water lily facts

water lily facts

Backyard Ponds > Water Lily Facts

Little Known Water Lily Facts

Thought you might find these little known water lily facts of value. You might say these tidbits are good to know? Just to make it easy, I've formatted these little known water lily facts in a quick read Q&A format.

7 Helpful Water Lily Facts

QUESTION: I can't wait. When can I put my tropical water lily into the pond?
ANSWER: Tropical water lilies, being tropical, do not tolerate cold temperatures well. For that reason they should not be put into your pond until the water temperature hits at least 70 degrees F. If you get impatient and put them out too early the plant might return to dormancy. Then too you risk restricting its growth potential for that season.

QUESTION: Do you have any planting tips for tropical water lilies?

Here's How to Have the Fish Pond or Water Garden You've Always Dreamed of!

ANSWER: Plant in containers with no holes using fresh top soil. To encourage continuous blooming fertilize with Lily Tabs twice a month during the growing season.

QUESTION: How far under the water should a potted water lily be placed?
ANSWER: Most lilies should be kept in water between 18 and 30 inches. That said, it's best if you start them out at depths of about 6 inches in the spring to expose them to more sunlight. Then as they grow move them to deeper water.

QUESTION: Is there any way to know how big a water lily will get?
ANSWER: Water lily size is measured by the spread of their leaves on the water's surface...With a "small" you can expect approximately 1 to 6 square feet of spread. While a medium will cover 6 to 12 feet. Anything bigger than 12 square feed of spread is considered to be a large.

QUESTION: When can I expect to start to see blossoms from my tropical water lily?
ANSWER: Depends on the variety really. But tropicals typically bloom from late spring through early fall, depending of course on the weather.

QUESTION: I understand some lilies bloom during the day and others at night. Is that true? ANSWER: You'll find that day bloomers open in the morning and close in the late afternoon like clockwork. Night-bloomers open late afternoon or early evening, and close next day early to mid morning . By the way, you'll find tropical water lilies to be very fragrant.

QUESTION: My water lily didn't bloom at all last summer. Any idea why?
ANSWER: The most likely reason is it didn't get enough sun. Different lilies have different light requirements that must be met before they'll blossom. If you don't give it the light it need, yes they'll survive, just not produce those amazing blossoms you were counting on.

Water Lily Facts