The Pond Plant Girl StoreWater Lily Planting Instructions
Water Lily is easier to grow than most may think. An important rule to remember before planting any aquatic plants is that large fish (such as koi) and turtles will destroy your plants and eat them down to a nub. Therefore, water lily and other pond plants must be protected from destructive pond life. Water depth may be 18 inches to 5 feet deep. The prime depth for water lily is 2 feet deep. For best flowers, full sunshine is a must.
Natural Earthen Ponds: If planting in a natural earthen pond straight into the ground under the water, pot your lily in a biodegradable container, such as a cow pot. See www.cowpots.com . The water level should never go below 18” deep. So, if planting in a natural earthen pond, be certain to plant at a level where the water will still be deep in the summertime. Pot your lily and simply drop it into the water. Even if the water is 5 feet deep, the lily will continue to grow until it reaches the water surface.Container Ponds and Water Gardens
Pot your water lily in a 1 or 2 gallon no-holes container. Place aquatic fertilizer at the bottom of the container and fill container with loam. The crown of the lily may be slightly exposed. Tropical Water Lily must be planted at the edge of the pot with the growing tip pointing toward the center of the pot. A slight 45° is recommended (slight angle) but is not an exact science. So, do not worry about exact measurements. Hardy lily may be planted at the center of the pot. If you are not sure if you have tropical or hardy, a good rule is to plant your lily tuber at the edge of the pot like a tropical water lily. Over Wintering Tropical Water Lily
If you are in a cold region where your pond freezes solid, it is best to over winter your tropical water lily indoors. Here is a link from my water garden expert and friend that will help you succeed: http://www.oregonaquatics.com/Overwintering%20tropical%20lilies.pdfPotting Loam
A perfect recipe for potting loam is 1 part decomposed granite (DG) and 1 part bagged steer manure. Keep in mind that water lily are big feeders. However, too much fertilizer or too much steer manure and the lily plant will expel the unneeded nutrients in the water; which may cause added algae growth. DG can be purchased at any sand and gravel yard. I do not recommend purchasing bagged aquatic plant medium. It is far too expensive and is also too light weight and will make a mess. If you do not have access to DG, I am happy to ship it to you at cost in a flat rate mailer.
Growing Large Lilies
To produce large lily plants and large flowers you must have a pond that is at least 3 feet deep. Use a dark colored 20 gallon Rubbermaid tub (such as black or dark blue). Place a generous amount of fertilizer at the bottom of the container. Fill with potting loam and carefully sink down inside the pond. The pot will be very heavy. So, you will need 2 or 3 people to help sink a large potted lily.
GARDEN BLESSINGS,
GAiL
The Pond Plant Girl.com
All the water herbs grow well in partial sun and prefers still shallow water (about 10"-12") over deep or moving water. In hot dessert-like growing zones (such as zone 9-10) it is important to hang a "woven" shade cloth over the pond during the hot summer months. I am located in zone 9 and use 40% shade material. This grade cannot be purchased at the local garden center, but is very affordable at http://www.shadeclothstore.com.
All herbs can be potted in either a 1 gallon black plastic container or a ceramic terra cotta container. The best planting medium is loam; which can be made with equal parts decomposed granite (DG) and bagged steer manure. If you do not have this available, then plain clean kitty litter (with no fillers or perfumes, not litter used for oil spills) will also work well. If you have access to heavy clay soil, this is also a good choice. I do not recommend purchasing potting loam from the garden center. It is far too light weight and messy too. To prevent the soil medium from spilling out the bottom of the pots, place news paper at the bottom of the pots. It will eventually decompose, but will stay intact long enough for the soil to swell.
Only use fertilizer that is manufactured for aquatic plants. I have some excellent fertilizer in my eBay store, including fertilizer stakes that is temperature activated and lasts for 1 full year. This is far better than using fertilizer pellets or tabs, which must be applied monthly.
Water Mint grows pretty purple puff flowers and comes back each year. Use for cooking or in tea. Eliminates the pungent pond smell from decaying leaves. Helps to keep away harmful pests such as snails and slugs.
Variegated Water Celery is very hardy and comes back each year. It is also eatable and can be part of your dinner salad. Its attractive pink and green leaves rise about 4-5 inches above the water. Comes back each year. Cold Weather Pond Plant - Zone 8 and up. Plant in 5"-12" of water or in-ground as border plant. May be potted or allowed to spread as low landscaping
Pennywort is known for its medicinal properties and helping with some types of arthritis pain. The young leaves are the best and taste good alone or in a salad. Comes back each year. Very easy to grow, it can free float or be potted in river sand. Will grow and cover your pond. Makes a natural spawning environment for fish. Zone 6 and up.
Water Cress is an edible, broad leaved pond plant. Grows by spreading its roots freely from runners. Small white flowers in spring. Prefers moving water and partial shade. Excellent for use in plant filters. Comes back each year. Cold Hardy Pond Plant. Grows 1' tall. Zone 4 and Up.
Sweetheart Artichoke Co
Growing Artichokes in Small Spaces: This is an artichoke that I recently potted. By the end of the summer it should grow to about 4 feet tall. Artichoke plants can be grown in large containers on a patio or deck. In severe hot climates, a shade cloth with 30% or 40% shade may be necessary. In severe cold climates, the container can be placed in a shed for winter storeage.
The key to successful container growing is good drainage. This begins with a simple drainage rack below the container. I made mine with wood stakes. Bricks also work well. 
The bigger the container the better. A large tree container or a 20 gallon Rubbermaid tub will also work. 
To prevent the soil from coming out and bugs from creeping in, place a layer of weed block cloth at the bottom of the tub. This can be purchased at any nursery supply store or hardware garden nursery.
Potting
Plant your artichoke with a rich mix of potting soil, bagged (cured) steer manure, and decomposed granite (or river sand). It is best to use fresh soil every year to produce the best artichoke crop.Watering
Remember that potted artichokes need full sun and light watering. However, potted artichokes need more water than ones potted in-ground because they dry out much faster. A weekly deep watering may be necessary in the summer months. Fertilizer
Artichokes are big feeders. Fertilize weekly with organic solutions during the growing season from spring until late summer. Rotate the types of fertilizer used, such as: diluted powdered milk, crushed egg shells, aquarium water, and cured steer manure.
...Sweetheart Artichoke Co. Store
Q: I'm in the process of replanting artichokes in my garden here in Las Vegas. I was under the impression that my plants would keep going strong year after year. Last summer they failed and your site explained why!
Is there one variety of plant that will do better for me here in the desert?
If I were to order three or four plants from you, what would you recommend?
A: Shade Cloth
I am glad that my website was helpful! I do sell a lot of artichoke varieties to Nevada. The key to growing any variety in Las Vegas is to have filtered sunshine. If your plants are in full sun, then you will need 30% nursery shade cloth. I purchase mine at www.shadeclothstore.com. They custom make all orders to your specifications and it is very affordable too. Make sure to order the shade cloth early enough in the season so you can receive it in a timely manner. You will need 30% woven shade cloth, hemmed, with grommets. It should last about 5 or more years. With a shade cloth overhead, then all varieties (except the Canada Star) will grow well in your climate.
Sunshine
Las Vegas is located in hardy growing zone 9 as well as where I am located in California, also zone 9. The only difference is that our nighttime summer temps cool down at night and we do not have as long as a summer as Las Vegas, Nevada. I grow all of my 1st season potted plants under a shade cloth at 40% shade. However, 40% is too tight of a weave for someone who wants to grow globes. The plants I have in-ground for personal use receive morning and early afternoon sun (no shade cloth), and then partial sun to full shade during hottest part of the day. Italian Varieties
My personal artichokes are: Italian Romanesco, Italian Violetto, Green Globe, and Imperial Star. All would be just right for you too. (If they do not show available in my online store, email me and I will put together a custom order for you.) I do have garden friends in Arizona (also very hot there) who keep their artichoke plants in full sun and no shade cloth.
Soil and Mulch
Soil and mulch makes a huge difference when growing artichoke plants in hot climate zones. The best soil is a mix of 1 part Miracle Grow potting soil, 1 part decomposed granite, and 1 part bagged steer manure (cured, comes bagged at Lowe’s and Home Depot). The best mulch is either water hyacinth or water lettuce from a pond. The roots soak up the fish excrement and provide valuable nitrogen to the soil. It has the same properties as the dried fish emulsion sold at hydroponics stores. Dried leaves and grass clippings are also helpful, but never apply coffee grounds into a mulch pile.
Artichoke Growing Mistakes
1. The mistake many growers make is trimming off dead or wilted leaves when the artichoke plant is mature. It is vitally important to allow the bottom leaves to naturally lay down, because it shades the soil and protects the roots.
2. Too much water produces small globes and can actually drown the plant! Treat your artichoke like a tomato plant by stressing it just a little between watering. Water well once per week in the summer months and then light watering as needed.
3. Chemical fertilizers can burn and kill your young artichoke plant. Artichokes are big feeders, so use a different organic fertilizer each week; such as egg shells, fireplace ash (with no chemicals or plastics in the ash), cured steer manure, and diluted powdered milk.
4. Over crowding plants will also produce smaller globes. Healthy artichoke plants need five feet of space between plants to grow nice and big.
With all this in mind, you should be very successful growing an artichoke garden!
Click below and share me on Facebook and Twitter!
...The Pond Plant Girl's Home Page
Q: Hi! I am in South Florida, zone 9/10. Our pond levels increase and decrease with the rainy season. Would this plant be attached in soil or does it float? Would it live through a 2' pond level increase? And is this an ok time to start them here?
A: Mare's Tail can float, but similar to parrot feather it is not defined as a floating plant. It grows best potted, but will survive if it is submerged as you described. If allowed to float, Mare's Tail will lay flat floating on top of the water surface and then the tip will eventually rise up out of the water about 3". This is how I grew several plants last summer.
Although Mare's Tail is cold hardy zone 7 it will also grow in hotter zones, such as 9 and 10. In hot climate zones, it is good to start this plant in late fall and in the wintertime. Also, keep in mind that caterpillars love to munch on its leaves, so you will need to watch out for that!
The Pond Plant Girl Store
