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5 Simple Steps To Dividing Your Hardy Water Lilies


If you missed the springtime window of opportunity to divide your hardywater lilies, don't worry, it's not too late. Although springtime isthe best time, you've actually got the entire normal growing season toget it done.

The reason for dividing your water lilies is that they eventually runout of room in their existing pots and need more room for the roots tospread out so the plant can flourish. Not only is this relatively easyto do, but you end up with more plants as a bonus!

Step 1

Remove the plant from the pot and gently rinse the dirt from the rootsystem.

Step 2

Cut the older growth from one end of the tuber, and the newergrowth from the other. If there are new "eyes" along the tuber you cansnip them off and pot them if you wish.

Step 3

Take a sharp knife and cut the tuber back on the 'growing' part. Onsmall plants you can safely cut the tuber down to 2-3 inches. Keep it ataround 5-6 inches for larger plants.

You should also cut off new buds and any older leaves so the plant canstay focused on growing a new root system.

Step 4

Plant the tuber in good quality garden soil that has been poured into apot that is suitable for water gardening. Potting soil is not the bestchoice so make sure that the package says 'garden soil'.

Insert the tuber into the soil placing it next to the wall of the potrather than in the center of the pot.

Insert a couple of aquatic plant food tabs about halfway into the soiland then pack the soil around the tuber so it will stay in place whenthe pot is submerged.

Finally, pour a layer of pea gravel over the soil to keep it fromwashing away. This also discourages your fish from digging in the pot.Make sure that you do not cover the crown of the tuber with gravel.

Step 5

Slowly submerge the pot into your garden pond. Don't be alarmed if somedirt residue mixes in with the water. This is normal and it will soonsettle to the bottom and the water will clear.

Keep your new plants in water that is no deeper that 12" until younotice at least five or six new leaves. Once the plant is establishedyou can place it in deeper water if you wish.

There, you're done. Now your old plants will have more room to grow andyou'll have new plants to keep or share with friends. Wasn't that easy?

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Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several
other pond-related websites includingMacArthurWatergardens.com
and Pond-Filters-Online.com. He also publishes a free monthly
newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over
9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE
'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur Water Gardens today!
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