How to Grow Water Lilies, and Can They Be Kept Together with Fish?

The water lily is a prized aquatic flowering plant, known as the “sleeping beauty among flowers”. Its leaves are round or oval, and its flowers are red, pink, blue, purple or white, among other colors. When the water lily blooms, it is extremely delicate and charming, so, do you know how to grow water lilies?

1. A Brief Introduction to the Water Lily!

1. Is the water lily the same as the lotus?

The water lily is not the lotus. Although the two look similar, they are not the same species. The flowers and leaves of the water lily mostly float on the water surface, while the flowers and leaves of the lotus stand well above the water. Most water lily leaves have a V-shaped notch and a fuzzy surface, while lotus leaves have no notch and a smooth surface. Water lily flowers are relatively small, while lotus flowers are all relatively large. Water lilies generally open in the early morning or at night, while lotus flowers open mainly in the early morning.

2. When does the water lily bloom?

Water lilies generally bloom from June to August. Different varieties bloom at different times; some open at 8-10 pm and close at 0-11 am the next day, while others open at 6-8 am and close at noon or in the afternoon.

3. Which country has the water lily as its national flower?

The water lily is the national flower of India, Thailand, Bangladesh and Cambodia.

2. How to Grow Water Lilies?

1. Location: a pond, a large flower vat or a vase.

Water lilies can be grown in a pond, in a large flower vat, or in a vase. If grown in a pond, the pond bottom should have at least 30cm of deep mud, and the water level should start at 2-3cm; if grown in a large flower vat, choose one about 50cm tall with as wide a mouth as possible, with 30-40cm of nutrient soil at the bottom of the vat, and keep the water level preferably 2-3cm above the soil layer; if grown in a vase, choose a deep-mouthed vase and fill it with two-thirds water.

2. Propagation: sowing seeds or division.

Water lilies can be propagated by sowing seeds or by division. Sowing is generally done in March-April; after sowing the seeds in soil, cover with 1cm of soil, press firm and submerge in water with the water surface 1-2cm above the soil, and place in a sunny, warm spot; they generally sprout in half a month. Division is generally done in March-April (hardy species) or mid-May (non-hardy species); when dividing, the rhizome should carry 1 bud, bury it in the surface soil with the terminal bud facing up, then cover with soil so that the bud eye is level with the soil surface, then give it a little sun, and then add shallow water. Ponds are suitable for division propagation, flower vats are suitable for sowing or division propagation, and for vases you can only cut unopened flower buds, open flowers or robust stems and insert them.

3. Soil: loam rich in organic matter.

Water lilies are not demanding about soil quality and can grow normally at a pH of 6-8, but loam rich in organic matter is better. When growing in a pond, first drain all the pond water, apply base fertilizer at the bottom (cake fertilizer, barnyard manure, crushed bones and superphosphate, etc.), and fill with fertile soil on top; when growing in a large flower vat, you can first apply base fertilizer and then fill with fertile soil.

4. Light: ample light.

No matter where water lilies are grown, they need ample light; only when grown under full light can they grow better. If placed in a shady spot, flowering will be affected and the leaves will also lose their color. If grown in a vase, it can be placed indoors in a sunny spot, but do not put it in direct sun to bake, so as to avoid water evaporation causing the plant to wither.

5. Water level: different at each stage.

Water lilies like still water and do not like relatively fast-flowing water. At the early stage of growth, keep the water level as shallow as possible, and as the leaves grow, gradually raise the water level. In the peak growth period, the water level should reach about 40cm. In autumn, lower the water level; in winter, deepen the water level. Before the water surface freezes, deepen the water level all at once so that the water lily can safely overwinter below the ice layer. If grown in a vase, change the water once a week and keep the water level at two-thirds of the vase.

6. Topdressing: apply topdressing once every 15 days.

Topdressing water lilies is generally done 15 days before the full flowering period, and then once every 15 days thereafter, to ensure the amount of flowering. You can mix the fertilizer and soil evenly, squeeze it into a soil ball, and apply it around the rhizome. Do not apply too much topdressing, otherwise it will cause algae and weeds to grow wildly and thereby pollute the water body.

3. Can Water Lilies Be Kept Together with Fish?

If water lilies are grown in a pond, you can keep fish, and keeping goldfish or koi is fine; if grown in a large flower vat, you can keep one or two small fish appropriately, and keeping goldfish, lamp-eye fish or guppies is fine; if grown in a vase, it is best not to keep fish, as it will affect water quality, and the vase space is not large enough either.

The above is an introduction to the cultivation methods for water lilies. If grown in a pond or a large flower vat, you can keep fish; if grown purely in water in a vase, it is recommended not to keep fish.