ASK RON

Should I fertilize my water lily and, if so, how?

Sarah

Costa Mesa

Yes. In fact, aquatic plants, especially water lilies, are heavy feeders. The easiest method is to purchase an aquatic plant fertilizer. These are generally sold as large tablets. Following the directions on the label, with your fingers, push the tablets well in to the soil that the lily is growing in. A large water lily may require several tablets during its summer growing season. Be careful not to use granular fertilizers on the surface of the soil or water-soluble fertilizers for aquatic plants. These will simply pollute the water and provide no benefit to the plants you are trying to feed.

? Ron Vanderhoff, the Coastal Gardener