THE BELIZEAN WATERLILY - Eye Candy Along the River's Edge

BELIZE WATERLILIES
The Belizean waterlily is a hardy, native plant that floats its round foliage and produces a fragrant, multi-petaled, white flower just above the waters surface. 

Each leaf of the waterlily lasts about 6 weeks. Flower showiness is legendary and each flower lasts several days, but flowers close in late afternoon and at night. Fragrant waterlily grows in standing water about 18 inches deep and spreads by means of rhizomes.

It can be prevented from spreading by planting it in a container without drainage holes and submerging the container into the water garden. This helps prevent the plant from invading the entire water garden. Although waterlilies require full sun for best flowering, this one will produce some flowers with only 4 hours of direct sun.

HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN WATERLILIES - For your backyard pond or river/canal edge
1.  Plant waterlilies in a container filled with garden soil or potting mix.
2.  A shallow and wide container is better than a tall, narrow container.
3.  Mix garden soil with one-fifth well-decomposed cow manure.
4.  Incorporate fertilizer - about one-quarter cup 10-10-10 per gallon of soil or media to help stimulate growth.
4.  Place a small plastic bag filled with sand at the bottom to keep it from floating in the pond - before filling the container.
5.  Plant the rhizome at the edge of the container so it can grow horizontally across the top.

PLANTING POINTERS
1.  Put a 1- or 2-inch layer of sand or gravel over the top - after the rhizome is planted in the pot to keep soil in the container.
2.  Place the container in about 6 inches of water until growth begins.
3.  Set the container, so that it is no more than 18 inches below the surface of the water.
4.  If the water is too deep, place a brick or concrete block under the container.
5.  Do not construct containers from treated lumber, since growth could be severely inhibited.

FERTILIZATION & UPKEEP
Once a month, apply an application of a slow-releasing fertilizer. Various companies make these tablets.  Placed the tablet, several inches below the sand or gravel layer at the top of the container. Follow the manufacturers directions to determine appropriate number of tablets.

---