How to Plant a Water Lily
Stepping into the world of water gardening can seem daunting to the water garden novice. Water lilies are perfect starter plants for new water gardens. These hardy, colorful water lilies are surprisingly easy to plant and tend. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic pots
- Burlap (optional)
- Soil
- Small rocks or gravel
- Concrete blocks (optional)
Instructions
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Choose a container that is both shallow and wide to accommodate the plant's horizontal growth pattern. You want to avoid pots with holes because the soil will tend to drift out of the pot once it has been submerged in water. If you need to use a pot with holes, line it with a piece of burlap to prevent soil loss.
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Select a soil that is heavy, such as a top soil. Avoiding lightweight soils that contain peat, vermiculite and perlite goes a long way toward preventing the soil from drifting away in the water. Consider adding a fertilizer designed for water plants at this time.
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3
Check your plant for any dead leaves and older roots (they'll be thick looking), removing them before planting the lily in the pot. The lily you plant should only have emerging growth and new, thin roots.
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4
Position the lily to one side of the pot, making sure that the root tips point up at a 45 degree angle. Cover with soil and add a layer of gravel or small rocks to cover the potted plant.
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Lower your lilies into the pond at a slight angle to allow air to escape. Make sure the pots rest about 12 to 18 inches below the surface of the water and that the leaves float to the surface. If your pond is deeper than that, you'll need to rest the pots on concrete blocks to make sure they sit at the proper level.
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