Newbie Question - Repotting Lily

[PondintheCity]

I overhauled my indoor fishpond to add water lilies this spring. My first lily is a Murasaki Shikibu, which I planted in a 7" square x 4" mesh planter. It's been about 10 weeks and it's doing very well (32" spread / flowers every day!). However, I noticed that roots are coming out of the pot through the mesh already. Wondering if the planter is too small and whether I should repot it now.

I bought a couple of 9" square by 5" deep mesh planters--will this do (the pond is too small for anything bigger)? Also how do I repot it to minimize damage?

 

[Lisak1]

That's a tiny variety of water lily. How large are the tubers? The roots coming out of the pot isn't really a bad thing; you just want to make sure the tubers aren't being restricted or they will jump the pot, too. Repotting is simply a matter of removing it from the current pot (you may have to cut it out) and putting it into the larger pot. Lilies are hard to hurt, honestly. You can remove any damaged portions of tuber or even split it into multiples if you want.

 

[j.w]

I overhauled my indoor fishpond to add water lilies this spring. My first lily is a Murasaki Shikibu, which I planted in a 7" square x 4" mesh planter. It's been about 10 weeks and it's doing very well (32" spread / flowers every day!). However, I noticed that roots are coming out of the pot through the mesh already. Wondering if the planter is too small and whether I should repot it now.

I bought a couple of 9" square by 5" deep mesh planters--will this do (the pond is too small for anything bigger)? Also how do I repot it to minimize damage?

Just be careful if you need to cut off roots as they can turn your hands purple. Wear gloves unless you like the color purple,lol! Cut the roots of clean w/a sharp tool, don't leave them ragged. You won't hurt the plant. You can use any kind of a plastic tub or pot. Some use big shallow oil pans for cars.

 

[addy1]

Purple? I have never had that happen. I get black from the kitty litter, clay, stink, but not purple.

 

[j.w]

Purple? I have never had that happen. I get black from the kitty litter, clay, stink, but not purple.

Yep I cut up the roots and the liquid got on my hands and turned them purple. This says some kinds will do that so sounds like not all will. I bought my first ones at Home Depot or Lowes and those turned my hands purple: https://www.portlandnursery.com/docs/water-plants/waterlilies.pdf

 

[GBBUDD]

S

Just be careful if you need to cut off roots as they can turn your hands purple. Wear gloves unless you like the color purple,lol! Cut the roots of clean w/a sharp tool, don't leave them ragged. You won't hurt the plant. You can use any kind of a plastic tub or pot. Some use big shallow oil pans for cars.

Sorry I just can't function with any type of gloves

 

[j.w]

S
Sorry I just can't function with any type of gloves

If you don't have the kind that bleed purple then you don't have to worry about it.

 

[GBBUDD]

Otcha... Wouldn't be overly concerned either way though Mrs would yell at me. Keep it off your clothes . Sounds like an echo from over 55 years ago

 

[BarbAZCA]

My hardy water lily is four years old. The 'stem' is at least 18" long. The root is growing out of the pot. I fertilize it once a month from spring through the end of summer. I don't repot it because the heavy pot is 2' under water and impossible to lift unless someone wants to jump in. I cut everything off to the stem at the end of growing season and it comes back the following spring. Hail recently decimated the leaves - I will cut them off slowly as re-growth appears. My fish use it as sun shade.