Messages

91

Pond Chat / New Waterlily Pest Warning!!!

« on: August 02, 2011, 02:13:43 PM »

This is something I've not come arcross in all the years I've raised waterlilies. A new pest, a threat to waterlilies. Not quite sure how to combat it!




Killer Vine!

It creeps up the side of a Patio Pond, silently stalking it's prey, then POUNCES! This vile plant killer slowly but surely strangels it's prey.

Oh what to do!?!?   

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

92

Pond Chat / Matherfish, the "lost tag bonus."

« on: August 02, 2011, 02:07:28 PM »

This one came to me from matherfish as a "lost tag" plant. Now it has bloomed. A nice, white hardy. Can you identify it against your inventory? I like it!



I know it looks almost yellow in this pic, but I think that's just the glow from the center being picked up by the camera.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

93

Pond Chat / Couple more "First Blooms."

« on: August 02, 2011, 02:02:49 PM »

Somehow I missed posting a picture of Ostara when it first bloomed, I'll catch the next bloom and post it. But I did get these.


Alice Tricker. And just for the record, I did remove that  yellow pad you see in the picture!

Also:


This is Blue Star. I think the color in the picture is a bit more intense that in real life. The actual color, to my eye, is a little softer, and rather pale. Sort of a "subtle blue."

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

94

Pond Chat / Re: Jongkolnee Update

« on: July 31, 2011, 06:27:59 AM »

I got it!

Again it is spent far too much time closed, and sometimes partially submerged. It simply doesn't look it's best.

The day after the last picture was taken:



It was still in the notch of the Trudy Slocum pad, if it hadn't been it would have been underwater.This AM, the bud felt quite soft, so I went ahead and pinched it off.

But there is another on it's way to the surface. So far, it looks good.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

95

Pond Chat / Re: Jongkolnee Update

« on: July 30, 2011, 10:29:49 PM »

Mine started off very slowly. I think it was because at that time, the days were warm enough, but the overnight temps went way down. Enough that the pond water temps dropped far enough to impede growth. I suspect this is one reason many cannot seem to get the plant to grow. It does seem to require warm water and when the temps drop at night, they can get low enough for the plant stop growing.

But when the overnight temps got higher, the water stayed warmer overall. Mine planted in the 4 inch pot put up about a dozen pads. They were quite small, about 5 or 6 inches, but they spread a full six feet in diameter. I wonder if this plant is one that just won't tollerate being "bonsai'ed." Many tropicals will put up with being planted in a very small container, but will still grow well and bloom. Some much better than others.

I think the small pot will still produce tubers, at least that is the theory I was working with. But for blooms? The 4 inch pot and 15 inch deep water probably was just too far outside the plants "comfort zone."

It is in a much larger pot and in deeper water. The next bud is about 10 inches below the surface. So, I'll know soon if it's really going to make the difference.

I could have put a stake to hold up that bloom, but I accepted the help Trudy Slocum offered. After it got caught in that pad notch, the thing stood up a full in higher the next day.

Good luck with both of your Jongkolnee's! Sometimes, I think that might be the real key to getting this one to survive and thrive.

You know I did start a second one in a one gallon pot. That has become an odd story on it's own. When I'm back off work on Monday, I should have time to fill you in on that one. (No, I haven't killed it.)   

Before I go, I did post another pic on Facebook of the flower, the next day. I thought it would sink overnight, under the circumstances. But it didn't. In fact, it fully opened, instead. I'm not sure when I can do it, so if anyone can download that pic from Facebook and post it, that would be OK with me.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

96

Pond Chat / Re: You can bonsai Euryale Ferox

« on: July 30, 2011, 10:14:01 PM »

OK, now I'm liking this!   

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

97

Pond Chat / Jongkolnee Update

« on: July 29, 2011, 09:05:20 PM »

Well, I've been wondering if I'd made too many mistakes with it, but my Jongkolnee is getting there. Several buds have come up, only to fall back below the surface before blooming. This is one planted in a 4 inch pot, the idea being to "force" it to produce tubers.

But I thought perhaps it needed more depth, since it did put up 3 buds, one at a time and they seemed as if they were simply too heavy for the slender stalk. So, I moved it out of the kiddie pool where I'd put it for maximum heat and sun, and 8 feet to spread, into one of my more crowded, but deeper Patio Ponds. This move was done when the 4th bud started falling over like the rest.

Looked like this made a difference when the stem grew another couple of inches and once again broke the surface. But two days above the surface and still no opening of the bud. OK, I know what to do in situations like this:

PANIC!

Looking at the pot, I saw roots running around the top of the pot, just above the soil line. The sides of the pot felt tight, like it might be becoming rootbound. So, I moved it from the 4 inch pot into a 2 1/2 gallon pot. Turns out, it wasn't quite rootbound just yet, at least the lower quater of the pot was just soil, no roots made it down that far. But the upper 3/4's of the pot was pretty tight with root structure.

This tight root mass let me re-pot it without it going into "re-potting shock." I've found that rootbound plants seldom goes through and shock period when re-potted into a larger container, but other plants that aren't rootbound really seem to resent the move.

The bud survived the move and re-potting, but it had been above the surface long enough that I'd started thinking about removing it , as there is another showing up just above the crown.

And then this happened:



The bud did start to fall over, but it was caught by the notch in a Trudy Slocum pad. On it's 3rd day above the surface, it finally started to open. I don't know if it will be able to finish the job, but I'm going to leave it where it is for a while.

So, deeper water, much larger pot, maybe the next bloom will be the "good one" I've been waiting for.   

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

98

Pond Chat / Re: Deck pond Construction

« on: July 28, 2011, 03:14:32 PM »

The chemistry used to pressure treat wood has changed over the past few years. It doesn't seem to be quite the threat it once was, nor does it seem to work as well as far as I can tell.

I' still do what I could to avoid any run-off over PT wood into the pond, myself.

Anyone who has had a real problem using PT wood lately should start a thread on the subject. It would be helpful and hopefully, interesting. I wouldn't want to see this thread hi-jacked, though.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

99

Pond Chat / Re: The Idiot Stick

« on: July 27, 2011, 05:00:51 PM »

Great catch on that blue tank!     
I had one of those during my Koi years. Sure came in handy.
Of course I'll post pics when I start building again.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

100

Koi Corner / Re: choosing koi

« on: July 27, 2011, 05:40:45 AM »

Seeing into a Koi's future is an art, possibly a black art, at that. There are some forums with sections that deal with this subject where photos track the changes over time and some books do this as well. You can learn some of the trends and tendencies this way, but the best way is to observe your own as they grow.  And yes, this will take a lifetime.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

101

Pond Chat / Re: The Idiot Stick

« on: July 27, 2011, 05:27:26 AM »

They do stock the stores differently in different parts of the country. You might be able to find them on their website and have them sent to your local store for pickup. If they do that, they shouldn't charge you for shipping. But the bottoms of these things are paper thin.

Right now, I have 4 of the heavily constructed 4X8 patio ponds, 3 of those kiddie pools set up and 1 more in the box, and a pair of 3 1/2 X 13 tanks in my old greenhouse.  The greenhouse is currently uncovered and tree growth has shaded it quite a bit over the years.  Might be able to improve that, somewhat.

What I want to do is to put in a series of 4X8, above ground grow-out ponds. simply  was headed this way when my project funding dried up. I was simply getting too far ahead of myself. I have a plan, but it really isn't tied  isn't tied to a time line.

Besides, I need to prove tbe design first. Probably a good idea, since I will eventually be building a dozen or more.

Mike S.  (Posting this on my Droid X is a PITA! )
Spring Hill, FL

102

Pond Chat / Re: The Idiot Stick

« on: July 26, 2011, 04:45:29 PM »

Most of the "fill" sand came from a berm, right next to the pool site. So in that, it wasn't so bad. But I guess working in the heat did get the best of me, so when I checked the level, I didn't check it all the way around. One again, I have a kiddie pool with a "deep end," and a "shallow end." Fortunately, there is a sign on the side that warns against diving.

My real problem with these particular pools is the cartoon characters on the side, and the lack of depth. If they were closer to 24 inches, I'd like them better.

But round pools in general, for me, the are not a good choice. I'll be putting a large number of plants in them, and those plants will be potted in very small containers. I will need to keep the number of pads per plant under control, in order to grow the most I can, while still allowing for healthy growth and bloom production. With a 4 ft wide pond, however long, it's easy to reach every pot in it. With the round, I'll be wading in and trying not to turn everything over in the process.

This is why the kiddie pools are a temporary measure. The will be replaced.

Round tanks used for ponds can work out very well when they are to be used for display of waterlilies,  or as complete water gardens (ponds.)

But for my use, I'd rather forgo them.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

103

Pond Chat / The Idiot Stick

« on: July 26, 2011, 12:06:10 PM »

 The Idiot Stick, for those not familiar with the term, is a stick with a shovel blade on one end, and an idiot on the other. Spend much time with one and you soon understand how it got that name.

One of the reasons I started building above ground ponds in the first place is that I really, really hate using that shovel. I mean, I do NOT like it, not one bit!

So, why I am using one now? Well, I decided I couldn’t afford to put up the little grow out ponds that I like, so I thought that in the mean time, I’d go with a couple of kiddie pools, instead. Now, the kiddie pool would not be a first choice for me, not even a second choice, normally. But when you  want to get something going in a hurry, they’ll do. They are certainly cheap! $10 each at Wal-Mart. That’s good. 8 feet in diameter,  but only 15 inches deep. The lack of depth is not so good, but still usable for most water lilies.

To get that 15 inches of depth,  the darned thing has to be filled to the very top, and it needs to be level. Think the spot you want to put it is really level? Lay a 2X4 on edge and put a spirit level on it. See? The darned yard has a slope to it! In mine, it doesn’t matter which way you orient the 2X4, it just ain’t level!

So, I’m out there with an Idiot Stick, doing what I have to, in order to create a level pad, 8 feet in diameter, so I can set up a $10 kiddie pool. And there isn’t a kid in sight! (Which is good, by the way, otherwise I’d have to stop and run ‘em off.)

The real reason I’m posting this is to give myself a reason to be inside, and not working with that darned shovel. Now that I’ve cooled off a bit, I’m going back outside and see if I can “get ‘er done!”

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

104

Pond Chat / Re: koi thread

« on: July 26, 2011, 11:45:20 AM »

Definately try the library! I was going to suggest Amazon.com, perhaps a nice, used one and then I checked it out myself. I think I'm going to have to buy a safe to keep my copy in! Seems the price has gone up a bit since I bought mine. . .

Don't forget to ask the librarian about an inter-library loan.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

105

Pond Chat / Re: Photos on this cloudy morning

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:50:52 AM »

Thanks for the pics!

Cloudy days are slowing things down for me, but the one good thing about them is that it makes it easier for "simple" cameras like mine to do a better job of showing the actual colors of the blooms. The hue seems closer, but the saturation suffers.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

106

Pond Chat / Re: Fertilizer questions

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:47:16 AM »

Per the people at AgSafe, the fertilizer tends to move up thru the soil in the pot, not so much down and out thru any holes in the pot. Guess that why we get told to put a "top dressing" of sand in the pot. I've always done this, but cannot say for sure that it actually makes a difference.

But I can say that I have a number of small ponds with lots of plants and the water goes green at the pond's start up, clears up in a couple of weeks, and stays that way.

Here, I am talking about water gardens in the strict sense. The only ponds I've ever had to battle with green water was when the pond was being kept primariliy for the fish. Even then, a biofilter that was actually matched to the fish load kept the water clear.

But green water simply from fertilizer in the plant pots? I've not seen it. Usually other factors involved. Just my opinion.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

107

Pond Chat / Re: koi thread

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:38:10 AM »

Just did!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

108

Koi Corner / Re: choosing koi

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:36:12 AM »

TG got it right! No need for me to elaborate on that.

All I can add is that the name means "tea-colored Koi." Perhaps this one's color will lighted as it grows. But being a longfin, it would not actually be considered as a Chagoi, nor is Chagoi by definition, metalic.

If you really want to learn more about "Koi appreciation," do a search using that phrase. There are a lot of good articles on the subject.

But one of the best references on that subject is, in my opinion, Peter Waddington's book, "Koi Kichi." You may be able to find it in the library, possibly thru an inter-library loan. Check with the librarian.

The subject itself is a complicated one. But one worth studying. It is a rather specialized area, but you'll find that just as true when looking at any show oriented animal hobby.

Might try the AKCA web site as well. (Associated Koi Clubs of America.) One web site that I know of right off hand that has a lot of this kind of info is http://www.nishikigoi-info.com/index.html Look under the heading of Koi types for info on specific varieties.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

109

Pond Chat / Re: mutiple blooms

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:19:50 AM »

Loved the pictures!

My best bloomers were always the ones planted in the large pots. I didn't plant more than one per pot, but did fertilize like crazy. What's probably the most common pot size, the one gallon squat pot, is not the best for plant performance. Many waterlilies never show their true potential because most of us don't have the room to grow to that potential. We make a choice between a few plants growing large, or many plants kept smaller.

Either way, the results are worth the effort!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

110

Pond Chat / Re: Fish swim above the surface of the pond

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:13:36 AM »

At the risk of sounding rediculously "retro," Totally Cool !!!   

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

111

Pond Chat / Re: Why do my pads stick up like Dish satellites?

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:11:01 AM »

I've seen my do this too. And from both reasons given, so far. Too many plants crowded and competing for space in the pond, and from too much growth in a single pot. When you have both conditions at the same time, it can make a waterlily pond look more like a lotus pond.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

112

Pond Chat / Re: Plant ID Help Needed

« on: July 26, 2011, 07:05:40 AM »

I'm fairly certain it is Crinum americanum, native to Florida. If this works, you can learn more about it, here. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/113  There is a short but interesting video on this page, as well.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

113

Pond Chat / Re: Deck pond Construction

« on: July 26, 2011, 06:59:01 AM »

First off, sorry about not posting in your thread sooner! I've got some on-going computer problems that will get fixed by the end of this week. Also, I work weekends, 3 twelve hour night shifts, so most of my posting takes place during the week days.

Now then, thank you very much for this thread! The text and photo's did a great job explaining how your ponds were built. You clearly have this stuff down tight!

Although it comes at no small personal risk, I'm going to make sure my wife sees these pictures, as well as the one you posted in the "Getting to Know You" section.

When the time comes, I'll be putting up a section on my own web site about building ponds with pressure treated wood, and I'll be getting with you about using some of your pictures (with full credit, of course,) to demonstrate what can be accomplished with this material. It's my material of choice for many reasons.

Very nicely done, I am impressed!   

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

114

Pond Chat / Re: ***WARNING*** on planting media

« on: July 23, 2011, 01:43:22 PM »

Sue, you have it exactly right!

When you have any doubt, ask a question, listen to the answers, take from them what sounds right to you, then put it to a test and use what you learn to find your own way.

Perfect!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

115

Pond Chat / Re: ***WARNING*** on planting media

« on: July 22, 2011, 10:11:28 PM »

For me, the plants just seemed to grow better. What they grow in "in the wild," can be pretty much a mucky mess, but I dont' think (and this is just an opinion, nothing more,) that the muck in the wild is as anaerobic as what can happen in a relatively small, impermiable container.

I suppose a lot of it is subjective. But when I see the results that those who publish their thoughts on growing waterlilies, I tend think they are on to something.

I don't know if the presence of methane in the pot affects the plant itself. I am under the impression that most of its respiration takes place through the pads. (Could be wrong.) But when roots start rotting in the pot, it cannot be good for the plant.

Since I've seen a definate difference in the roots, and the difference in the "pot oder," I do think the holes DO make a difference, at least, enough of a difference for me to continue using that method.

But when some one does it differently and it works for them, I'll not argue with success.   

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

116

Pond Chat / Re: New blooms, mostly from recent arivals.

« on: July 22, 2011, 07:43:32 PM »

I'm sorry, I forgot to answer that one.

No, the only granular, if you want to call them that, that I personally have tried is the Red Devil for plants and will begin using the AgSafe Pond Pearls on Monday. And I will post whatever I find out from that.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

117

Pond Chat / Re: ***WARNING*** on planting media

« on: July 22, 2011, 07:36:40 PM »

Just because there seems to be a bit of confusion on the matter, let me say again, it isn't so much the media as it is the holes in the pots. They don't have to be large at all. In thin plastics, a knife slit will do.

Some that plant in pure, local clays find that the clay can hold the fertilizer all too well, making it hard for the plant to get it. A mix often works best, with the clay providing some structural integrity to the soil.

But with good fertilizers, even pure "play sand" can grow waterlilies.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

118

Pond Chat / Re: New blooms, mostly from recent arivals.

« on: July 22, 2011, 11:12:14 AM »

Exactly why I say that often, local advise is best. Different climates, water, soil types, all make a difference. Another thing I used to use as a "sig file" for all my post was, "There is No one True way."

Still true today.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

119

Pond Chat / Re: ***WARNING*** on planting media

« on: July 22, 2011, 11:01:17 AM »

For those using kitty litter or thinking about it as a planting soil or additive, the best form is probably  the ablsolute cheapest. I'd avoid any that contains any kind of additive for "oder control," or anything else for that matter.

Most cheap kittly litters are usually a reasonably pure form of either calcium or sodium bentonite. Some do contain zeolites, and that would be a welcome ingredient.

Just try to avoid any of the perfumed varieties. I'd definately pre-wt the clay before potting with it, as some of the bentonite versions can do quite a bit of swelling when it absorbs water.

I have a friend in S. Africa, a Koi breeder, who also sells or once sold a brand of clay as kittly litter under the name of "Katch-It." A little S. African humor, I guess.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

120

Pond Chat / Three more "First Bloom" pics.

« on: July 21, 2011, 01:46:59 PM »

I forgot to post this one, last week. I wanted to confirm it's identity first, and did. Also got a correction of the spelling of it's name.



This is Ploi Dang. It is one of my imports from Thailand. Nice tropical and it is vaviporous, to boot. (I love those!)




Another vaviporous tropical, Key Largo. Did I mention I loved vavips?




Last but not least, Albert Greenburg. I've had this one in the distant past, but I don't think it grew and bloomed as fast as this one did. In fact, it came with a rather large tuber and I thought I might have taken it off too soon, but appearantly not! A second plant will likely be taken from that same tuber sometime next week. I may even "milk it" for a few more, but will probably chicken out and plant it with the waterlily on plant number 4 or so.

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL