tropical water lilys and water temps ?

[Stephennj]

When is a safe time to plant out tropical water lilys ? at what water temperature ? I am in zone 7 New Jersey USA., right now my temps are between 55-60 degrees F depending on the sunshine, I know it's too early still but looking forward to getting thins going....

 

[addy1]

65-70 degree water. I have put mine out earlier, they just grow real sloooooooooooooooooooooooooow

 

[sissy]

Remember water lilies grow under water so it is not air temps it is water temps .Mine have started to sprout already .Get a cheap dollar store or spend money on a floating thermometer .I have a floating one but I have those big ones the sell at the dollar store and just tied stainless steel washers to the bottom of it and have it hanging off my bridge 3 feet down into the water .I just pull it up and look at temps. of water down there

 

[adavisus]

55-60f is a safe temp to plant tropical waterlilies out.

If you plonk tuber in bowl of water indoors, well lit, where you may have room temps at 70f or so, you will got a month or two head start on season, compared to planting out in so so luke warm temps for a month

Regards, andy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21940871@N06/
http://swglist.wordpress.com/

 

[Stephennj]

thanks all !

 

[topofthehill1]

im in central nj. my hearty water lily that overwintered in the pond already has a decent sized leaf up. I did have the pond covered with that clear plastic pvc stuff that seems to raised the temp well beyond what I thought it would. I removed that about a week ago and it seemed the temp dropped about 15 degrees. I think I lose a lot of heat to wind shear. I put my tropical ones that i overwintered in the basement out in a bucket in the shade. It seems to be doing fine.