Coincidence?

[Priscilla]

Today I was cleaning the filters on the big pond and doing a water change. I noticed that my water lilies have taken off! And I mean really off! They are taking over the whole pond. And constantly flowering.

A few weeks back I netted the pond, the nets catches most of the outside debris (falling leaves, fruit etc). The pond is quite large, 18 feet across is some places, so its difficult to take the net off and put it back on, so as a result I have not been cleaning the bottom of the pond. I wonder if the bottom being a bit more 'natural' is causing the lilies to grow so well?

Normally I net all the gunk out almost daily.

Any large debris that I see I will scoop off the bottom, but unless its big enough for me to see, it stays there.

Any thoughts?

 

[addy1]

Lilies like having some natural nutrients to live off. I did not get mine groomed this year, between honey's surgery and me tearing off my toe nail (raw meat for a long time) I just did not get to them. They did great with no fertilizer added.
Could be yours like the debris, or they finally started growing.

I usually only clean the bottom of our pond once in the spring, once in the fall.

 

[Big Lou]

I think you've found the answer Pricilla. Years ago the bottom of our pond was left alone for some time. Our water Lillie's covered the then larger pond. Blooms galore.

 

[Dave 54]

Dont forget Pricsilla you need to keep the pond bottom fairly clear of debris etc on the run up to winter our pond bottom is spotless apart from a coating of algae and the filters have been cleaned ready for the winter to hit home here in the UK .

Dave

 

[HARO]

It may not be the extra mulm on the bottom, Priscilla. Some waterlillies just don't like to be disturbed!
John

 

[Priscilla]

Dont forget Pricsilla you need to keep the pond bottom fairly clear of debris etc on the run up to winter our pond bottom is spotless apart from a coating of algae and the filters have been cleaned ready for the winter to hit home here in the UK .

Dave

No winter here Dave. My pond will run like normal 365 days a year. The coldest it has EVER been here would be high 60's. Right now its 77 and people are saying how cold it is and wearing sweaters! LOL! Last year we didn't even dip into the 70's. So this year its looking like it will be a nice winter - which will be like summer in most places. I guarantee if I go into town today there will be at least one person wearing winter boots! Serious! Island life!

I think I will clean the bottom of the pond every 3 months - does that sound reasonable? I don't want it to turn into some kind of toxic soup. And by clean I mean net the debris off the bottom, which be like the gunk and lily leaves etc .

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Water Lilies are considered heavy feeders, so they benefit from any nutrient source available to them be it fertilizer tabs or natural organic debris.

 

[Dave 54]

No winter here Dave. My pond will run like normal 365 days a year. The coldest it has EVER been here would be high 60's. Right now its 77 and people are saying how cold it is and wearing sweaters! LOL! Last year we didn't even dip into the 70's. So this year its looking like it will be a nice winter - which will be like summer in most places. I guarantee if I go into town today there will be at least one person wearing winter boots! Serious! Island life!

I think I will clean the bottom of the pond every 3 months - does that sound reasonable? I don't want it to turn into some kind of toxic soup. And by clean I mean net the debris off the bottom, which be like the gunk and lily leaves etc .

lol my head I keep forgetting your from the Tropics


Dave

 

[Lisaebetten]

Oh no!!! I can't stand to see dirt and leaves on the bottom or shelves of my pond!!!! I'm still in the novelty stage so I guess my lilies won't do well until I get to lazy to clean my pond every other day!!!!

 

[Priscilla]

Okay, new thought. The major rain stopped about a week and a half ago. But my pond after one good water change is still murky.

Do you think this new found none netting is mucking up my pond??? I can't believe I have gone from crystal clear to can't see the bottom. UGH! So annoying. Do you think all the muck I would normally net out is being kicked up by the fish and the aerator? Why won't the pond clear up??????

I HATE not being able to get a good look at my fish.

I'm doing another water change now. Maybe another 50%.

 

[Priscilla]

Oh no!!! I can't stand to see dirt and leaves on the bottom or shelves of my pond!!!! I'm still in the novelty stage so I guess my lilies won't do well until I get to lazy to clean my pond every other day!!!!

I was just like you. My pond is 10 months old now. And I struggled when I first netted it, but its quite liberating now. LOL! And I LOVE how crazy my lilies have taken off!!!!! Covering the pond, which was much needed because its so hot here most of the time.

 

[Priscilla]

I just went out and there is a lot of muck in the pond. I will give it a good cleaning tomorrow and hope that it clears up soon!

Thinking that run off deposited too much 'stuff' in the pond.

Will update you. I won't move the lilies, or clean too much around them, I'll focus on the other areas.

 

[Lisaebetten]

Can you put a barrier around the run off areas to divert the water away? Or dig deep trenches around your pond and fill with small rocks like a mini drain field? My overflow area will be a deep whole at the lowest level of my pond, filled with gravel and then a heavily punctured drain hose extending out into the center of the yard.

I dislike the net on my pond but I have 3 huge maple tress with millions of dropping leaves. My first net building isn't the best and when I came back from a long weekend away my water turned tannis. I have added beach balls to keep the net off the water for the rest of the leaf drop for this year. I did 2 - 20% water changes and then resorted to 50%. That cleared it up and my water parameters are doing perfect so far.

I still plan on getting a shop vac next spring to clean all the nooks and crannies!!! But the lily thing has me wondering, mine are bare root but they didn't get a chance to grow well before the cold.

 

[Priscilla]

Can you put a barrier around the run off areas to divert the water away? Or dig deep trenches around your pond and fill with small rocks like a mini drain field? My overflow area will be a deep whole at the lowest level of my pond, filled with gravel and then a heavily punctured drain hose extending out into the center of the yard.
I still plan on getting a shop vac next spring to clean all the nooks and crannies!!! But the lily thing has me wondering, mine are bare root but they didn't get a chance to grow well before the cold.

I need to sort my net out. Something that gives me easy access but keeps that pesky heron out.

I think I have sorted the run off problem. I just need to deal with the residue.

I plan to use fairly high wooden stakes to keep my net off the pond.

I have some lilies in kitty litter and some in soil. The soil ones are definitely doing better. Guessing I need to fertilize the ones in kitty litter clay ...? I tried bare root in pots anchored with rocks, it didn't work for me. They didn't do well. But this new muck situation - they are all constantly flowering. And more than half the pond is covered in lily leaves. Its looking awesome!

 

[Lisaebetten]

sounds great!!!! send a pic of some flowers