How to Grow Water Lily

The fairy tale image of a serene pond delicately dotted with exotic fragrant floating flowers and frogs sitting atop green lily pads really isn't the stuff of dreams. Water lily are easy to grow in just about any hardiness zone, and they can survive for years with a little care.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Water lily
• Aquatic potting soil or clay
• Aquatic fertilizer pellets
• Rock or pea gravel
• Burlap (optional)
• Container
• Garden scissors

1. Choose the water lily. Colors range from white to pink red or yellow. The flowers called "changeables" open initially as yellow, and then become deeper colored. Consider bloom size and shape and the size of the lily pad. Water lily can be found in garden centers and on the Internet in mail order nurseries.

2. Choose a container. Wide, shallow containers are best for planting water lily. A recommended size is one that is 12- to 18-inches wide and about 6- to 10-inches deep. If the container has holes, line the pot with burlap to keep in soil.

3. Plant the water lily. Trim the water lily tuber of any old roots or damaged leaves. The water lily root, or tuber, grows horizontally and should be placed at the side of the container. Add the soil and firm around the root. Add a layer of pea gravel or rocks to the top of the soil.

4. Fertilize the water lily. Water lilies need plentiful fertilizer. Slow release tablets for aquatic plants is recommended. Push 2 tablets in the soil before sinking your water lily in the pond.

5. Sink the water lily pot. Depending on the variety, water lily need to be submerged to a depth of 18 inches. For ponds or water gardens that are more than 2-feet deep, place the potted water lily on some bricks.

Tips & Warnings

• Water lily, or "Nymphaea," species are available in four types and the chosen variety should be based on the size of the pond or water garden. Dwarfs should be planted at a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Plant small lily at 6 to 18 inches and medium lily at approximately 2 feet. Vigorous lily need a depth of 3 feet.
• Optimum growing conditions such as warm weather, little competition and lots of sun will allow water lily to take over a pond. Choose the species of water lily carefully.
• Regular potting soil should not be used for aquatic plants since many contain perlite, peat or vermiculite. Potting soil will float out of the container and cloud the pond. Use a commercial aquatic soil or clay for your water lily.
• The best time to sink the planted water lilies is when the water is warm. Most water lilies required a 6 to 8 hours of sunshine, but that may vary in warmer climates. As a rule of thumb, the deeper the pot is submerged, the more sunshine your plant requires.
• Tropical water lilies such as "Missouri" or the "Daubeniana" are usually only hardy to Zone 8 and should be treated as annuals.