How to Plant a Water Lily

You just purchased a water lily, it likely came in a very small pot which is far too small for it. Or maybe a friend split one of their large water lilies and gave you a piece of the tuber. Now what? If you would like to know how to plant a water lily properly follow the steps below.

If you want your water lilies to really grow well and produce a profusion of blooms, you need to plant them properly. Tropical and hardy water lilies are heavy feeders, they produce the new leaves and flowers all summer long which requires an abundance of nutrients. Proper pot size, planting medium and fertilizer are the key ingredients to a healthy, beautiful water lily.

Pot Selection

Always choose as large a pot or container as possible, pots that are too small will stunt the growth of the plant and result in few leaves and blooms. This will provide plenty of room for the roots of the water lily to absorb nutrients. Large varieties of water lilies can be planted into pots at least 12” in diameter. Small or dwarf varieties of water lilies can be planted in smaller containers, usually 8” diameter is sufficient. Flexible Aquatic Planters come in a variety of sizes and are a very good choice for planting water lilies and marginal pond plants.