How to Plant Water Lilies
Steps to Plant Water Lilies
- Enhance Your Garden with Exquisite Water Lily Varieties. rhizomes or tubers
- Wide and shallow containers (12–16 inches in diameter, 6–10 inches deep)
- Aquatic plant soil or heavy clay soil (avoid regular garden soil)
- Gravel or small rocks
- Aquatic plant fertilizer tablets
Use a container without drainage holes to prevent soil from leaking. Fill the pot about 2/3 full with aquatic soil. Create a small slope in the soil, angling downward slightly. Lay the rhizome at an angle, with the growing tip pointing upward and just above the soil surface. Do not bury the crown (the point where leaves emerge). Push 1–2 aquatic plant fertilizer tablets into the soil, keeping them away from the rhizome to prevent damage. Add a thin layer of pea gravel or small stones over the soil to hold it in place and protect it from being disturbed by water movement or fish. Be careful not to cover the rhizome or growing tip. Lower the pot slowly into the water to avoid disturbing the soil. Place the pot at the appropriate depth.
Care and Maintenance
- Ensure the water temperature is suitable:
- Hardy lilies: 50°F (10°C) or above.
- Tropical lilies: 70°F (21°C) or warmer.
- Select a location with at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Remove yellowing leaves and spent flowers regularly to maintain water quality.
- Reapply fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the growing season.