Overwintering hardy water lily out of pot

[Marion]

I'm on the north shore of Lake Ontario. I used to have three ponds deep enough to overwinter everything in situ, but I have moved and have only a tub at this time. I lifted the Nymphaea candida today, took it out of the pot, washed all the soil off the roots, and placed it in a 'right size' Chinese pot filled with water. I have no minimally-heated area for cold storage of a potted lily. Should the pot with water be kept in the dark, changing water once a week, say, or have full light like a tropical water lily would?

Is this a fatal error? ​

 

[Lisak1]

Hmmm.... first of all WELCOME! I'm guessing you have plans for a future pond, so we will look forward to that!

We have successfully overwintered lily tubers by wrapping them in damp newspaper and then plastic and keeping them in a cool, dark spot. But I don't see why you couldn't keep it in a pot full of water in the house. Do they need a dormancy period is the question and I'm afraid I don't know the answer! Let's hope someone with more experience will pop in here!

 

[Marion]

Hmmm.... first of all WELCOME! I'm guessing you have plans for a future pond, so we will look forward to that!

We have successfully overwintered lily tubers by wrapping them in damp newspaper and then plastic and keeping them in a cool, dark spot. But I don't see why you couldn't keep it in a pot full of water in the house. Do they need a dormancy period is the question and I'm afraid I don't know the answer! Let's hope someone with more experience will pop in here!

Thanks for responding. Time will tell if a winter in water will work. I just don't have a cool, dark spot. In my former pre-downsizing home that wouldn't have been a problem, but in any case the lilies stayed in the deep ponds all winter. Inasmuch as the only possible site for a real pond in this small property is the septic bed because it is the flat part of a saucer with sloping sides, I doubt I can go bigger than the tub. However, this last spring I acquired a fine stream that tumbles downhill over many levels to a pondless finish. The burning question is how large is the working part of the tile bed.....

 

[Lisak1]

Sounds lovely!

I guess as far as the lily goes, all you can do is try. Much of gardening is just experimentation anyway.

 

[haver79]

I have successfully wintered a lily in my heated garage. I left it in its pot, trimmed everything off and put pot and all into a large garbage bag. I opened the bag occasionally to make sure the lily did not totally dry out. I do not recall ever having to add any water. I got that idea somewhere, someone elses advise. That was before I had my bigger pond. I now leave them in the pond.

 

[addy1]

Never heard of doing that, but it worked! All mine stay in my pond.

 

[big ron]

Never heard of doing that, but it worked! All mine stay in my pond.

I have had tropical lilies for numerous years in zone 7a . At the end of the season I remove them from the root bound pot and completely wash all dirt off of the plant . I then trim all roots back to 2-3 " and then divide the tuber into sections with roots attached. I then let them dry in a warm area for a day and then place them in a 1 gal freezer bag covered with peat moss and store in my garage in a dark closet. In spring I start them in small pots and you will soon see small leaves starting. When water temp.is 70 degrees I place them in "Safe Haven " containers sit back and enjoy their beauty.

 

[Marion]

Thanks, Ron. This encourages me. My hardy lily tuber is still living in water in its Chinese pot on the floor in as cool a place as I can find. I keep it covered, but change the water every week or so, removing any old hair roots, etc. It is clearly alive and has small, though pale, leaves in various places. I live in hope of its survival since it is now about half way through its ordeal . Perhaps next winter I'll try your tropical lily treatment.