How many water lilies can I justify?

[Dogcatlady]

My pond is mostly about plants....I told myself I'd only get a couple of fish to eat mosquito larvae (but that lasted 3 days---then I bought more fish! ) . My lilies and one lotus are just babies so there's lots of open surface area but I don't have a good feel for how big they'll get. I have *about* 100 square feet of surface area and so far 2 lilies (plus one known to be "small") and one lotus. I also bought 2 water hawthorns but I think they are dead---they never sprouted. I'd love to buy more lilies in different colors but I don't want regrets later when things really start growing.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

 

[Dogcatlady]

Also, should I lay a few boards over the pond to give the fish shade for now?

 

[mrsclem]

I have 12 lilies in my pond! You could definitely add more lilies.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I'd love to buy more lilies in different colors but I don't want regrets later when things really start growing.

I have four in my pond and they cover two thirds of my 11' by 6' pond. I'm not a big fan of re-potting them and dealing with their massive entangled roots. I could make it easier by re-potting them every two years instead of every three, but I like seeing them escape a little and grow larger pads. I don't think I'd ever want more than four for that reason. Might even cut it down to 3 next time I re-pot them.

 

[addy1]

I have 12 lilies in my pond! You could definitely add more lilies.

I have around 12 or so last time I counted them in the big pond, 2 in a smaller pond, 6 or 7 in the hot tub pond, I love the look of lily coverage, with all the different colors.

 

[Dogcatlady]

That's GORGEOUS and that's what I want!!

How many square feet do you estimate each lily fills in the photos above?

 

[addy1]

Right now mine are a bit crowded, the pads can spread from 3 to many feet. It all depends on the lily. Some have huge pads some small

The lilies in the hot tub pond all have smaller pads, just seemed to happen that way.
You can see the pads are smaller, this is the hot tub pond, three plants

 

[Dogcatlady]

What is the white one with purple tips? I love it!

 

[addy1]

It is a hybrid tropical, made to survive our winters. I sink the hybrids deep during winter so there is no chance the tuber will freeze.
I don't know the name it was given to me in a trade for some of my purple fantasy hybrid.

 

[mrsclem]

What is the white one with purple tips? I love it!

Turtle Island Fay McDonald

 

[Dogcatlady]

Out of stock.... . Gorgeous!

 

[addy1]

Turtle Island Fay McDonald

Thanks @mrsclem I need to write the names down.

 

[MajorDan]

My pond is mostly about plants....I told myself I'd only get a couple of fish to eat mosquito larvae (but that lasted 3 days---then I bought more fish! ) . My lilies and one lotus are just babies so there's lots of open surface area but I don't have a good feel for how big they'll get. I have *about* 100 square feet of surface area and so far 2 lilies (plus one known to be "small") and one lotus. I also bought 2 water hawthorns but I think they are dead---they never sprouted. I'd love to buy more lilies in different colors but I don't want regrets later when things really start growing.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

Your water hawthorns are probably just fine. They go dormant in hot weather and start growing in the fall and stay green through winter and until summer returns. So give them time and you may be surprised. I wish I had gotten two but it seems all the suppliers are out or not shipping them in this heat.

 

[Dogcatlady]

I hope you are right! If you have one, won't it grow/spread?

 

[KDubU]

This is a good thread for a newbie like me as I was uncertain how many lily’s I could have and only bought one . Well it does mean another visit to the nursery, just need to control my wallet.