Nymphaea/Cyrtosperma growing media suggestions...

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I have had very varied success with Nymphaeas.  The books say large containers with no holes and NO animal manure; only good topsoil.  Then you have to keep giving fertilizer (the Nymphaea fertilizer is EXPENSIVE) or the plants start decreasing in size.

 

But I observed that a yellow nymphaea which had grown over the edge of the pot, had sent roots spreading in all directions in the gunk on the concrete floor of the pond (largely fish excrement).  And the lily went wild!  Huge leaves and flowers.

 

So I started putting nymphaeas in fairly wide, but very shallow plastic containers, reasoning that the roots like the aeration on the surface of the soil medium. I use cat litter trays or shallow “wash pans”  (pre-washing machine).  In the bottom I put 4 inches of well-rotted pig manure, topped by 4 inches of loam.  I plant the nymphaea in the centre and cover the loam with sand.  Then I gently submerge the container in the 18 inch deep pond, but not keeping the crown 6 to 8 inches below the water surface, as the books tell you to do.

 

I consistently get good results that last for many, many months without adding more pig manure.

 

 

I don't recall if anyone has mentioned it yet, but has anyone tried the "mesh" pots for aquatic aroids? I would imagine these would be beneficial to allow for better circulation through the pot and media. I think they are more commonly used for water lilies so would think they would apply perfectly toward aroids. I have a Montrichardia in need of repotting and I am going to give it a try.
 
Adam

-----Original Message-----
From: John Criswick
Sent: Oct 9, 2009 11:48 AM
To: 'Discussion of aroids'
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Cyrtosperma growing media suggestions...

For some years I have had a Cyrtosperma johnstonii growing just outside my concrete pond, which is above ground level by 18 inches (45 cm.)  It used to be grown in another pond, with roots totally submerged in water.  Here it is in permanently damp soil and the soil is a very heavy, intractable clay loam, so it would not seem that it needs to be in moss, although that might provide the ultimate/optimum of conditions.

 

In the attached photo you can see the Cyrtosperma with a Typhonodourum lindleyi behind it, in the same soil, and a Musa ornate to the right of it.

 

 

John.

 

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From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com [mailto:aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of RAYMOMATTLA@cs.com
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 9:50 PM
To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Cyrtosperma growing media suggestions...

 

Jeremy,  I believe the Atlanta Botanical Gardens grew a very large C. johnstonii in what looked like (if I can remember right) a large rock bowl with just moss as the growing medium.  Probably keep very moist but not too wet.  Just another suggestion.  I wouldnt totally submerge the roots though...

Thanks,
Michael Mattlage

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