Evening star., 1947-06-15


requires at least square feet OF sur
face for normal growth. This is a
minimum requirement, and 10 to II
square feet of space are desirable If
there is to be water visible between
the lily pads. Most pools will hold
one such lily, but many gardeners
desire two or three varieties, and a
pool big enough to accommodate
them is too large for many yards, or
is too costly. To overcome this limi-
tation, we may choose some Of the
smaller water lilies.
There are varieties of really dwarf
water lilies, usually referred to as the
pygmies because of their small flow
ers and small pads. These small
lilies are both attractive and dainty. 4
Helvola, pale yellow, is one OF
the better known hardy varieties.
But there are many others to choose
from. The following few are only
suggestions to indicate the possibili-
ties for the small pool owner. Yel-
low Pygmy has golden flowers. Au-
rora opens rosy yellow, but changes
to red as it ages; White Pygmy and
Red Laydeker are other hardy varie-
ties that may be left in the pool all
winter The tropicals are tender
plants that need to be stored indoors
over winter, but which often are de-
sired because they extend the color
range as well as provide the night
bloomers for those who want color
in the evening.
However, there are only few
really small tropical varieties. Dau-
ben and Royal Purple are two good
ones. Dauben has pale blue flowers,
while Royal Purple is red-purple.
Nursery lists may be expected to
show other varieties, since the plant
breeders have been doing wonders
with water lilies of recent years.
Lilies Require Food.
Some gardeners are tempted to
starve their water lilies to prevent
too rampant growth. This is mis-
take, for they need to be we'll fed in
order to flower freely. If each plant
is to produce constant succession
OF bloom from late June until frost.
the soil mixture should contain
liberal supply of well-rotted cow
manure. Lacking the COW manure,
we may use one of the organic fer
tilizers, small handful to the bushel
of soil. Some growers give supple
mental feeding of blood meal during
the summer. However, a 2-inch
layer of well-rotted COW manure in
the bottom of the box is the safest
and surest method of feeding water
lilies
Lilies need very little care beyond |
being planted in a box of ample /
proportions, usually about IS inches
square and at least eight inches
deep for the hardy lilies, deeper
for the tropicals. A good clay loan
soil q parts) mixed with the COW
manure Il parD is favored by
many growers over a sandy loan. In
planting the hardy lilies it is desir-
able to have the crown of the plant
above the level of the soil. Spread
the rhizome-like roots out horizon
tally and firm the soil over them.
Cover the surface with an inch or
two of clean sand SO that fish
cannot stir up the soil and muddy
the water.
The pool will need to be at least
20 inches deep if the boxes have a
depth Of 10 inches and the water
is to be 10 inches deep over the
crowns of the plants. However, the .
hardy water lilies being more shall
low-rooted than the tropicals can be
planted In boxes less than 10 inches
deep, although eight inches is about
the minimum. The depth of water
necessary over the crowns is subject /
to some argument, and we have .
growers who favor IL inches. Others /
claim they are successful with only .
eight inches of water cover.
Rinse New Pools.
The new pool will need to be
rinsed thoroughly several times to
remove any harmful soluble mate
rial from the cement before placing
the lilies. Good rinsing is safer than
the Use of sealer, such as the
water glass. and is less trouble if
an adequate drain has been pro-
vided. If the rinsing takes place
over a period of several days there
is very little danger of harm to
the lilies. Fish, however, should .
not be put into new pool for a
week or more after the water lilies
are placed. 1t is we'll to let the /
water warm up for several days .
before planting tropical water lilies,
which cannot be set out much be-
fore the first of June in this area
Hardy lilies, though, can be planted .
as early as the first of April. /
If the pool is to be complete It .