Help me with my Lotus

[linc2010]

Mine, look the same. I recently started seeds sprouting in another container as well. I used osmocote in the bottom, and then a layer of manure, and then pea gravel and pond water. They seem healthy and sprouting, Flowers will come when it stays warmer. That is my plan.

Update: Actually my leaves are turning all shades of yellow and green, and the yellow ones start spotted brown and then burn all up. then new green ones sprout. It is a mystery. The olove of my life stephanie( who I am growing the lotus blossum for says the osmocote is burning them. confused

 

[DrDave]

My water lettuce is a lot more yellow this year than last. Has anyone else exxperienced this? I have had several calls county wide with other pond owners experiencing the same thing.

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

Hey, Linc, the Osmocote is great stuff for plants on land, just not in water. Dissolves too fast, so I'm sure it is burning them.

I always plant water plants in big standard pots (5 or 7g). I put plastic window screen in the bottom to cover the holes, then fill 1/3 with cat litter. Add about 2" of a mix of red clay, finished compost, with some fertilizer tablets spread around the pot, set the plant or bulb, and fill with cat litter. I use Special Kitty in the red bag at Wal Mart (40 lbs for $2.78), no fragrance or anything besides clay.

I've had really good results with that method, and the plant has to establish a good root system before it reaches the fertilizer.

Not sure if that will help anyone, but I hope it does.

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

Oh, yeah, BTW don't put that lotus in your pond as is. The phosphates in that Osmocote will surely cause your algae to go nuts. Just saying, I agree, phosphates (middle number in fertilizer) is great for blooms. Unfortunately, green water is an algae bloom, and it loves phosphates too. Good luck.

 

[linc2010]

Oh, yeah, BTW don't put that lotus in your pond as is. The phosphates in that Osmocote will surely cause your algae to go nuts. Just saying, I agree, phosphates (middle number in fertilizer) is great for blooms. Unfortunately, green water is an algae bloom, and it loves phosphates too. Good luck.

Thank You for the advice I appreciate it!

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

You're very welcome, hope it helps.

 

[Freddie Peepers]

osmocote does not dissolve in water. the fertilizer inside is released by "osmosis" so there isnt really any danger of overfertilizing unless you use WAY Too much.
It is time-released so as the water temps increase, the amount of food released increases also.
I use osmo in all of my pond containers and haven't had any trouble at all over the last 2 years with algae or plants burning. In fact all our lilies bloom like crazy not one or two, but half a dozen flowers on each plant all summer long.

When I re-potted some of our lilies this spring I dumped out the container and there was the osmocote prils still in the bottom of the container although surely devoid of any food left in them
I don't use anything but osmo for lilies and lotuses. Oue lotus container had 3 blooms at once earlier this summer, and never a burnt leaf to be found

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

Freddie, I'm glad that it has worked for you. Right now, I'm writing to amateur plant folks, so I just say that it dissolves too fast. Essentially, that is true. If I were speaking to experts, we could discuss workable formulations and the change in osmotic pressure caused by the immersion, discuss the salinity of water and how that might affect the osmotic pressure (seen as the time of release), water hardness, alkalinity, etc. I just figure that most folks here don't want to go into all that, so I would steer them away from fertilizers not designed for use under water.

If I say it's good stuff, someone might listen, run out and buy 14-14-14 six month release @ 60f AAT, and burn the plants badly.

That said, I've used almost nothing but osmocote in my tree and shrubbery applications. I buy it by 50 lb bags, and I use a lot of it at home and work. But, unless you luck out or really know what you're doing, I'd stay away from it in the pond. Just saying ;-D