When do water lilies bloom?
For the netizens who are concerned, this explanation of when water lilies bloom and the green plant cultivation methods of water lily ponds will definitely bring you help. Let's learn about it together!
Water lilies symbolize purity and beauty, with the saying "sacred object, not stained by the muddy water." They have a long planting history in our country and have been one of the favorite flowers for scholars and literati since ancient times. Now many flower enthusiasts also like to keep a pot of water lilies, as watching the reflection of the lotus in the water during summer is a great enjoyment. Especially mini water lilies are more popular, as they can be planted in a relatively small container and are not difficult to bloom. But why do your water lilies bloom with small flowers and fewer blooms? Check carefully, have the following tasks been done well.
Water Depth Issue
Water lilies can live in water, but not in water of any depth. The optimal water depth for the growth of water lilies should be controlled between 25~30cm, and if it's a mini water lily, the water depth should be controlled between 10~15cm. Water that is too shallow or too deep is not conducive to the formation of flower buds and the full development of flower buds in water lilies, especially when the water is deeper than 80cm, it almost cannot bloom. When the water is too shallow, although it can bloom, the flowers are often small, the color is light, and the blooming period is short.
Reason
Controlling the depth of the water level in water lilies is actually to control the temperature, as changes in water temperature have a significant impact on the growth of water lilies. When the water level is too shallow in summer, although the water temperature can rise quickly, it is not conducive to leaf growth, cannot store growth substances well, and is difficult to achieve the best blooming effect. When the water is too deep, the water temperature rises slowly, and the rootstocks of water lilies cannot enter rapid growth, which prevents normal differentiation into flower buds and blooming.
Suggestion
In summer, the blooming season of water lilies, attention should be paid to changes in the water level in the container. When the water level is too shallow, water should be added in time. When the water level is too deep, water should be reduced in time. If you have always been growing water lilies in deep or shallow water, and the blooming performance is poor, it is recommended to adjust the water level to a reasonable position as soon as possible, and high-quality flowers can still be produced.
Light Issue
Water lilies love light. If you want large and abundant blooms, you need to ensure sufficient light, with at least six hours of sunlight per day. Insufficient light results in vigorous vegetative growth, thick and wide leaves, no flower buds, and even if a few flowers can bloom, they are often small and not very ornamental. The more sunlight, the more flowers water lilies produce. Therefore, light is the key to promoting water lily blooms and should be maximized.
Reason
Like other flowering plants, sufficient light can inhibit the rapid growth of water lily leaves, transition from the vegetative growth stage to the reproductive growth stage, and enter the blooming period smoothly. Also, from June to August is the peak blooming period for water lilies, and sufficient light can raise the water temperature quickly, making the roots active and easily differentiate into flower buds, achieving the goal of blooming. Especially in northern regions with large temperature differences between day and night, water lilies are more likely to bloom because the water temperature rises for a long time. In the Jiangnan region, where the temperature difference between day and night is not significant, even if the light is not strong, the water temperature can easily rise, and water lilies are more likely to bloom abundantly.
Suggestion
The length of light exposure not only allows water lilies to bloom more but also extends the blooming time of individual flowers. Water lily flowers bloom in the light and close in the absence of light, with a single flower lasting 2~5 days. If the light time at home is short, the time to enjoy the full bloom of water lilies is also short. If the light time is long, from morning to night, the water lilies will bloom from morning to night. Therefore, to grow water lilies well, light time must be ensured. If there is insufficient light at home, it is not recommended to grow water lilies or to maintain them as ornamental leafy plants.
Fertilization Issue
When water lilies enter the peak blooming period, they need to be fertilized. Insufficient nutrients make it difficult to bloom, or the flowers are small and the blooming period is short. However, fertilizing water lilies requires method and strategy, or excessive nutrition can easily cause the growth of algae, not only failing to promote flowering but also making the water unclear, which is not worth the cost. So how to fertilize water lilies? Do not directly apply fertilizer to the water, as the algae will grow faster than the water lilies. You can wrap the fertilizer in sticky soil, form it into a small ball, and bury it about 15cm away from the center position, 10cm below the soil layer. This way, the fertilizer will slowly release and directly act on the roots.
Reason
The leaves of water lilies have a waxy layer, which is hydrophobic, so they cannot absorb fertilizer through the leaves. Fertilization can only be done through the roots. Directly applying fertilizer to the water can cause excessive nutrient content in the water, leading to a large-scale outbreak of algae and polluting the water, causing poor leaf growth or direct rot. Therefore, fertilizing water lilies must be buried deep in the soil so that the roots can absorb it, while the nutrient content in the water changes little, achieving the real purpose of fertilization.
Suggestion
If your water lilies bloom less, have small flowers, and a short blooming period, during the peak blooming period, you can use phosphorus and potassium fertilizer every 15 to 20 days, such as monopotassium phosphate, Flower多多2, etc., using a small amount each time, wrapping it in a soil ball and burying it about 10cm away from the roots. This promotes flowering and bud growth. However, the concentration of the fertilizer must be controlled well, applying thin fertilizer frequently, as too concentrated can burn the roots and cause algae to grow wildly.
Seed Setting Issue
Some water lilies can set seeds, but their seeds are not as large and obvious as those of lotus flowers. The lotus pods are small, and the seeds are even smaller. If you want more blooms and a longer blooming period, you should prevent them from setting seeds. After each flower fades, carefully cut off the spent flowers to save nutrient consumption. Some flower enthusiasts' water lilies bloom a lot in the early stage, with lighting and fertilization ongoing, and no significant temperature changes, but the number of flowers gradually decreases, which may be due to seed setting. It's best not to let potted water lilies set seeds, just for the purpose of viewing leaves and flowers.
Reason
Potted water lilies have their root growth obstructed, and the nutrients and light cannot compare with those grown in ponds, so their blooming ability is already a bit poor. If allowed to set seeds, the nutrients will be preferentially supplied to the bulbs, and no more flowers will bloom. Moreover, the seeds of water lilies can be planted to grow small water lilies, but they cannot bloom in the first year, and some may take two or three years to bloom. Personally, I think it's better to buy ready-made water lilies than to plant them from seeds, as it's too troublesome to care for them, and patience can easily be worn down.
Suggestion
For potted water lilies that easily set seeds, after flowering, cut off the spent flowers, and after cutting, do two things: one is to let the wound above the water surface dry out slowly and not be submerged, as water can seep into the stem, causing rot. The other is to apply a little fungicide like carbendazim to the wound for preventive work, otherwise, once root rot occurs, the whole pot of water lilies may be ruined.
Algae Problem
When growing water lilies, even without a filtration system or with careful fertilization or no fertilization at all, algae can still be a problem. There are two drawbacks to having algae in a water lily pot: one is that it affects the appearance, making the water always look dirty and somewhat disgusting. The other is that it affects the growth of the water lilies, causing the leaves to rot from the edges and not conducive to flowering. Therefore, when algae appear in a water lily pot, it's best to deal with it and not ignore it.
Reason
Algae reproduce quickly, and in nutrient-rich conditions, they can cover the entire pot in just a few days. The more nutrients, the higher the temperature, and the more sunlight, the faster algae reproduce. It competes with water lilies for nutrients, easily causes poor water quality, and can lead to the growth of water lilies or illness. A small amount of algae can be ignored, as the growth of more leaves in water lilies will reduce its sunlight and cause it to wither, but a large amount of algae must be dealt with.
Suggestion
If there is a small amount of algae in the water lily pot, it can be removed by hand or with a small net, doing this every few days can keep it clean. If there is too much algae and it reproduces quickly, you can use a 3000~5000 times copper sulfate solution to spray, which is very effective in removing algae and will not recur in the short term. The growth of a lot of algae and fast reproduction also indicates a problem, which is that you need to control your fertilization, as excessive nutrients!
Summary: In the peak blooming period from June to August, if water lilies bloom less, bloom small, and have a short blooming period, mainly consider whether the water depth is appropriate, whether there is sufficient light, whether fertilization is timely, and whether there is seed setting. Most flower enthusiasts' water lilies bloom less due to insufficient light. Water lilies love light, so it is recommended to keep them outdoors, ensuring a large number of blooms and less prone to disease. Indoor maintenance can also bloom, but the blooming performance is poorer and more prone to disease and pests.
Knowledge Extension
It's best to choose a variety of water lilies that bloom frequently for potted plants, as some varieties that do not bloom frequently are difficult to bloom or achieve the desired effect. Varieties like Black Beauty, Dobel, and Islamorada are all tropical water lilies that bloom frequently, while varieties like Van Thienhoven and Colorado are cold-tolerant water lilies that bloom frequently. Especially the cold-tolerant variety Colorado is very frequent in blooming, even with poor lighting at home, it can bloom continuously during the peak blooming period. If flower enthusiasts have good blooming varieties, they can also share them!
The above is a specific introduction to when water lilies bloom and the methods of growing water lilies in aquariums, hoping everyone will like it!