Water lily leaves will readily and safely overlap in a crowded pond.
Water lilies are a variety of aquatic plants that thrive in freshwater in tropical, subtropical and temperate zones. Typically, water lilies grown in home ponds and water gardens possess 3- to 4-inch lobed leaves that float on the water's surface and send up shoots with yellow or white flowers. Water lilies are a great way to help keep pond water clean, since they absorb excess nutrients from the water, and can bring life and color to your outdoor pond. The size of a pond required for growing water lilies depends on how many you intend to grow and what purpose you hope for them serve. Does this Spark an idea?
Small Pond - Less than 30 Gallons
Even in a small pond of 30 gallons or less, you can grow two or three water lilies, provided the pond provides them a depth of at least 12 inches. The plants will need to be planted in small terracotta pots with aquatic soil and stones for their root systems. Your water lilies will rapidly grow to cover the surface of the water if given full sun and will help keep your water clean and clear as they shade the pond. Remember to keep a pump running to prevent water stagnation and mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Medium Pond - 30 to 90 Gallons
In a pond of 30 to 50 gallons, you can grow substantially more water lilies. You will easily be able to fit five or six lilies, each planted in a pot with aquatic soil or placed in a length of panty hose similarly filled with soil and suspended in the pond. At this size, you can also add some fish. Goldfish and minnow varieties will help fertilize and feed your water lilies through their excrement. They will also alleviate any mosquito problems you may be facing. Be careful, though, as some fish varieties will readily gnaw on any exposed roots or shoots of your lilies.
Large Pond - 90 Gallons and Up
A pond of more than 90 gallons will readily accommodate 10 to 15 water lilies. A pond of this size will likely be too deep to place your lilies on the pond floor. Construct a small stand or shelf in your pond so that you can keep your water lilies at the ideal depth of 12 to 18 inches. This will allow sufficient sun to reach the plants to encourage growth.
Very Large Pond - More than 500 Gallons
In a pond of more than 500 gallons, you can plant, within reason, as many water lilies as you wish. Care must be taken to keep them from overrunning other plants by blocking sunlight from reaching them and depleting nutrients in the water. Water lilies in very large ponds are an excellent way to keep algae at bay by shading the water and keeping water temperatures down. They also provide cover for goldfish and koi as well as landing pads for mosquito-eating dragonflies and damselflies.
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