Messages

151

Pond Chat / Re: Started up the falls, but.....

« on: July 13, 2011, 10:37:50 AM »

I understand that it probaly won't be a popular view, but I still don't think most of what is done for algae control is quite right. I mean, most seem to tackle the problem from the wrong end.

At one time, I had 5 Koi ponds going at the same time. Sometimes, more. What I found was that so long as biofiltration was sufficient, those ponds would go through an initial green water period, followed by a string algae out break, then go clear and stay that way for season after season. Some of those ponds would go through a couple of weeks of green water in the spring, but they seldom did even that after the third year.

Most of the time, the real culprit seems to be fish load vs. biofiltration. I kept rather heavy loads, but also used seriously sized biofilters. A pair of ponds side-by-side, with the same fish load but some differences in the filter systems showed me that I the UV that was placed on one could be, and later was, done without.

Keep in mind that my ponds were in Florida. Plenty of sun and lots of heat. For me, stepping up the filter systems, including the mechanical filter sections, and the old, 10% water changes weekly, along with TIME for the ponds & filter systems to mature, kept both green water and string algae at bay.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

152

Pond Chat / Re: My Asagi's

« on: July 13, 2011, 10:26:20 AM »

I've always loved Asagi!

I was lucky enough to come up with a few when I bred Shusui a long time ago. Those sold out at a local Koi show, right way. The last of them were scooped up by another breeder who took them to another show that same weekend because he'd run out of his own. I took it as a compliment, but also knew that it had a lot to do with the ever-changing fads for the different varieties.

In any event, when I do finally get another Koi pond going, Asagi/Shusui will definatley be part of the population!

Enjoyed the pic! (And the memories it brought back.)

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

153

Pond Chat / Re: some of my lilies

« on: July 13, 2011, 10:19:10 AM »

I agree that those pics are very nice!

I'm still trying to figure out why my current phone (DroidX) takes a picture that is soooo much better than any digital camera I've owned! Well, I do have one now that probably will out shine the Droid, but since I most always have the Droid with me, I'll probably use it most of the time.

Most of us complain about the price of electronics, but the price on just about all of them has indeed come down over the years, while the quality has gone way up!

Come to think of it, I can just about say the same thing about waterlilies. . .

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

154

Pond Chat / Re: Jongkolnee growing.

« on: July 13, 2011, 10:12:41 AM »

Progress report, so far.

Both Jongkolnee are growing well, but I thought I'd have something more exciting to report. The plant that was started first, the one in the small pot, put up it's first bud!

Unfortunately, it was about 4 inches from the surface when the "monsoon" hit. Day after day of heavy cloud cover, lots of rain, and very little sun, if any. I stepped into the little pool it's growing in during that time and was very surprised at how cold the water was in the morning.

I think, that due to the lower water temp whiched really dropped at night, and the lack of sun, is probably responsible for the failure of that bud to open. It is just above the surface of the water and has been so for several days now. It has now begun to fall to the side, just as flower does after it has been open for a while and is spent. So, no joy on that front.

But, it did produce a bud, so it should do it again, now that we are starting to get at least some sun daily. Once this weather system has passed by, I'm betting that I will be able to post a picture of Jongkolnee blooming.

The other plant, in a larger pot, got it's start several weeks behind the first one. No bud showing yet, but provided the weather improves, it shouldn't be much longer before it does.

I didn't want anyone to think I only post success stories. That's not my way. When I get a topic running, I'll post the good, bad, and the indifferent. It's a simple fact, I learn much more from my failures than from my sucesses.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

155

Pond Chat / Re: pond, lotus and yard... VERY photo intense.

« on: July 07, 2011, 02:25:11 PM »

"Intense" doesn't begin to cover it!   

And I did see one pic that should have been labeled, "Here there be Dragons."
(Wish I could have put that in Old English Script.)

Mike S. <- who is very impressed!
Spring Hill, FL

156

Pond Chat / Re: Victoria Longwood hybrid

« on: July 07, 2011, 02:19:32 PM »

Very good!

3ft pad, baby. . . Think "Plastic." (After thinking, "Lawsuit!")

Really want to grow a Vic one of these days. And thanks to Kit Knotts & friends (victoria-adventure.org,) there really are no "secrets" to growing them, even from seed.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

157

Pond Chat / Two new blooms. One should look familiar to Kat!

« on: July 07, 2011, 02:10:59 PM »

Recently received from Kat, Pink Flamingo. One bloom open and one about to be.



I like it!


The other is "interesting," in that I bought it as "Red Ubol." Turns out that is the local name in Thailand for one that they've had over there for many year. Where did it come from? The good old USA. (I think.)



Like this one too, but I could have found it a little closer to home! I'l file this under "Live and Learn."

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

158

Photo Album / Re: Billy on the waterfalls

« on: July 05, 2011, 06:25:36 AM »

Absolutely amazing!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

159

Pond Construction & Filtration / Re: Building new pond, would like some help.

« on: July 05, 2011, 06:15:46 AM »

I see what you mean about how happy you 'll be when you finally get to building the pond itself! Wow! That's a whole LOT of work going on there!

You know how to work a theme, too. Very imaginative. Su casa looking muey bueno! (Pardon my atrocious spelling.)

What I'm trying to say is what you are doing is major undertaking and you are doing a great job of it. Nice!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

160

Pond Chat / Re: Anyone know who pondmegastore.com is?

« on: July 05, 2011, 06:07:08 AM »

Well, now we know who you is!

Looks like a pretty nice selection there, quite a variety.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

161

Pond Chat / Re: Jongkolnee growing.

« on: July 05, 2011, 06:02:21 AM »

So far. . .   Yes, hmmmmmm.

The beginning of this particular adventure didn't start out very well. I got them out of the package and as is my practice, put them in a gallon pot of water. Since they didn't float, I put a rock in the pot with them, and place the pot on a milk crate in the pond for a few days. Not much happened, the water was sort of cool, so I put the pot down on the patio so the water would heat up more and hopefully, they would sprout and I would plant them.

But, a raccoon ate them. At least, I think that's what got them. Pretty sure it wasn't the cats, as they tend to leave whatever sits in the bottom of a pot of water right where it is.

The two plants I have growing now are from the second pair of tubers I bought.

Since that happened, I've made a corral of sorts, just a spot in the yard with a wire fence around it where I now put anything I think the raccoons might have an interest in.

So far, so good!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

162

Pond Chat / Re: Bug question on lilies

« on: July 03, 2011, 01:47:08 PM »

One thing leads to another. With the unusual weather, the plants are stressed and pest of all sorts will move in and take advantage. Might even have some at work that don’t usually attack aquatic plants.

I would start by removing all affected pads & leaves.  Then use the BT. The liquid form should be mixed at least 4 times the label dose. The label doesn't take into account it is being used in a pond. Spray it on all the plants just before sundown, as UV in sunlight can kill it. 

BT dust doesn't work nearly as well for me, but it does work. The mosquito dunks can keep enough of the same active ingredient in the water to prevent a reinfestation, but probably not be able to fix an ongoing one.

Done every evening, 3 days in a row has stoped even the worst pest problem for me.

If you also have a mold or fungus problem as well & removal of the affected parts doesn't work, maybe someone else can help, as I have no experience with that problem.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

163

Pond Chat / Re: Helvola --a dainty yellow

« on: July 03, 2011, 05:42:29 AM »

Oh good! Nobody has said it yet! I want to be the first this time. 

That's a "Helvola" nice waterlily, Kat! 

Promise I won't do that again for a while. But I will put that variety on my "wish list."

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

164

Pond Chat / Re: Bug question on lilies

« on: July 03, 2011, 05:38:01 AM »

There are a number of little pest that fit the description. Several do look like, and more-or-less are flys. Midges, blood-worm flies, most do the real damage in their larval form and can be treated with the same products that works on China Mark Moth larvae.

These products are completely fish safe, not actual toxins or insecticides, but biologic controls. Thuricide and Dipel are both forms of BT. Thuricide is a liquid that is sprayed on the surface of the plants, while Dipel is a powder that is dusted on. Keeping a mosquito dunk near the those plants can also help, as it is yet another form of BT.

If the pest actaully are aphids, however, the BT products won't help.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

165

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Re: Red, White and Purple tropical lilies $20

« on: July 02, 2011, 09:04:00 PM »

Done deal!
Thank you very much. I'll rember to take care of the feedback thing when the package gets here.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

166

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Re: Red, White and Purple tropical lilies $20

« on: July 02, 2011, 03:17:16 PM »

Didn't get a reply to the PM with my "wish list," so I'll send it again.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

167

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Re: Red, White and Purple tropical lilies $20

« on: July 02, 2011, 12:49:50 PM »

Sent PM about an order, hope you got it!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

168

Pond Chat / Re: 8 straight days of rain....I'm over it.....

« on: July 02, 2011, 06:39:19 AM »

"Anyone else had this much rain and no sun lately?"

Uh, that would be me.

My concern has been getting waterlilies potted and into ponds. But even with the rain, the 5 small Munkala Ubol that had small pads 6 inches below the surface when I put them in, all had pads floating 2 days later. So, at least for mine, there has been just enough sun getting through, and the water temps staying high enough for the plants to grow.

Those that were blooming, still are. Both tropical and hardies. Don't know how much longer that will be true if this keeps up, though.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

169

Pond Chat / Re: Jongkolnee growing.

« on: July 01, 2011, 07:02:37 PM »

Don’t mind saying that's where I got mine.  Kind of scary, just a pair of tubers about the size of a Lotus seed.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

170

Pond Chat / Re: Jongkolnee growing.

« on: July 01, 2011, 12:29:09 PM »

Just noticed I said I'd be trying out Nutricote 270 prills, sold as Red Diamond. WRONG!

My bad! It is sold as "Red Dynamite Plant Food” (For Flowers & Vegetables). This is actually Nutricote Type 270, 13x13x13 with Micronutrients.

Might explain why I had a hard time finding it, myself!   

My use is based on an article in the WGI Journal, by Steve Stroupe. That one was in Vol. 4, number 3, Aug. 2009. Like I said above, I do think the "dose" is a little mild and probably should be increased.
 
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

171

Pond Chat / Re: I have a couple 6 pks Buds (and willing to share)

« on: July 01, 2011, 07:12:43 AM »

I really like your use of the old-fashioned stock tank! Very nicely done.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

172

Pond Chat / Re: Magic fish

« on: July 01, 2011, 07:10:02 AM »

The farm swamp ponds offer sounds like a good place for you excess fish.

There are numerous post on many forums about humanely culling fish. Some of the methods I've used include higher than norm exposure to MS-222 (buffered with baking soda,) and oil of clove. Very small fry can be culled very quickly in a bucket of heavily iced water.

What I haven't done with larger fish is to bag them (sedated,) and put in a freezer. That, or even rapid decapitation is far kinder than "flushing." The later is a slow, horrible death. What it actually does is get the poor fish out of the owner's sight quickly.

Under no circumstances should any of our pond fish EVER be released into anything but another hobbyist pond. NOT into any other pond, lake, river or stream. For one thing, I don't think you'll find a single state without laws against this practice. Most of the time, ornamental fish that do get into the wild die quickly due to predators. But those that live to reproduce can, under some circumstances, displace the native fish population.

This can and will lead to banning of the offending species for any purposes. Don't do it, it is just plain irresponsible.

The same is also true of watergarden plants. Most seem to be more aware of that, than with the fish.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

 

173

Pond Chat / Re: Herons at night?

« on: June 30, 2011, 03:17:51 PM »

Ouch!   

Well, at least you know it's working!   

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

174

Pond Chat / Re: Herons at night?

« on: June 30, 2011, 11:19:49 AM »

Actually, I never had to worry about the neighborhood cats. Around here, most of them are MINE! I've heard people say their cat never goes fishing. From what I've seen, that means they haven't been under a 24hr watch when they had the opportunity to do so. What I can say is that I never lost a Koi to a cat, and only a few goldfish. Partly because of pond design, partly due to fish learning to recognize the threat, and probably mostly to plain, dumb luck.

The way I see it, I put fish into an environment where they were not there before. All the critters that hang out or pass through my yard, were there first. So I must protect the fish as much as I reasonably can, but I will not do anything that will physically harm the original residents. Just my personal standard.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

175

Pond Chat / Re: Jongkolnee growing.

« on: June 30, 2011, 08:13:52 AM »

Marie,

Yes, we both are getting the same info from Primlarp. And she is probably the best source for this particular subject, too. Did you know that Richard Sacher wrote an article on Jongkolnee that was in the May/June 1998 Pond & Garden Magazine? (Vol 1, Number 1, page 92.) It is pretty informative. I got it in a pdf, I think from an archive on the Water Gardeners International web site. If you don't have it and can't find it, let me know, I can email you the file.

I kept both tubers in a pot sitting on a plastic milk crate, in one of my patio ponds. This put it about half-way to the surface. They sat there for several weeks before showing signs of growth. One tuber started sprouting fairly well, the other just a single little pad. I abandon my idea of chain propagation on instinct. (Later, I learned that would likely have been a mistake.)

The onevigorousigorus tuber developed a number of  small pads and sent out quite a few little roots. This one was planted in a small, 4 inch Lerio pot. In the bottom of that pot went about 1/3 cap full of Red Diamond prills. (Nutricote, the 270? day formula.) The pot was filled with a mix of bagged topsoil and my own sandy Florida soil. The tuber was pushed down in the soil mix so only the very tip with the pads was still exposed, the roots just under the soil. A thin layer of pure sand topped it off. No other fertilizer was added at that time.

The second tuber only developed a second pad after another week. I lost my nerve and potted it the same way, but in a one gallon squat pot. Both of these were set on a milk crate, so the top of the pots were probably 4 to 6 inches below the surface.

I am now convinced that if I'd kept the tubers much higher in the water when they were sitting in the empty pot, they would have started growing quite a bit sooner.

The first plant (4in pot,) started sending pads up to the surface fairly quickly. Once they were there and had spread a bit, I lowered that pot to the bottom and gave it part of the pond tab. The other one, (1gal pot,) just sat there, it even lost one of the pads. I kept watching it, even having to fan a growth ofalgae green algea from it that had begun covering what little growth there was.

A few days later, that one began to grow. When it's pads had spread about a foot, I lowered it to the bottom, giving it a full pond tab.

This was when Primlarp posted her comments about the need for full sun and plenty of room to spread. Rather than wait a couple of weeks to put in my 1st pair of "production ponds," I decided to throw up a kiddie pool and get that small pot with the Jongkolnee into it. When I did, I added a pair of pond tabs to the pot.

This brings us to the present. The "kiddie pool plant" is doing fine, the other is too, but will probably get it's own kiddie pool very soon. I think the 8ft diameter will be sufficient and the rather shallow depth, avg. about 15 inches, will help provide the warmth it needs.

So, what I think I've learned is that the very small tubers can as Richard says, be treated like seeds and planted with just the very tip at the surface of the soil. I will continue sprouting them first, in small tubs just under the surface in full sun.

Early growth like all tropicals can be helped by keeping the plant very shallow until 4 or more pads have reached the surface and have spread.

The Red Diamond (or Nutricote) can be put in early on, because it won't start releasing fertilizer for at least a month, and then only if the temp in the pot has reached about 70* or so.

When the pads do start their spread, a pond tab can be safely added. By the time it's gone, the prills should take over. Additional pond tabs can be added if/when needed. I'm still experimenting on using the Nutricote, by the way. So far, I've decided that the label amount of 3/4 cap full per gallon is too low for the plants I've used it on, so far.

As the Jongkolnee grows, I'll be posting more pictures.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

176

Pond Chat / Re: Magic fish

« on: June 30, 2011, 07:16:14 AM »

Just so I don't get the rep of being a "softie," my comments were for those of us keeping and enjoying fish in our ponds. They are decorations, pets, and quite often, friends of some sort. And that is as it should be.

But when it comes to breeding fish, I have a whole different approach. Breeding fish, and I do mean when the breeding is intentional, comes with a responsiblilty to the breed itself. And to live up to that responsiblilty, culling is absolutely required. Anyone who calls themselves a "breeder" must have and understand the ethics of breeding and be able to cull the fish in order to improve the breed. That culling most certainly can be done humanely.

This is why I usually advise people to stay out of breeding unless they understand what it entails.

Not talking about the chance spawing that will often take place in the backyard ponds. The only warning I give when that happens is to be aware of the danger of trying to "save them all." If your pond cannot support an exponentially growing population, you could easily loose all the fish in the pond.

Most ponds will take care of a chance spawn. Fish in the pond will eat a majority of the eggs, the filter system will "eat" some too. Fry will be eaten by dragonfly larvae and other aquatic insects. Very few will likely survive to grow and become a problem. The numbers that do can often just fit in with the population. If there's more than you can deal with, find them new homes.

Mostly, you can sit back and enjoy watching the process. Just be aware of what an increase in the pond's population can do to the balance. Maintaining that balance is a large part of pondkeeping in the first place.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

177

Pond Chat / Re: Herons at night?

« on: June 30, 2011, 06:59:10 AM »

Simple sad truth, the quickest way to kill a Koi is to name it.

Predator, disease, equipment failure, freak lightning strike, or some combination of those will target that most favored fish. To this day, I'm still half-convinced that it is some sort of conspiracy against those who would keep fish.

My first encounter with Birdzilla was when one systematically killed about 30 young Ogons, about 10 to 12 inches in lenght. In-ground pond with a nice stream between the filter section and the main pond. I added marginals along the edges and a mulit-strand fishing wire fence. The provided only marginal protection. Big Bird doesn't like landing in water, they prefer to wade in. If that isn't do-able, they are perfectly happy fishing from pondside. And to make things worse, they will spear and kill fish that they cannot possibly eat.

One Heron managed to tangle a wing in the fishing line. It was a bit tricky, but I managed to clip him free so that he was able to fly off, uninjured, without any of the line still on him. (I've seen what fishing line can do the Pelicans in the wild.) Happy to say that this bird never did return.

This encounter set me off on my path to building landscape timber and plywood ponds, half in-ground, half above ground. They were small, averaging about 1,200 gallons including the filter system, but at one time, I had 4 of them, and some large stock tank ponds, as well. The above ground ponds had about a foot between the water level and the top of the pond. A raised netting frame kept the net about a foot, to 18 inches about that. This was high enough to prevent spearing attacks.

With larger raised ponds, those with edges well above the water level, I'd planned on a short fence on top of the edge that leans out at a 45* angle over the water to keep be buggers at bay. This type of netting would do the job, without being much in the way of an eye sore.

But, Life is simpler for me these days, as I'm not keeping Koi. Just a couple of goldfish in each waterlily pond, bought as a bag of feeders. Later on, I'll be building a Koi pond and probably find myself doing battle with the feathered adivisary once again. I do love seeing those  winged beasties, just not feeding on my fish. I still laugh at myself when I glance around the back yard and my heart nearly stops because I think I've spotten one on the ground.

It's only the plastic Heron "decoy" I put out there after someone said they were supposed to keep the real ones away. Didn't work, of course. I've actually seen larger numbers of the Great Blue standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the bank when baitfish were running. Just like fishermen will do at a favorite location under the same circumstances.

Not sure why that decoy is still out there after all these years, but it is. And I will probably leave it there.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

178

Pond Chat / Re: Herons at night?

« on: June 29, 2011, 04:59:42 PM »

The Heron, aka, Birdzilla!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

179

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Sea Oat Grass

« on: June 29, 2011, 04:54:27 PM »

Thanks! Zone info is always helpful.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

180

Pond Chat / Re: Repotting lilies in the summer?

« on: June 29, 2011, 02:05:46 PM »

If it really is difficult to get a fertilizer tab in the pot, then it is problably root bound or very close to it. You can re-pot that one in a larger pot, adding fertilizer at the same time, and likely not see much of a set-back due to what's called "shock" from the re-potting. Just keep the root mass intact and add the extra soil under and around the mass, keeping the crown at the same level (not covered with new soil.)

You could also divide the waterlily if there is more than one crown growing, which what I'd probably do. But that usually does take a little time for the plant (now, plants) to get back to growing and blooming. If you still have a couple of months left in your growing season, this is the way I'd go.

What I read, but have yet to do, is when using the Nutricote prills, sold as Red Diamond in the garden shops, is to pull the plant, root mass intact, from the pot, add the prills, and put it back in. Then you can keep it going until early spring and do the usual re-pot and/or division.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL