Waterlily Planting Instructions. Waterlily Care. Helpful Growing Tips

Planting Instructions, Annual Care and Growing Tips

Hardy Waterlily Planting Instructions

1/3 fill a 13 litre (or larger) container* with good quality loam or dense garden soil. Add 2-3 aquatic fertiliser tabs.

*For most varieties, the width of container is the important component, as most rhizomes grow horizontally. Using a shallow, wide container (for example a kitty litter tray) may allow a rhizome up to three years growth, without the need to annually replant. For upright rhizomes, a deeper container (20cm deep or more) is preferable.

3/4 fill the container with soil and place the bare-rooted rhizome horizontally* on top; cut end against the edge of the container, with growing tips facing toward the centre.

* With upright rhizomes, 2/3 fill the container with soil and place the rhizome in the centre of the container facing upward.

Fill the remainder of the container until the rhizome is sitting just below the surface of the soil. Gently compress the soil, being careful not to damage any growing tips or newly forming leaves. You may at this point elect to topdress the container with 3-4 cm of pea-gravel, pebbles or sand. Gravel, pebbles or sand can stop large hungry fish from digging out the roots and give a prettier appearance when the container is highly visible.

At this point the waterlily is ready to be submerged. Slowly lower the contained into the pond* (we suggest an initial depth less than 60cm, to minimise shock for the plant). This can be achieved using bricks to elevate the container. Once leaves begin forming on the surface, the plant can be gradually lowered to its final resting depth.

*Tilt the container on an angle while submerging (so any released air will travel up the side of the container, minimising any 'clouding' of the water, and containing the soil).

Tropical Waterlily Planting Instructions

The process for planting tropical waterlily tubers is essentially the same as it is for hardy waterlilies, with only minor differences:

Tropical waterlilies are heavy feeders. We suggest placing 3 aquatic fertiliser tabs in the container.

Tropical tubers should be placed in the centre of the container facing upward.

Annual Care

Remove the container from the pond and tip on its side. Turning the container, lightly squeezing the outside edge until the roots become free. Avoid tipping the container upside down, so sensitive growing tips remain undamaged.

From the underside, gently free the roots from the soil. Use a garden hose with high pressure to spray the remaining soil from the roots.

With a sharp knife, cut the newly formed 'pup' rhizomes from the parent rhizome. Cut the roots parallel to the rhizome to a length of about 5cm, and follow steps 1-3 of 'Planting Instructions

Growing Tips

Waterlilies are a great plant to grow and an easy plant to maintain. They have very few requirements for a grower to meet, and in return provide beauty of intricate detail, adding a whole new dimension to water environments. Waterlilies can be grown in anything that can hold water; tubs, troughs, ponds, streams, wine barrels! To keep your waterlily happily producing blooms, follow these simple guidelines:

For optimum blooming, most waterlily varieties like a minimum of 6 hours direct sunlight.

Water and soil pH should be between 7 and 8 (neutral to slightly alkaline conditions are preferable).

Repot your waterlily before it outgrows its container.

If flowering tapers off and leaves start looking tatty during the flowering season, your waterlily may need more fertiliser (tabs can be added during the flowering season by poking holes deep into the soil. Be careful of sensitive growing tips and avoid rootburn).

For optimum flowering most waterlily varieties require between 15cm and 1.6m of water above the soil in which the rhizome/tuber is planted.

Avoid continual rippling water movement created by fountains. Wave action that can pull leaves away from their stems.

Plant away from fountains, as continual spray can eventually drown the plants.

Avoid planting waterlilies in highly organic matter, as decomposition can cause toxic conditions.

Most environments, waters and soils naturally satisfy the requirements to grow waterlilies!

Waihi, Coromandel, North Island, New Zealand