How to plant a water lily

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How to plant a water lily

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Sunday, 24 March 2019 at 3:00 pm

Water lilies provide shelter and interest to a garden pond. We show you how to plant one.

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Elegant and stately, water lilies (Nymphaea sp.) can be the crowning glory of a garden pond.

When buying water lilies, look for those plants that have shoots emerging from the rhizome and wait until the pond has warmed up before potting or planting. When potting, it's important to use an aquatic basket to contain vigorous growth and to use specialised aquatic soil or John Innes No 2. Avoid rich composts that will encourage the growth of unsightly green algae, or organic composts that float away.

Don't forget that water lily leaves will rot if submerged too deeply, too soon, so gradually lower the pot to the pond's bottom, as the leaves extend towards the surface.

Find out how to plant and establish your water lily, below.

You Will Need

Water lily rhizomes
Aquatic planting basket
Hessian
Aquatic compost
Stones
Bricks

Total time: 20 minutes

Step 1

How to plant a water lily - adding compost to the hessian-lined basket

Use a mesh aquatic basket lined with hessian to stop the compost escaping. Part fill with aquatic soil.

Step 2

How to plant a water lily - prizing apart the roots

Tease out the fleshy roots before placing the plant in the centre of the container, then firm the soil.

Step 3

How to plant a water lily - adding stones around the water lily

Mulch with large stones to keep the compost from floating off. Soak the basket in water.

Step 4

How to plant a water lily - placing the basket in the pond

Place the basket in the pond on a platform of bricks, gradually reducing its height over weeks.

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