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Tropical Lilies Water: In the North, you can treat tropical lilies water lilies as annuals and replace them every garden season or bring them into a greenhouse pool. In the South where winters are Zone 10, and temperatures rarely fall below 30°F., they can be left out all year.
The hardy lilies are stored over winter in a cool Basement where temperatures hold between 40° to 50°F. In the fall before a hard freeze, lift the lily pots from the pool, drain well, and store them leaves and all by covering with damp peat moss so they will not dry out over the winter. In the spring, empty the rhizome from the pot, clean it off, remove any suckers—small, yellow leaves—and repot as you did the year before. Hardy lilies may only be left outside in a pond deep enough that the ice line is above the tuber and the pot.
tropical lilies water water plants can be held over in the greenhouse or j sunporch.
Night-blooming tropical lilies water water lilies (Nymp/zaea spp.) are a bit too large to grow in a whiskey barrel (see page 148), but there are a few species that will do well in a small plastic pool set into the ground. And what could be a more elegant pastime than sitting about the terrace at twilight waiting for the lilies to open?
These flowers do best when planted in a polyethylene utility tub that holds 16 quarts (1/2 bushel) of good garden soil, preferably soil with some clay. Never use commercial potting mixes for these plants, or anything remotely connected with herbicides or insecticides. Mix the soil 3 parts to 1 with well-rotted cow manure.
The little water garden was a success. The lilies bloomed, t spike rush grew into a healthy fountain of green tipped with brov non-flowering buds, and the dwarf cyperus shot up 2 1/2 foot stei topped with a Fan of leaves.
Once autumn arrives and temperatures start to fall, the wal garden should be emptied until the following spring. Hardy wai lilies will survive outside if the water above them never freezes sol: But in a tub exposed to the weather this will be the natural order things.
If you wish, the lilies can be kept over the winter in a need not be kept in water. The papyrus can be a happy houseplant if kept warm (62 to 80°F.), in maxium light, and moist soil. As to the >pike rush, I do not know, but I suspect it, too, will keep indoors if given plenty of light and at least six weeks of temperatures averaging . |
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