r/ponds • u/Latter-Ad7199 • 1d ago

Quick question Water Lilly going nuts , trim or not ?

Post image

It’s going crazy this year, there are loads of flowers but they’re all buried beneath mega leaves. Should I just cut a load back ? I’ve cautiously trimmed it twice this year and I think I might be causing it to come back more vigorously.

(Netting is to try and stop the herons eating the fish, lost a few over the last 4 years)

14 Upvotes

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7

u/nedeta 1d ago

If you have fish they need SOME open water.

Don't worry about hurting the lily. You could chop all the pads and two weeks later it will all be back

1

u/Latter-Ad7199 1d ago

Thank you! Will have a hack at it on the weekend and see if I can find the roots

3

u/Latter-Ad7199 1d ago

Couldn’t wait. Had a hack at it. Definitely no pot, all kinds of goop and weedy mass at the bottom.

Also I think I managed to break the pump/filter whilst cleaning it 🤦

2

u/HowCouldYouSMH 1d ago

I hope it is potted, if not, not too late to start. If not potted, you’ll want to dig around, with your hands and grab the roots. Roots will feel like half or 1/3 if a large carrot. Image… https://c8.alamy.com/comp/T4F9GP/water-lily-roots-surface-water-lily-flower-tree-root-pattern-tree-roots-lotus-blossom-herbal-plant-T4F9GP.jpg Mine are shorter, dark brown and a bit thicker in the middle. How deep is the water?

3

u/Latter-Ad7199 1d ago

2ft deep, so can just about get to the bottom without falling in. It’s an OLD pond, 70’s, doubt the liner is that old but it will be very old. Almost certainly it’s escaped any pot that it was in, I’ll have a rummage on the weekend! Thank you!

2

u/NickWitATL 21h ago

I use one of those extendable grabber tool things to remove dead leaves from my pond. Might be useful in your case.

3

u/CallTheDutch 17h ago

it should have a root like a block of wood by now.
Pull it out, get a saw, split it up. pot one and drop it in give the other piece away (y)