urine lilies ( Nymphaea ) — both tropical species and stout northern case — are so lovely that eighteenth - century life scientist Carolus Linnaeus key out the fellowship of flowers after the nymphs of Greek mythology . Nymphaea have inspired legends worldwide to explicate their unusual choice of habitation . One aboriginal American story says the water lily is a star maid who visited Earth and accidentally fell in a lake only to emerge as the bloom . For the everyday observer , another question arises about how these plants get the food that energizes their beauty .

Soil Nutrition

True , floating aquatic plants , such as the water hyacinth , gain food from water instead of grease . Butwater liliesonly appear to drift carefree atop still waters . Their blossoms and large , cleft leaf are attached to lanky , tuberous stubble that are supported by water . The stalks lead to iris - similar rhizomes that absorb nutrients by take radical in the muddy bottoms of equable ponds , lakes and rivers . They are also produce in the fertilized stiff loam of moveable containers placed underwater in man - made ponds .

Photosynthesis

interchangeable to most aquatic plants , water lily necessitate lots of sunlight for photosynthesis . The plant use the sunlight , body of water and carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates with the help of chlorophyl in the lily lodgings . The Springdale Water Gardens internet site says that although a pond in full sunshine is optimal for pee lilies , five hours of sunlight ( preferably in the afternoon ) will do .

Clay Soil for Containers

The University of Illinois mention that container - planted pee lilies arise best in a clay loam soil that is well - balanced nutritionally , standardised to what you might discover in your garden . It note that commercial-grade potting mix are too light and not rich enough for the plants . Water lilies that are plant direct in pool soil may grow out of control , interfere with pond - liner materials , or go during cold weather . Container planting allows gardeners to move the bloom easily for re - potting or winter storage .

To avoid loss of nutrients and muddying of pond water , container with holes should be line with burlap before being fill up with soil . Kit Knotts of the Water Garden International site recommends adding a level of Baroness Dudevant and then gravel on top of the grunge to ground the plant and minimize loss of territory .

Fertilizing

When first planting a water lily in late springtime , the University of Illinois read slow - dismissal fertilizer tab or granular plant food should be added . The amount should equal 4 oz . of granular fertilizer per cubic animal foot of soil . later on , fertilizer should be added once a month through August . The university take down that it is easy to iron out tablets into the soil , but that granulose fertiliser can also be easily hold by roll it in a biodegradable coffee filter and burying it in the container .

References

…