How to Plant Water Lilies? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods

Water lily is also known as noon lotus, pink water lily, wild water lily, etc. It is a perennial aquatic herbaceous plant of the genus Nymphaea in the family Nymphaeaceae. In China it is distributed from the Northeast to Yunnan and west to Xinjiang, growing in still water bodies such as ponds and lakes. It is often cultivated in park waters as an ornamental plant. Its rhizome can be eaten or used to make wine, can be used as medicine, and the whole plant can be used as green manure. Now let us take a look at how to plant water lilies!

Growth Habits of Water Lilies

Water lilies prefer sunlight and good ventilation, and have no strict requirements for soil quality. They can grow normally at a pH of 6 to 8. The most suitable water depth is 25 to 30 cm, and the deepest must not exceed 80 cm. They prefer loam rich in organic matter. They sprout and grow leaves from March to April, bloom successively from May to August, and each flower blooms for 2 to 5 days. They set seed after flowering. The stems and leaves wither from October to November. They sprout again the following spring. In the Yangtze River basin, they sprout from late March to early April, form buds in late April or early May, reach full bloom from June to August, enter the yellow-leaf stage from October to November, and enter dormancy after November. They grow in ponds and lakes, and are often cultivated in the pools of some parks.

Propagation Methods of Water Lilies

1. Division: When dividing water lilies, first dig out the rhizome, select rhizomes with plump new shoots, cut them into root segments 8 to 10 cm long, with each segment carrying at least 1 bud, and then plant them. Bury them in the surface soil with the terminal bud facing up. The covering depth should be such that the bud eye of the plant is level with the soil surface. Plant 5 to 7 segments per pot. After planting, expose them to a little sunlight before adding shallow water, which helps maintain the water temperature, but the water should not be too deep, otherwise germination will be affected. When the temperature rises and the new shoots begin to sprout, deepen the water level.

2. Sowing: After the water lily seeds are harvested, they must still be stored in water; if stored dry, they will lose their ability to germinate. Sow from March to April. Use fertile clay loam for the potting soil. Do not fill the pot too full; it is best to leave 5 to 6 cm from the pot rim. After sowing the seeds, cover with 1 cm of soil, press firmly, and immerse in water with the water surface 3 to 4 cm above the potting soil. Cover the potting soil with glass and place it in a sunny, warm spot to raise the temperature inside the pot. The sowing temperature should preferably be 25 to 30°C. They germinate after about half a month and can bloom the following year.

Planting Methods of Water Lilies

1. Soil: Water lilies like humus-rich, fertile clay soil. Therefore, for cultivation it is best to choose silt that has long accumulated in rivers or ponds.

2. Seed rhizome: Water lilies are mostly cultivated by division. The underground rhizome used for planting should be selected from a segment that is vigorous and robust, virus-free, undamaged, unrotted, and bearing new shoots, and cut into segments 6 to 10 cm long.

3. Shallow planting: If the underground stem used for planting water lilies is buried too deep in the mud, first, the soil temperature is relatively low, and second, oxygen is scarce, which is not conducive to early growth and rapid development. The planting depth is generally kept so that the new shoots on the underground stem are level with the soil surface, which is moderate.

4. Light: Water lilies like a climate with ample sunlight, warmth and humidity, and good ventilation. Water lilies grown in pots or tubs must be placed in a position with ample light so that they receive full sunlight.

5. Water body: Water lilies like to grow in relatively calm water bodies without large waves or rapid currents, so planting them in artificial fountain pools with high-pressure water columns or in pools with rapid currents or waterfalls often results in poor growth.

Pest and Disease Control of Water Lilies

1. Rot disease: Choose disease-resistant varieties, implement a 2 to 3 year crop rotation in heavily infested fields, carefully select disease-free seed lotus roots and use 50% carbendazim or 20% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800 times dilution plus 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 800 times dilution. After spraying, seal the seeds, cover with plastic film and seal for 24 hours, then dry and plant. Promptly remove diseased plants and spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 600 times dilution plus 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 times dilution.

2. Leaf rot: During harvest, remove diseased and residual plants and bury them deeply or burn them in a centralized manner to reduce the source of inoculum. At the early stage of the disease, spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 800 times dilution, or 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800 times dilution, or 30% basic copper sulfate suspension at 500 times dilution, spraying once every about 10 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive sprays.

3. Anthracnose: During the growing season, collect diseased residues and bury them deeply or burn them, apply additional fertilizer at the right time and in the right amount, promptly remove diseased plants and spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 600 times dilution, 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 times dilution, 36% thiophanate-methyl suspension at 500 times dilution, 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 1500 times dilution, or 80% anthracnose thiram wettable powder at 800 times dilution, spraying once every about 10 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive sprays.

4. Small leaf beetle: The small leaf beetle is a devastating pest. Adults overwinter in vegetation near the pond edge and lay eggs on the leaf surface in late spring. It can produce 2 to 3 generations per season. At this time, the leaf surface can be washed with water so that the adults and pupae fall into the water and are eaten by fish. Once the larvae cause damage, they can be killed by spraying 1200 times dilution of decis.

5. Rhopalosiphum aphid: The rhopalosiphum aphid harms many soft-leaved aquatic plants, attacking leaves and flower stems in summer and causing flower color changes. Its eggs overwinter on Prunus plants, especially on plum and hawthorn trees, and rarely on cherry trees. Avoid planting large areas of Prunus plants at the water's edge, or wash these host plants with tar in winter. You can also wash the leaves with a hose and spray insecticides, etc.

6. Snails: When snails cause damage, mix furadan or trichlorfon with sawdust, put it into a cloth bag, tie it to the leaf stalk so that the bag floats on the water surface, and as it moves with the water it diffuses the pesticide solution and kills the pests. Biological control works very well: stocking 5 kg of loach in 1000 sq m of water surface can effectively stop the spread and floating overflow of pests.

7. Water moss: Spray water moss with 0.3% to 0.5% copper sulfate.

8. Aphids: Affected leaves can be sprayed with dichlorvos at 1000 to 1200 times dilution, or with 50% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 to 2500 times dilution.