What fertilizer is best for water lilies?

The bowl lotus is delicate and exquisite, and many friends like to grow it at home. The bowl lotus likes plenty of sunlight and should not be placed in a dark environment for a long time. The suitable temperature range for its growth is 20~30℃. Let’s take a look at what fertilizer is best for water lilies?

What fertilizer is best for water lilies?

When the leaves of the water lily emerge from the water and turn yellow, you can apply an appropriate amount of soaked plant cake fertilizer liquid or phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer, preferably imported diammonium phosphate, 5-10 grams per pot. If the leaves appear yellow, it means that there is insufficient fertilizer. You can apply organic fertilizers such as decomposed bean cake, oil residue, horseshoe, etc. When the leaves are erect, apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote the formation of flower buds. It is recommended to apply it once every 10-15 days, with a dilution ratio of 1:500.

To extend the flowering period in summer, you can use cake crumbs the size of plum pits as topdressing and stuff them into the soil in the center of the bowl, avoiding contact with the walls of the bowl to prevent root damage. When using liquid fertilizer, avoid contaminating leaves and flower buds to prevent leaf and flower rot. Although bowl lotus likes fertilizer, excessive fertilization will cause it to grow too tall, especially when the container and plant are small, the amount of fertilizer required is limited. Too much basal fertilizer may result in lush leaves and few flowers, or even death of the lotus roots due to fertilizer damage. Excessive fertilization may also cause water quality to deteriorate, lotus leaves to shrink and not expand, and in severe cases the plant to wither and die. Once signs of fertilizer damage appear, the fertilizer water in the bowl should be poured out immediately and rinsed with continuous clean water to dilute and remove some of the fertilizer liquid. Avoid using urea and adhere to the principle of "less is better than more" in fertilization.

Tips for caring for lotus

Light: Bowl lotus needs plenty of sunlight, at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Insufficient light can cause yellowing leaves and slow growth.

Temperature: The suitable growth temperature for bowl lotus is 20-30℃. Too high or too low temperatures will affect its growth, so you need to pay attention to avoiding the heat in summer and keeping warm in winter.

Water quality: Clean water is essential for the growth of water lilies. Change the water regularly to keep it clean and avoid pollution.

Fertilization: Bowl lotus likes fertilizer, but it needs to be applied reasonably. During the growing season, you can apply decomposed organic fertilizer or special aquatic plant fertilizer in a timely manner, but be careful not to overdo it.

Potting soil: Use nutrient-rich pond mud or special lotus soil as potting soil to ensure that the soil has good water retention and aeration properties.

Watering: Bowl lotus has a high demand for water, but it should avoid waterlogging. Keep the water level appropriate, not too deep to avoid affecting root breathing.

Pruning: Prune dead leaves and flowers in time to promote the growth of new leaves and flower buds.

Check the plants regularly and take timely measures to treat any diseases or pests that are found.

Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years to renew the soil and prune the roots. Observe the growth of the plants and adjust maintenance measures according to actual conditions.

To sum up, the fertilization of water lilies needs to be adjusted according to the actual needs and growth stage of the plants. Appropriate amounts of phosphorus, potassium fertilizers and organic fertilizers can help promote the growth of water lilies and extend their flowering period.