Do hardy lilies actually need a wintering period?

[Joshaeus]

Well...do they? I don't seem to have any way to keep a water lily in the 40's over the winter and definitely would not be able to keep one outside in a 20 gallon pot (which WILL be the water garden...this is musing for next year's plans). Can I simply keep the pot and/or lily inside and keep it under bright lights without any particularly low temps? The hardy lily I was hoping to go with is 'helvola', which - if I recall correctly - is a dwarf form of the 'Mexican' form (Mexico does not strike me as a region that would have water lilies that cannot survive without pronounced wintering periods)

 

[adavisus]

Helvola is a cross between mexicana and pygmaea alba, done in France by Marliac. It will cope fine in a cool, well lit, frost free place indoors

 

[Joshaeus]

Thankx! What about other hardy lilies, though? (PS...my room gets into the low 60's during the winter)

 

[adavisus]

Low 60s will keep them growing quite strong, you could set up a tote to keep them going