Many lily pads turn brown and die

[Linda W]

Is it normal for lily pads to die during the summer? I’ve been grooming my pond every week or two and am about to do it again. The photos show a number of healthy pads, but also several brown ones that will submerge over time if I don’t pull them out. The string algae has been a bigger proble this year than before. I’m thinking of adding a cup of white vinegar and retesting the pH, which I just found out is too high. Would you add the vinegar of something else? Do you remove dead vegetation promptly?
I‘d be very grateful for advice.

here are the pond stats:
pond pH 9
tap water pH 7 -7.5
ammonia 0
nitrate 0
phosphate 0 - 0.25
water temperature 80 degrees F
about 2,000 gallons
no fish but several frogs
I fertilized the plants with Pond Tabs every 2 weeks to a month, most recently a week ago.
I add three Mosquito Dunks once a month during mosquito season, most recently about two weeks ago
The pump area and autofill were cleaned last week. The pond guy added chlorin-nix and beneficial bacteria, plus about 500 gallons of water to replace what is lost when the pump goes off
The pond is designed to get rain water from the roof
The rainwater falls into the biological filter (photo 3)
The watercourse from the filter to upper falls and the stream is made of unlined concrete, probably the cause of the high pH

What a beautiful world and helpful forum!
… Linda

 

[Linda W]

I should have added that I used the API Pond Master test kit with drops.

 

[j.w]

Very nice looking pond setup! Yep lily pads turn brown after awhile, not too long either sometimes. Just the way it goes! Never heard of adding vinegar but have heard of raising ph w/baking soda. I've heard once you get the ph where you want it you can put crushed oyster shells in the water to help keep it stay at that ph.
Check this thread out: https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/oyster-shells.32752/#post-515789

 

[GBBUDD]

i would never add anything for ph that's too high i'll bet if you test in the morning again at noon and a third in the evening you'll have three different results

and i would never add vinegar that's acid

 

[GBBUDD]

i would never add anything for ph that's too high i'll bet if you test in the morning again at noon and a third in the evening you'll have three different results

and i would never add vinegar that's acid hydrogen peroxide will do the same but takes a bit longer and will not effect your parameters

 

[j.w]

Very nice looking pond setup! Yep lily pads turn brown after awhile, not too long either sometimes. Just the way it goes! Never heard of adding vinegar but have heard of raising ph w/baking soda. I've heard once you get the ph where you want it you can put crushed oyster shells in the water to help keep it stay at that ph.
Check this thread out: https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/oyster-shells.32752/#post-515789

Oops I meant lowering w/baking soda.

 

[WaterGardener]

A pH of 9 is not too high. Your fish can thrive in a pH up to 10. The important thing is not the number itself, but keeping the pH stable and consistent.

If you add vinegar, it may lower the pH for a very short time, but it will just go back up. Those ups and downs are very stressful for the fish, leaving them vulnerable to infection and disease, so it's better to leave it alone. Don't chase a particular number. Just keep it steady.

 

[Tula]

What a pretty pond. We have a fishless pond for the first time ever this summer and I've noticed a good bit of string algae too. I don't think it is hurting anything and is easily removed but I'm curious about its presence. I wonder if we always had it, but our koi ate it?

It's normal for lily pads to yellow, then turn brown and yes I clip off the dead and dying ones.

 

[addy1]

Very nice pond.
Pads will die off all of the time. Nothing to worry about

 

[rubyduby]

It IS normal for pads to turn brown and die if you don't trim them off before that stage. I am retired and have nothing much else to do but to putter around my pond and trim off anything when it gets unsightly so mine don't get to that stage ...You have created a beautiful scene there!

 

[Relic]

I actually enjoy seeing a few lily pads turn brown and die off, just to prove that for once it wasn't my poor watering habits that caused it like on everything else...

 

[CometKeith]

Is it normal for lily pads to die during the summer? I’ve been grooming my pond every week or two and am about to do it again. The photos show a number of healthy pads, but also several brown ones that will submerge over time if I don’t pull them out. The string algae has been a bigger proble this year than before. I’m thinking of adding a cup of white vinegar and retesting the pH, which I just found out is too high. Would you add the vinegar of something else? Do you remove dead vegetation promptly?
I‘d be very grateful for advice.

here are the pond stats:
pond pH 9
tap water pH 7 -7.5
ammonia 0
nitrate 0
phosphate 0 - 0.25
water temperature 80 degrees F
about 2,000 gallons
no fish but several frogs
I fertilized the plants with Pond Tabs every 2 weeks to a month, most recently a week ago.
I add three Mosquito Dunks once a month during mosquito season, most recently about two weeks ago
The pump area and autofill were cleaned last week. The pond guy added chlorin-nix and beneficial bacteria, plus about 500 gallons of water to replace what is lost when the pump goes off
The pond is designed to get rain water from the roof
The rainwater falls into the biological filter (photo 3)
The watercourse from the filter to upper falls and the stream is made of unlined concrete, probably the cause of the high pH

What a beautiful world and helpful forum!
… Linda

Hi and welcome to the forum! Your Lilly’s are normal. Sometimes if the water level goes up suddenly some of the lily pads will get submerged and turn yellow. I’m guessing because you have the pond connected to your downspouts this is happening when you get heavy rains. Re adding ammonia, mosquito dunks, and fertilizer you could totally avoid the need for any of that if you added a few small goldfish!

 

[Linda W]

Thank you all so much!
For the advice and kind words! What a comfort to know that the browning pads are just part of the normal cycle. I just trimmed them and will relax. A highlight today was seeing a you fox drop by for a drink, about 10 feet away from my chair inside. The pond is a continuing delight as is this forum.