The poem "Out of the mud without staining, Mao Qing Lian without demon" is often used to describe the lotus, but another flower that grows in the water like a lotus flower is also very suitable for this poem, that is, the water lily. Today we will talk about how to raise water lilies.
Water lily, also known as water lotus, meridian lotus, is an aquatic flowering plant. Flowering period from June to August, like water wet, like strong light and well-ventilated environment, hardy but avoid freezing. It prefers fertilizer and grows well in humus-rich, sticky soils.
Planting
Water lilies can be planted in ponds and are more suitable for potted (tanked) ornamentation. Pots or water tanks with an inner diameter of 40 cm or more and a depth of about 60 cm can be used for planting, and they are planted from the end of March to the beginning of April. When planting, first put 3-4 cm thick river mud at the bottom of the pot (tank), and then put about 0.25 kg of broken hair, broken bone residue, chicken and duck feathers, fish bones, grass and wood ash and other fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium fertilizer as the base fertilizer, and finally fill in the fertile river mud, to 2/3 of the height of the pot, leaving 25 cm of water injection space on it. The cut rhizome (cut into 6-8 cm segments, with two buds) is then buried under the soil surface facing up, and the depth of the soil cover is suitable for the top buds to be level with the soil surface, 5-7 segments per pot. After planting, inject 2-3cm deep shallow water to help increase the water temperature, if the irrigation is too deep at this time, it will affect germination, and then gradually deepen the water level depending on the growth of the plant. Maintain in a well-ventilated, sunny place.
Fertilizer water management
During the growth and development period, depending on the growth of the plant, 2-3 topdressing can be applied as appropriate.
The depth of irrigation in summer is about 25 cm, and this depth is often maintained. In the high temperature season, Li should pay attention to keeping the basin water clean, and when the basin water is dirty, the dirt should be removed in time for new water.
Temperature light management
Water lilies are positive plants, and if there is insufficient light during development, it will cause the stems and leaves to flourish, but there will be very few flowers, or even only long leaves do not flower. If it is placed in a shaded and unobstructed place for a long time, the water surface is prone to moss, resulting in weak plant growth, and there will also be a phenomenon of only growing leaves and not flowering. Before and after the cold dew festival, pour out the water in the basin and put it in a cold environment of about 3 degrees celsius to overwinter, and keep the pot soil moist and not frozen. The following spring can be divided to avoid crowded rhizomes in the pot and stunted growth, which can affect flowering.
Pest control
In the process of growth and development, water lilies are susceptible to aphids and water borers.
(1) Aphids: During the growth and development period of water lilies, if there is insufficient light and poor ventilation, they are not only weak in growth, but also susceptible to aphids. When insect infestation is found, it can be sprayed with 1000 times imidacloprid solution. There is a safe and hygienic method that can also be used to kill aphids, kill with tobacco leaf water (50g of tobacco leaves plus 5L of water, boiling can be).
(2) Water borer: This pest is mainly based on the leaves of larvae that harm water lilies, and can bite the leaves into two pieces of slightly the same size, and then spit silk to overlap the leaves together to make a protective body and live in it. Thanks to the protection of the leaves, it can float freely on the water. After the protector dries, a new protector is created. The larvae are mostly active at night to feed. Between August and September, the larvae mature and often close the two leaves together, and then form a white oval cocoon pupae. We can use the following two methods for control: one is to catch the larvae floating on the surface in time, and the other is to spray 1000 times the liquid with 50% borer pine during the larval occurrence period.
Shaping trimming
Removing dead leaves after flowering and preventing excessive nutrient consumption can better maintain the beauty of the plant.
Propagating water lilies mostly uses the split plant method or sowing method.
(1) Splitting method: In April, the rhizome is removed from the mud, the stem with new shoots is selected, cut into 10-15cm long segments, and planted separately.
(2) Sowing method: sowing is carried out in March and April, the temperature is maintained at 25-30 degrees, it can germinate in about half a month, and it can flower the following year after planting, but the seed period must be stored in water.