Nymphaea

The Water Lily genus, or Nymphaea, is made up of fifty perennial aquatic plants - both unpretentious and very gentle. Large, catchy flowers, often fragrant, usually form a bowl of rows of petals (the outer ones are arranged horizontally). There are many hybrids and varieties with different flower shapes. Golden-yellow or orange stamens look very impressive. The flowers are colored in shades and tones from pure white to red, from pink to yellow. Glossy leathery, usually heart-shaped, floating leaves-dark or light green in color. Both leaves and flowers develop from rhizomes or tubers. Resistant species are divided, depending on the size, into large, medium, small and miniature. The miniature leaves are 5-8 cm wide the small ones are 10-20 cm wide the medium ones are 20-22 cm wide, and the large ones are 24-25 cm wide. Flowering begins in May and lasts until July, with small water lilies beginning to bloom. - even earlier, and flowering continues until the end of September. Each flower lasts only 3-5 days. It opens at about 10 am and closes at about 4 pm. If the weather is bad, they don't open at all. The size of the rhizome also varies depending on the species. The tuberous water lily (Nymphaea tuberosa) and the fragrant water lily (N. odorata) have long rhizomes with tubers. From the rhizome, leaves and flowers move up on long flexible petioles at an uneven distance from each other. In other species, rhizomes have horizontal branching, and leaves and flowers develop from one point of it. The only species found in nature on the territory of modern Europe is the white -water lily (N. alba); it has white flowers with yellow stamens and grows well in deep water bodies.

The Water Lily genus, or Nymphaea, is made up of fifty perennial aquatic plants - both unpretentious and very gentle. Large, catchy flowers, often fragrant, usually form a bowl of rows of petals (the outer ones are arranged horizontally). There are many hybrids and varieties with different flower shapes. Golden-yellow or orange stamens look very impressive. The flowers are colored in shades and tones from pure white to red, from pink to yellow.

Glossy leathery, usually heart-shaped, floating leaves-dark or light green in color. Both leaves and flowers develop from rhizomes or tubers. Resistant species are divided, depending on the size, into large, medium, small and miniature. The miniature leaves are 5-8 cm wide the small ones are 10-20 cm wide the medium ones are 20-22 cm wide, and the large ones are 24-25 cm wide.

Flowering begins in May and lasts until July, with small water lilies beginning to bloom. -

even earlier, and flowering continues until the end of September. Each flower lasts only 3-5 days. It opens at about 10 am and closes at about 4 pm. If the weather is bad, they don't open at all.

The size of the rhizome also varies depending on the species. The tuberous water lily (Nymphaea tuberosa) and the fragrant water lily (N. odorata) have long rhizomes with tubers. From the rhizome, leaves and flowers move up on long flexible petioles at an uneven distance from each other. In other species, rhizomes have horizontal branching, and leaves and flowers develop from one point of it.

The only species found in nature on the territory of modern Europe is the white -water lily (N. alba); it has white flowers with yellow stamens and grows well in deep water bodies.

Cultivation

Water lilies are the most widely used aquatic plants in swimming pools, ponds and lakes. Cultivation is quite simple, and even gentle tropical species, provided that the necessary water temperature is maintained in winter, live for a long time. The depth of the reservoir in which they are cultivated may vary depending on the size of the plants. Small water lilies need about 0.5 m or even less, and large ones need 2-3 m. Water lilies can be planted directly on the bottom of the pool, pond or in perforated containers: baskets made of galvanized iron or willow twigs, plastic containers. The required thickness of the bottom soil layer depends on the size of the plant. The minimum thickness for small specimens is about 10 cm, for medium - sized water lilies-15-20 cm, for large ones-20-30 cm. Most useful for hardy species may be sandy soil with the addition of manure or other organic fertilizer. Tender species are planted in May-June, the pool is filled with water gradually - just a few centimeters, and after a few days the pool is filled with water. days add water. Very lush nymphs grown in small bodies of water should be periodically thinned out. In April-May, if necessary, water from the pool or pond is pumped out, the container is poured out and approximately 20 cm strong pieces of the rhizome are cut with a sharpened blade, the roots are shortened, and then the plants are planted again.

Water lilies are the most widely used aquatic plants in swimming pools, ponds and lakes. Cultivation is quite simple, and even gentle tropical species, provided that the necessary water temperature is maintained in winter, live for a long time. The depth of the reservoir in which they are cultivated may vary depending on the size of the plants. Small water lilies need about 0.5 m or even less, and large ones need 2-3 m.

Water lilies can be planted directly on the bottom of the pool, pond or in perforated containers: baskets made of galvanized iron or willow twigs, plastic containers. The required thickness of the bottom soil layer depends on the size of the plant. The minimum thickness for small specimens is about 10 cm, for medium - sized water lilies-15-20 cm, for large ones-20-30 cm. Most useful for hardy species may be sandy soil with the addition of manure or other organic fertilizer. Tender species are planted in May-June, the pool is filled with water gradually - just a few centimeters, and after a few days the pool is filled with water. days add water.

Very lush nymphs grown in small bodies of water should be periodically thinned out. In April-May, if necessary, water from the pool or pond is pumped out, the container is poured out and approximately 20 cm strong pieces of the rhizome are cut with a sharpened blade, the roots are shortened, and then the plants are planted again.

Location

Water lilies need open sun. They may be suitable for a partially shaded place, but in this case the flowering will be less abundant.

Temperature

Resistant species can withstand a drop in air temperature to -15 °C, as long as the lower part of the stem is protected by about a 20-centimeter layer of water. The minimum winter temperature for gentle tropical species is 10 °C. The optimal water temperature for growing is 20 °C.

Reproduction

Usually use the division of the rhizome. Strong species and hybrids in April-May are removed from the water, separating the shoots from the main rhizome with a sharp knife. After thoroughly washing, the rhizomes can be planted again, and the shoots are placed in humus-filled pots and then in containers filled with water 2 cm above the top of the pot. Seedlings are kept in the sun, and after the roots appear, they are planted in a pond. Tuberous rhizomes of tropical species and hybrids are divided in April and planted singly in sand-filled cups, which are placed in not very deep containers filled with water, at a temperature of 18-20 °C. After the first leaves and roots appear, the shoots are separated from the rhizome and planted in a permanent place. Some water lilies form new shoots in the center of the leaf plate. They are separated and planted in pots, not very deeply immersed in warm water, but planted finally after 3-4 real leaves are formed on them. In addition to dividing rhizomes and tubers, they are also propagated by sowing seeds. Before sowing, the seeds are stored in water.

Usually use the division of the rhizome. Strong species and hybrids in April-May are removed from the water, separating the shoots from the main rhizome with a sharp knife. After thoroughly washing, the rhizomes can be planted again, and the shoots are placed in humus-filled pots and then in containers filled with water 2 cm above the top of the pot. Seedlings are kept in the sun, and after the roots appear, they are planted in a pond. Tuberous rhizomes of tropical species and hybrids are divided in April and planted singly in sand-filled cups, which are placed in not very deep containers filled with water, at a temperature of 18-20 °C. After the first leaves and roots appear, the shoots are separated from the rhizome and planted in a permanent place. Some water lilies form new shoots in the center of the leaf plate. They are separated and planted in pots, not very deeply immersed in warm water, but planted finally after 3-4 real leaves are formed on them.

In addition to dividing rhizomes and tubers, they are also propagated by sowing seeds. Before sowing, the seeds are stored in water.

Diseases

Aphids can infect leaves and buds above water. In this case, the plant should be treated with appropriate preparations. The water lily leaf beetle chews through the leaves, which form elongated holes. Affected leaves are removed.

Acquisition

Water lilies can be found in gardening centers, nurseries, and some shops that sell everything related to the arrangement of aquariums and swimming pools.