What Does a Water Lily Need to Bloom and Grow?
Five or more hours of sunlight per day. The afternoon sun is best. Some varieties will give some flowers with less light and are so noted with their descriptions in our Online Store or catalog. More sun means more flowers. A good quality topsoil is used as the growing medium. Do not use bagged topsoil that is not specifically labeled for aquatic plants or any soil that has organic amendments. Clay soil is best while sub-soil should be avoided. Soil from a garden is usually best. Cover with a fine gravel to keep fish out and soil in. Use a planting container that is as large as your pond will accomodate. Remember to allow 10″ of water over the soil surface. Shallower lilies generally do not bloom as well. Be sure the root system is below the freeze line in the winter (generally 15″ deep is suffucuent in Zone 6). A water lily prefers a wide shallow container to match growing habits. Planting containers can be found in our Online Store and our catalog. Regular fertilization will keep your
