Lilies turning yellow on the edges

[DutchMuch]

ok cool so I got my deficiency point through, all I was trying to accomplish.
@Meyer Jordan thanks for the positivity! and helpful posts!

 

[Mmathis]

Back on track....? OK!

That's what my lily pads look like at the end of their life cycle. I think it's normal as long as the rest of the pads look fine, and yours look good!

And just to clarify something that I see pop up every once in a while..... Lilies draw their nutrients from the soil [or whatever they're potted in]. They have to be manually fertilized -- they don't pull nutrients from the water [well, unless they are planted as bare root]. Plants with their roots exposed to the water will pull nutrients directly from the water [marginals, bog plants].

 

[sissy]

You know whats sad that you know when yellow and brown comes it is near the end of the season .My season is a little longer and my lily is in it's own pond but I have noticed from years past that the lily is the first to show signs fall is coming in my pond .

 

[CometKeith]

I'm not really interested in aquariums, but maybe if enough people are interested Ian will set up a new heading so those people can go there and keep the conversations separate. It's hard enough comparing notes sometimes when some people talk about their pond and it is more of a watergarden with lots of plants and other small creatures, and others have highly filtered Koi ponds, and we are talking about best practices but different types of ponds that need totally different types of maintenance. My lilly pads die off by turning yellow on the edges and than brown. I think this is very natural and doesn't mean there is any deficiency because for every one that dies off there are always 5 more to take their place.

 

[Mmathis]

I thought there was already a topic for INDOOR TANKS, or something like that.

 

[vestaviascott]

Thanks for all the feedback here. I'm not using any fertilizer for these lily's. If I need to fertilize these, please advise what I need. Thanks. BTW, have a really nice bloom today and one older rotten one underwater that I just pulled off and threw away.

The tops of the lily's are getting brown dry spot sediment on top. I suppose this is normal?

 

[Mmathis]

I've been wondering if those spots are from water droplets. Water gets on a pad, then the sun cooks it like using a magnifying glass. In another forum, that was an explanation for spots on a hydrangea, since there was no other evidence of pest damage. Just a thought.

 

[DutchMuch]

To me, you need nitrogen. Said that from the get go.

 

[vestaviascott]

To me, you need nitrogen. Said that from the get go.

Thanks. So, I just need to pull the plant out of the water and add some nitrogen based fertilizer to the pot, then put it back in?

 

[DutchMuch]

If you have fish, no I wouldn't do that.
But if you don't have fish then go ahead and fire away. Just know how much your adding, a constant level of nitrate should be around 20ppm MAX Preferably 10ppm MAX with fish.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Thanks. So, I just need to pull the plant out of the water and add some nitrogen based fertilizer to the pot, then put it back in?

Always use a slow-release fertilizer for aquatic plants unless you want to deal with a sudden increase in algae.

 

[vestaviascott]

I figured there was a bit more to it than "you need nitrogen", lol.

I do have fish in the pond. 6 small koi and one Shubunkin goldfish.

 

[DutchMuch]

I figured there was a bit more to it than "you need nitrogen", lol.

I do have fish in the pond. 6 small koi and one Shubunkin goldfish.

Then you shouldn't need it... To me this whole thing is odd!
Can you test the Current nitrate levels of your water? (pond water)

 

[Jhn]

As Meyer said there are slow release fertilizer tablets made for aquatic plants. You don't even need to remove the pot from the pond. I just jab my finger into the soil around the lily then stick a tablet in and cover over. That being said I only do that for the newer lilies I have, once they get established I kind of leave them alone and don't fertilize.

Your lily looks fine, normal aging of the pads.

 

[Lisak1]

Your lily looks fine, normal aging of the pads.

I think they're fine, too. Lilies throw up lots of pads over the course of the season and as they age they turn yellow, get ragged, get spots... in general look crummy. Just take those off and new ones will soon follow. I take off half or more of the pads every time I groom lilies - I pull out anything that even looks like it's starting to die off.

Water lilies are very heavy feeders but if this is a brand new plant, it was no doubt fertilized when it was potted up and will probably be fine for now.