Plant Spotlight: Water Poppy

Water Poppy

Water poppy is a floating perennial aquatic plant. Their bright yellow blooms add a burst of color to ponds and other aquatic environments, and they grow easily in warm temperatures. To add water poppies to your pond or aquascape, select a location that receives direct sun, as this is required for the plant to thrive. Bare root water poppy floating plants can be submerged and planted directly into the soil or be placed into pots with soil that can be sunk into the pond. Water poppies can be grown in any pond with a shallow bottom, as they grow best when submerged about six inches below the surface of the water. Though the yellow blooms only last for one day, water poppies produce flowers continually as long as the water temperature stays at 70 degrees or higher.

Growing Tropical Water Lilies

Tropical Water Lily

Day and night blooming, tropical water lilies should be planted in three to five-gallon pots at least 12 inches in diameter. Fill the pot half full with a rich garden soil and add two to four fertilizer tablets, then continue to fill the pot with soil to about two inches from the top. The plant should be set upright with the roots buried gently in the soil. Make sure the growing tip of the plant is not buried. Next, add an inch or two of gravel or sand in order to prevent the soil from escaping from the container. Remember to keep the gravel away from the crown of the plant. Lower the lily into the water to a depth of approximately six inches. As the plant grows, it can be lowered to a depth of 12 inches. Tropical lilies cannot tolerate cold temperatures and should not be planted until the water reaches at least 70 degrees. Planting too early can cause dormancy and restrict the potential growth of the plant. Tropicals bloom from late spring through early fall, depending on the weather. If you have any questions, we would love to hear from you here. Happy Aquascaping!