Lily pond

[fiji jim]

All the info we find on this topic seems to be for milder climates. We would like to know how deep it should be?

We will need to use a liner to hold water in the drier months; so how much soil should we add on top of the liner for the plants to root? Most temperate climate advice was to grow in submurged baskets and remove them in the colder times but this would be unnecessary here. Is it good to have a flow through the pond?

Any help or advice on this topic would be appreciated.

[Daryl]

Jim, this is a complex question! There are so many different ways of creating , arranging and maintaining a pond. And so many opinions on 'what is best'

I have been building one in my garden for a while, and although still not quite finished, it is now full of water and is on it's way.

A couple of lessons I've learnt along the way...

Pond filled up prematurely due to rain...leaves and debris collected in pond...warm/hot weather combined to turn the water into a dark algae riddled swamp!

A friend gave me some plants for the pond..the type that just float on the surface and need no soil. These have cleared up the water fantastically!

The other tips I have been given are to have a small pump feeding a fountain or waterfall to aerate the water.

Also have some small fish that feed on algae and pond litter. These will help keep it clean.

You can also use a bio-filter in conjunction with your pump/waterfall setup.

Float a block of barley hay in the pond which will stop algae formation.

For plants like water lillies or allocasias keep them in pots. That way if you ever need to drain and clean your pond, there is no drama with digging up plants etc.

re: depth of pond...I don't know how strict the rules are in Fiji, but in our local area ponds have a certain maximum depth or else they are classified as pools, and then need to be fenced to prevent child drownings etc.

Select the type of plants you want for your pond, then figure out how far below the surface the root ball will live. This will give you your depth. Alternatively you can place pots on small pedestals under the water if the water is too deep for them.

Hope this helps

Daryl

[fiji jim]

Thanks Daryl,

That helps. We are in a rural area and there are no regulations for pools etc. However our property is fully fenced.

I was thinking that the lilies would multiply better if not restricted to baskets. We were planing a large pond with surface area of about 1500 sq ft. We are a nursery and hope to expand these for sale. Already we have 7 var of Nymphae and three var Nelumbo growing in buckets from seed. So perhaps we would do best with some input from a comercial grower.

All advice is most welcome.

[John Case]

(fiji jim @ Feb. 24 2007,16:28)

QUOTE

Thanks Daryl,

That helps. We are in a rural area and there are no regulations for pools etc. However our property is fully fenced.

I was thinking that the lilies would multiply better if not restricted to baskets. We were planing a large pond with surface area of about 1500 sq ft. We are a nursery and hope to expand these for sale. Already we have 7 var of Nymphae and three var Nelumbo growing in buckets from seed. So perhaps we would do best with some input from a comercial grower.

All advice is most welcome.

Have you considered lotus rather than or in addition to lilies?

Hesr, at least, they command a premium and grow OK. In your environment, they should be special!

[fiji jim]

Yes John

The three types of Nelumbo are lotus flowers.

We understand that they grow in deeper water than the Nymphaea. They also stand up above the water.

We want to do a large pond and also get that giant Victoria Amazon lily. Fish and other water plants are on the list also.

[aussiearoids]

Victoria amazonica does best in shallow water , 1m ?

Don posted some pics and they seemed to be growing in puddles on the side of the road . If you have to many other floating plants this will stop the seeds germinating on this sp. It is an annual !! Amazing for such an enormous plant . Clayton has a large dam , he mentioned bringing in loads of clay to seal it up , this might be cheaper than a liner . large cement water tanks are another option , if available .

[fiji jim]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for that info. I,ll contact Clayton for some advice. The clay is a good idea and would save heaps on a liner. We would prefer to keep it natural  but must be right for the plants, fish etc. The main thing is no leaks. Cheers

[aussiearoids]

On Fraser Island there are many perched lakes on the sand , these are formed when lots of vegetation will stop most of the water leaking out . It is a very popular tourist destination in SE.Qld and is covered in trees , timber was harvested for a very long time , maybe 100years . The timber was a very special rot resistant species and used to line parts of the Panama canal .

I was advised by an old Vietnamese man to  put in  few trailer loads of horse and cow manure in a pond my mother had built . The Vietnamese have some interesting intensive farming systems getting multiple products from a very simple small farm . Fish , 3 different species that fed at different levels ie. bottom feeders , mid level and surface feeders . Pig manure was hosed into the pond as they only use a very small part of all food eaten , grass clippings from around the edge fed surface feeders etc .

This info was gleaned froma 'permaculture' magazine .

Best growing method would be to try and duplicate natural system , but this would maybe make it difficult to harvest plant material for sale .

[fiji jim]

Hi Michael,

Very interesting info. I have been on Frazer Is. many years back for some fishing but was unaware of that history. Great place but I wasn't looking at palms at the time.

We are aware of the permaculture ideas and will study that some more.

Did some more investigating around our island and found a guy who was pond fish farming tilapia.

He was  always having to add water to ponds due to natural evaporation and leaks (no liner).

He abandoned the idea and obtained some water lily root systems and planted them. Now a few years later the whole pond (3000sq ft) is covered in green leaf and flower and it never looses water and the fish are thriving.

So we will try it without a liner and get the vegetation happening as fast as we can. We can get some mature plants from him so will be about 12 months ahead of our young ones in buckets.

I have one large mango tree to cut down and remove from adjacent area and then we will start when a machine is available.

Will take some pics and tell the story as it may help others later.

Thanks for your ideas. One cannot know too much.

[Really full garden]

I have a pond on my property that is fed by an irregation canal.I find that in this climate the water needs to be atleast 1m deep or it gets too hot.Most tropical waterlilies do not like moving water.Be careful with the lotus .They will take over your pond if they are not contained .If you have about two thirds of the water surface covered with plants this will shade the water enough to prevent algae from growing and keep the water clear.Water lilies need a lot of fertiliser,especially the Victorias.I put about a half pound  of 15-15-15 per plant monthly. I divide this amount in three or four portions and place in pieces of old nylon stockings.Hope this helps.

                                                                              Scott

[fiji jim]

Thanks Scott

That's a good tip on the fertilizer.

Do you know what is the maximium depth for the various types?

We are planing to have different levels available for different plant types.

If we get to about 6 or 7 ft (2 meters) deep we should be close to the water level of a creek that is about 20 meters from the pond. Also by having a deep area this should help to keep more water during dry seasons.

Do you have fish in yours?

[Really full garden]

Jim ,I think water depth depends on how much sun your pond gets and water temperature.I think in full sun with warm water 70°+ five feet would be perfect.My pond is full of wildlife - too much.I live in the middle of nowhere. I have otters,fish and green iguanas that love nothing more than to eat my waterlily flowers.Two years ago a spectacled caiman ate my one eyed,one eared cat!

                                                                                 Scott

[fiji jim]

Wow, that sounds wild there Scott.

It  will be  interesting to see what our pond will attract.

I guess more toads. Not much in the way of nasty critters around Fiji. Not like aussie where you have to be looking out for snakes and spiders and more.  The biggest pests here have two legs.

We are removing a few coconut trees today and next a mango tree so the pond will have nearly all day sun.

[Bilbo]

Wish I had your temps guys!

I can grow various red, white, yellow etc w.lillies but in theory we are too cold for blue.

Anyone know the hardiest blue form - is it S.African perhaps?

Thanks

Regardez

Juan