[MWG] Today's Pond Q&A
------------------------------- Today's Pond Q&A In this issue: - NO BABIES YET - IS THIS NORMAL? - LILIES - WHEN DO YOU DIVIDE THEM? ----------------------------- Question> Carolyn I have had a pond for a year and half and there has been no young fry. Four of the fish are about eight inches long. Is it possible that all my fish are the same sex? I live in south Jersey and my fish made out fine during last winter. It is 60 gallon pool and about 2 feet deep. I installed a 12 inch airstone and it did freeze over a few times. I spend the winter in Florida so I don't know how long it froze over. I only have my nephew's word Thank You - Carl Miles _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Pond Filters, Pumps, UV's and More... Discount Prices at Our Online Store! http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Answer> Gee, Carl, consider yourself lucky! Especially considering your pond is only 60 gallons, you wouldn't want a population explosion in there. it generally takes fish about 3 years to come into sexual maturity, and this is not a hard and fast rule, but I am guessing you have goldfish and not koi. When they are about 12" they will be acting differently. The size of the container can have something to do with it also. the fish give off hormones that will limit their growth and maturity in a small size container. If they were in 6,000 gallons, they would have spawned by now in all probability. To have more fish in the 60 gallon pond would probably mean oxygen starvation for the larger fish, and possible death. Guess they want to survive. - Carolyn == Question> I enjoy your Question and Answer emails, keep them coming. I have a question on dividing lily bulbs. When is it ok to divide the bulb, without harming the whole thing and how do you divide it? Thank you for your info. - Linda == Answer> Hi, Linda, Lilies can be divided either in the fall or spring. Spring is possibly the best time, but either will do. To divide, make sure you cut with a sharp knife so there are no ragged edges. Take the plant out of the pot and rinse all the soil (or potting medium) off, then cut pieces with root and growing tips. Plant these up separately in new medium. I don't suggest putting soil in ponds so look into using a soil-less mix or pure clay for any submerged pond plants. In the spring, start putting fertilizer tabs into the pots as soon as the water warms. It is for the fertilizing that spring makes the best time to divide. To fertilize in fall would encourage growth too late in the season. Lilies are heavy feeders. In the fall, as during the year, you could use Microbe-Lift Ensure to encourage good root growth (not a fertilizer) and enable the plant to better use the nutrients that are in the water. - Carolyn == Happy Pondkeeping! Brett Fogle MacArthur Water Gardens www.macarthurwatergardens.com © MacArthur Water Gardens 1698 SW 16th ST Boca Raton, FL 33486 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This email is never sent without permission. You (or someone using your email address) bought something from MacArthur Water Gardens, or signed up for our newsletter, affiliate program, mini-course or requested a fr^e report.. The information we have on file is Your name: Friend Your email: If you wish to be removed from this list, simply click once on the link below.
Message Added: October 8th, 2005 at 10:00 am
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