Fertilizer in my lotus pool?

[bagsmom]

Boy do my plants look sad. I know it's partly the time of year, and partly because I don't have enough fish yet to feed the plants. We have had many days in the 70s and a few in the 80s, though -- lots of sunshine.
I got some water hyacinth on Saturday and already they look unhappy. I have a lotus pool -- unfiltered, still water -- no fish. I have some creeping jenny in it, a totally asleep lotus root, and some parrot's feather and anacharis.

Is there any reason why I couldn't put some plant food in the water there and let my water hyacinth have a "food bath" for a few days?

Then I could transfer them back to the big pond later.

Thoughts?

 

[addy1]

I don't see why not, I put fertilizer in my lotus tub, granular wrapped in paper towel. It is part of the pond loop, has never bothered the pond. Since yours is separate, go ahead and put some fertilizer in.

 

[bagsmom]

I don't see why not, I put fertilizer in my lotus tub, granular wrapped in paper towel. It is part of the pond loop, has never bothered the pond. Since yours is separate, go ahead and put some fertilizer in.

Are your lotus doing anything yet? I planted my bulb maybe 4 weeks ago and I see no signs of life. Just not consistently warm enough yet?

 

[Waterbug]

As an experiment I once put some water hyacinth in a small pond (35 gals) and added 5 lbs of potash. The experiment was too see what was too much potash. Turned out the water hyacinth had goldfish eggs, each hatched and the fry grew great. Water hyacinth did great too. But turned out the water hyacinth didn't do well in the pod because the fish nibbled their roots...it wasn't a nutrient issue.

For lotus, lilies, Canna, etc... I use fruit tree fertilizer spikes broken into about 3 chunks.

 

[Tula]

@sissy has good advice on how to fertilize water hyacinth with Miracle Grow.

I've 12 germinated lotus seeds, that aren't ready to be outside yet. I've read they need lots of fertilizer, preferably monthly.

 

[addy1]

@sissy has good advice on how to fertilize water hyacinth with Miracle Grow.

I've 12 germinated lotus seeds, that aren't ready to be outside yet. I've read they need lots of fertilizer, preferably monthly.

Mine get unfiltered slow flow water from the big pond (with fish). I used to add fertilizer pellets via paper towels, now I don't add anything, for the last few years. The plants grow and bloom wonderfully.

 

[Patfish]

As an experiment I once put some water hyacinth in a small pond (35 gals) and added 5 lbs of potash. The experiment was too see what was too much potash. Turned out the water hyacinth had goldfish eggs, each hatched and the fry grew great. Water hyacinth did great too. But turned out the water hyacinth didn't do well in the pod because the fish nibbled their roots...it wasn't a nutrient issue.

For lotus, lilies, Canna, etc... I use fruit tree fertilizer spikes broken into about 3 chunks.

Are the fertilizer spikes in a pond with fish?

 

[tbendl]

Are the fertilizer spikes in a pond with fish?

Mine are.

 

[Brenda Sue]

 

[Brenda Sue]

I have been reading up on starting lotus from seed and decided to try it. I went over to Michael's and bought a pack of 2 lotus pods. I picked the package where the pods had the most seeds. The I cam home and about 3 pm on June 24 I used my husbands grinder to take off the hard outer coat. I laced them A, B, C to see which pod of seeds did the best and...if any survive to make blooms then I will know which color (assuming they are different colors) can from which seed pod. I put two seeds in each cup and the rest in baggies with the correct alphabet letter on each bag. Sorry I could not get the photos to go with my post...I am new to posting on here and have to figure it out. Also should I post thumbnails instead of full size?

 

[Brenda Sue]

Now I have pictures taken this morning at 6:40 am. Less then 48 hours after the seeds first hit the water. You can see B, and C and getting ready to emerge! A is showing green but barely, it is much slower. C is really getting ready to burst out. Of course living in Arizona with the temps at 115 helps a lot!

 

[addy1]

Looking good!

 

[addy1]

Also should I post thumbnails instead of full size?

full size is fine saves us from clicking to see full size lol

 

[tbendl]

I'm really hoping this is a bloom getting ready to happen. I caught the dragonfly resting on the bud this morning.
I've already texted my daughter today to see if it bloomed while I am at work.

 

[addy1]

It will start showing some color before it opens. And it will last for a few days, changing each day.