on them. They also lay eggs in the water (well, attached to the lotus underside, that is..)

 

[sissy]

looks like they need fertilized also .

 

[nancyp]

I don't see snails, I see tiny, itty bitty worms - about 1/16" long. Squiming around into a little 'S' when touched. Gotta be some kind of larvae.
I have used a fertilizer in the soil. I think I need to buy a different brand. I saw on a video online that the middle number on the fertilizer pkg should be a 20 . My package is 12.

 

[sissy]

I take mine out of pond and dip them in a bath of miracle grow

 

[nancyp]

My pot is too heavy for me to pick up. And it is down too far for me to reach without going totally into the pond. If I did go totally in, I am not sure if I could get out by myself. One of these days during the summer I will try. I need to just use the type that I can stick into the soil from the side for now.

 

[addy1]

When the leaves age, they tend to get nibbled on, turn yellow get holes, that is when I cut them off. The other leaves look in great shape.

 

[magoo]

Spray with a BTK solution. One brand nameis Dipel. It's a bacteria that attacks the caterpillars that are eating your plants. The leaves in your photos are spent any and need to be removed.

 

[nancyp]

How can I spray it? They are on the underside, which is in the water. Will it hurt the fish?

 

[HTH]

Nancy I would like to see a current picture of the lily plant like the 3rd one in your first post.

 

[TekWarren]

I don't know that I've noticed holes in my lily pads but they will age and start to decay and likely any number of larva or pond dwelling creature could feed on it. I to have noticed the tiny squigly larva in my pond. I just assumed they were larva...maybe mosquito larva? I've been introducing minnows to my pond every couple weeks in the hopes they will survive and eat smaller bugs/larva. I also use a product called "mosquito dunks" in my pond which seems to help some, it is a cookie looking thing that disolves and the larva is supposed to feed on it and kill them. Safe for fish and plants. Mosquitoes have been terrible this year already, last summer not much rain and all and so far this summer it has been pretty wet.

Have a look at this video and see if it is what you are seeing in your pond. I just confirmed for myself what I thought was skeeter larva, although I've seen other types of life also. I will continue using the "dunks" and trying to start a minnow school (ruby reds from petsmart, 14 cents each).

 

[jerbru]

OP. Did you get an answer to your question regarding the problem with the leaves on your water lilies?

I am having the same problem. New leaves are getting holes and turning yellow. Have not looked for larvae underneath the leaves. I doubt if there are mosquito larva as the water is moving constantly And I have fish.

Odd thing is there are lots of flowers. Leaves look unhealthy.
Suggestions welcome

 

[HTH]

Lilies like relatively calm water. The tops of the leaves need to be dry.

 

[adavisus]

Some bugs specialise in pecking lilypads, glassworms being one of them.

Small fish usually keep such bugs in check.

Snipping the pads as soon as they age may help thin out the bugs

Regards, andy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21940871@N06/
http://swglist.wordpress.com/

 

[nancyp]

OK, update on my lily. I do see snails in my pond now so maybe they are nibbling. But I still see the tiny larvae wiggling on the back on the lily pads. Possibly mosquito larva. I just added the dunks to the pond yesterday so we will see if that helps. I have been removing the damaged leaves as they yellow. I just got my first flower and it is beautiful!