Why Water Lilies Close at Night, How to Grow Them, and How They Differ from Lotus and Bowl Lotus

The water lily is a perennial aquatic plant of the Nymphaeaceae family and the genus Nymphaea. Its flowers are solitary and float on or rise above the water surface, in colors of white, blue, yellow or pink, blooming by day and closing at night. So why do water lilies close at night? What growing methods are there for them? And how do they differ from lotus and bowl lotus?

I. Why do water lilies close at night?

The water lily has a habit: its flowers open by day and close at night, and because it opens by day and rolls up at night it is known as the “sleeping beauty among flowers.” The water lily's sleeping, like that of the sensitive plant and the Venus flytrap, is a plant stress response, an instinct shown in the face of changes in the natural environment. This trait of waking at sunrise and closing at sunset makes the name water lily truly fitting.

II. What growing methods are there for water lilies?

1. Propagation: Water lilies are mainly propagated by division and by sowing seeds. For division, dig out rhizomes that have plump new buds and cut them into sections, each section with 1 bud, bury them in the surface soil with the terminal bud facing up, give them a little sun and then add shallow water, and deepen the water level once the new buds begin to sprout. For sowing, first nick the seeds by hand, then place them in a container, add water and put the container in a sunny place to sprout; young shoots appear in about five days. Change the water every three days before germination and every five days after germination.

2. Cultivation: Water lilies can be grown in vats, in pots, or fully in water. First choose a flower vat or nutrient pot without a drainage hole, place evenly mixed nutrient soil in the bottom, bury the germinated, well-growing propagule in the center of the pot with the terminal bud exposed, then add water to 2-3cm above the soil layer, and gradually raise the water level as it grows. In autumn, lower the water level, and before winter freezing, deepen the water level all at once.

3. Care: When water lilies enter their peak growth period, fertilize at the right time, applying light fertilizer frequently; do not fertilize too much, to avoid burning the seedlings, causing weed growth or polluting the water. Regularly remove underwater algae and debris, keep up light and ventilation, promptly remove spent flowers and dead leaves after blooming, and also take care to prevent and control pests and diseases.

III. How do water lilies differ from lotus and bowl lotus?

Difference 1. Different species: The water lily is a perennial aquatic herb of the Nymphaeaceae family and the genus Nymphaea; the lotus and bowl lotus are both perennial aquatic herbs of the Nelumbonaceae family and the genus Nelumbo, except that the bowl lotus is the small-to-medium type among lotuses.

Difference 2. Different leaves: The water lily's leaves are oval with a natural notch, generally floating on the water surface, and it usually stays in one place and grows slowly; the lotus and bowl lotus have round leaves with no natural notch, some floating on the water and some standing above it, and they easily cover a whole pond.

Difference 3. Different flowers: The water lily's petals are rather pointed, the flower shape smaller and more compact, and the flowers mostly float on the water surface; the lotus and bowl lotus have more spreading petals, a larger, rounder and fuller flower shape, and the flowers mostly rise out of the water to open.

Difference 4. Different fruits: The water lily has no lotus pod at the center of the flower, and its root is a tuber, not a lotus rhizome; the lotus and bowl lotus have a lotus pod at the center of the flower, and their root is a lotus rhizome, not a tuber.

IV. Can water lilies be placed in the bedroom?

Water lilies do no harm to the human body, but they still should not be kept in the bedroom, because water lilies like sunny, well-ventilated environments and need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. In a bedroom they not only grow slowly but also rarely bloom, and even if they do bloom the flowers are rather weak. Although water lilies cannot be kept in the bedroom, they can be placed on a balcony. Water lilies are said to have a spiritual quality, and keeping them at home is believed to attract good fortune and wealth.