>> Also see the main feature, “Waterlily Pests and Diseases: A Ten-Year Update.” Healthy waterlilies are very tough plants. They withstand rains, winds, droughts, hail storms, and neighborhood kids with sticks. And more importantly, pests usually ignore them. Thriving liliesMore…
Seasonal Maintenance for Healthy Lilies
>> Also see the main feature, “Waterlily Pests and Diseases: A Ten-Year Update.” Waterlilies are fairly low maintenance, especially compared to equally gorgeous terrestrial flowers. However, they do require some regular care to stay healthy and bloom well. Here areMore…
Waterlily Pests and Diseases: A Ten-Year Update
Author’s Note | We never guessed that our 2009 article on waterlily diseases and pests would be such a hit with readers for so long. As the author, I’m especially gratified that it has helped many Nymphaea growers. The article alsoMore…
Sidebar | How to Get Started with Color for Sales
>> Read the feature article, “Why Color Can By Your Best Sales Tool,” by Paula Biles Actions: Get a fresh perspective. Take numerous photos of your retail displays and pond installations, especially signage. Use the computer to reverse the imagesMore…
Why Color Can Be Your Best Sales Tool
>> Click here to view all images related to this article in our gallery spotlight. Color is often the focus when people shop for cars, clothes, houses, refrigerators, electronics and, yes — even plants. Color is taught in visual merchandisingMore…
Conquer the Weather with Microclimates
Use these tricks to conquer the weather!

A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. It refers to either a zone of many square miles or only a few square feet. Microclimates are why people living around a bay haveMore…
Business Tips from a Plant…or a Giant Water Lily
Victoria’s 5 Not-So-Secret Strategies for Success

Victoria amazonica [Giant Water Lily] started capturing people’s attention and imagination 165 years ago. Her success began in the late 1880s when she singlehandedly caused a water garden craze in Europe that quickly spread to the U.S. The craze broadenedMore…
CSI: Pondville
What's killing the aquatic plants?
Who’s been killing the aquatic plants? If your pond has become a gruesome crime scene with chewed-up leaves and mutilated lily pads left behind, don’t fret. Paula Biles is on the case! Utilizing her forensic science skills and extensive knowledgeMore…
Divide and Conquer: The unique romance of plant propagation
While they may not wine and dine like we do, the plants in your pond reproduce with frequency that would make Hugh Hefner blush! Nature’s bountiful procreation strategy provides big opportunities for growers — if they know how to harnessMore…
Bluffing Mother Nature for Beauty and Profit
Winter robs your pond of sunshine and warmth, but it doesn’t have to steal its life. Employ these easy insider tactics to ensure your pond’s plants and animals survive the chilly months.