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We recommend planting all plants in tubs or boxes rather than directly in the bottom of pools. This makes pool maintenance easier. Individual containers can be removed from pools for replanting and fertilizing without disrupting the entire pool.

It is not good practice to drain pools frequently for cleaning. New tap water often has treatment chemicals (chlorine, etc.) or dissolved minerals that must be neutralized before adding plants and fish.

Many cleaning aids are available to allow pool cleaning without draining. Normally a general cleaning and refurbishing each spring is all that’s required.

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Recirculation of pool water through a fountain or waterfall aids in aeration and provides sound and movement as well. We highly recommend adding a filter unit to your reticulating pump to remove suspended particles to reduce pool maintenance.

Place enough plants in your pool to cover 1/2 to 2/3 of pool surface. The plants will keep your pool’s water properly balanced and clear.

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FIGURE VOLUME

You can determine your pool’s water volume in gallons by multiplying length x width x depth x 7.5 = volume in gallons. For irregular dimensions use the closest average dimension. Surface area is most important for deciding how many fish, scavengers, etc. you can stock in your pool. Multiply length x width for surface area.

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HARDY WATER LILIES

Most hardy water lilies grow horizontally across planting containers. Large-size containers are essential. Our (71010, 71005 & 71003) plastic tubs are ideal.

Other acceptable containers are wooden boxes (use untreated lumber; redwood is also toxic underwater), tubs, half barrels and metal tubs that have been painted with a good coating of under-water type, nontoxic paint.

Use good rich topsoil and aquatic plant fertilizer (fertilizer tabs work best). Fill tub or box half full with topsoil and add fertilizer

Tablets. Place lilies with the end farthest from the point that the leaves are almost growing from against one side of the container so lilies will grow across planting container. Cover plant to 2” from top of container. Firm soil with your fist around rhizome leaving crown exposed. Add 1” of pea gravel to prevent from silting the water and uprooting the plant. Carefully lower completed planter into pool to a depth of approximately 6” from top of container. Water lilies start best at shallower depths and can be lowered after good growth is established to 12” to 18”, an ideal depth. If pool depth is more, put containers concrete blocks or bricks to bring them up to proper depth.

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LOTUS (NELUMBO)

* WE SHIP BARE ROOT LOTUS ONLY IN MARCH THRU APRIL. POTTED LOTUS ARE AVAIABLE FEBURARY THRU NOVERBER FOR PICK-UP ONLY.

Lotus tubers are very fragile. Unpack and handle carefully.

Lotus tubers resemble a banana. We ship tubers or heavy sections of lotus runner in spring only. By their nature, lotus cannot be transplanted with leaves and bloom intact. Early spring is ideal.

The larger the container lotuses are planted in, the better they will grow. Our planting container listing shows the proper container sizes for your lotus. Boxes of at least three square feet, by one foot deep are preferable. Dwarf varieties will bloom in half bushel planters, however.

Growing time is from early spring through late summer. They are dormant from fall through late winter. Use good garden soil only (top soil). Fill tuber container or box half full and add Fertilizer tablets. Fill container to 4 inches from top. Plant tuber horizontally, like hardy lilies. Add one inch of pea gravel. Lower into pool to the depth of 6 inches.
Lotuses are great large container growing plants. Place on your deck, or dig a hole in your yard and place planter in the ground for a fabulous addition to your landscape and flower beds. Add water as needed.

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TROPICAL WATER LILIES

Tropical Water Lilies can be planted when water temperature is 70 degrees or above at night. Planting too early will cause dormancy and a long delay in blooming.

Use half-bushel or larger containers for potting. Our #71003 or 71005 tub is ideal.

For continuous blooms, mix night and day blooming lilies. A planter 36” x 18” x 12” is excellent for planting two lilies. Smaller containers should have one lily only.

Mix good rich garden soil (top soil) with well-rotted dairy cow manure in ratio of four parts soil to one part manure. If you’re unsure your manure is well-rotted, don’t use it. Do not use packaged cow manure without allowing it to rot first. It’s better to use good soil without cow manure than to use manure that is not properly rotted.

Fill tub half full with this mixture and add Fertilizer Tablets. Fill tub to within 2 inches of the top with garden soil. Plant your lily up right in center of tub. Firm soil around lily roots leaving crown (where stems roots connect) level with soil line. Add 1 inch of pea gravel to prevent goldfish from silting water and to hold soil in place.

Carefully lower your planting into pool to a depth of 6 to 8 inches to start. Depth can be increased to 12 18 inches after plants are established.

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SHALLOW-WATER & BOG PLANTS

Shallow-water and Bog plants grow at the water’s edge in their natural environments. They consist of varieties that stand above water with their feet in shallow water such as Cannas, Irises, Papyruses as well as water poppies and parrot feather types which prefer shallow water but rest on the water’s surface. All of these plants will be planted upright and may be grouped in containers for pleasing results. For example, Water poppies and Parrot feather can be planted at tub edges with Papyrus or Cattails or Iris.

Use as large a container as is practical, particularly for larger, tall aquatics as they become heavy with growth and topple in the wind if the container is too small. Our planting containers #71001 through # 71003 will be sufficient.

Use good garden soil and rotted cow manure in a ratio of four parts soil to one part manure. Fill container half full and fertilizer tablets, Fill tubs within 2 inches of top. Plant shallow-water and bog plants upright. Firm soil around all plants, add 1 inch of pea gravel.
Lower containers into pool so that the water is over them from 2 to 6 inches deep.

Many plants benefit from thinning and replanting each season. Fertilize during the season only as indicated by lack of new growth.

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FLOATING PLANTS

Floating plants do not require planting, simply place them in the pool upon arrival. Water hyacinth and water lettuce are tropical and should be removed from pool prior to frost. They do best in pools that are too sterile as they require nutrients in the water to survive. They are ideal for pools with an algae problem. They also provide a breeding place for goldfish in your pool. Through non-blooming, their attractive foliage makes them desirable for every pool.

Duckweed is a good natural goldfish food While a small amount may be attractive on the water’s surface, too much will be unsightly. Place only enough on the pool to provide the fish population with a feast.

Excess Duckweed can be stored in a tub of water where it will grow and provide a ready supply of food. Add a handful of fertilizer to the tub to keep your Duckweed crop flourishing.

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