water lilies

[sydnie]

my lilies are not in pots but root in the bottom of the pond. why is it a bad idea to let them spread this way?

 

[RobAmy]

It is not bad at all but they can get very heavy when the time comes to either thin them out or take them out. A few of mine grew out of the pots and are just rooting outside of the pot, no issues here.

 

[Lisak1]

Just watch a few minutes of this video to see what lilies can do if left to their own devices!

 

[addy1]

I have had a few jump their pots, roots out by around 2 feet. It took two of us to lift the oil pan out with the hanging roots. I keep them all under control now.

 

[Jhn]

I have mine bare root in the pond, but I designed the shallower portion of the pond to contain them. This way they can’t spread
Through out the whole pond.

I have had to thin them out a few times over the 9 years, since I built the pond. No biggie, but may not be great idea as I get older and may not feel like getting in the pond anymore.

In a smaller pond though unpotted lilies could take over quickly. As they have taken over about a 12’x15’ portion of my pond.

 

[Bluerooster]

How often should the roots be cropped? I have a lily that's been here only about a month, and it's already rooting outside the container.

 

[Lisak1]

I have a lily that's been here only about a month, and it's already rooting outside the container.

I cull mine every other year. How big is the pot that it's in? The pots they sell them in are generally not the best pot to grow them in. I use either oil pans (thanks to @addy1 for the idea!) or dishpans. Something shallow and low is better. They do make lily pots - shallow, no holes - but they tend to be more expensive. Although I did pick a few up at one of the big box stores a few years ago and they weren't too bad - maybe $5 a piece.

The idea is to plant the tuber so it can grow across the pan. I put mine with the growing tip near the edge and the tuber pointed toward the middle. In a larger pan, I'll put two in across from each other. In nursery pots they tend to grow up and out instead of staying in the pan.

Here's the oil pan:

Here's a dishpan:

And here's an official water lily pot:

As you can see, all serve the same purpose - contain the lily while it grows! A good lip on the edge is helpful. I use a garden rake to grab them and pull them around or out of the pond when I don't feel like getting in (aka the water is freezing!)

 

[Bluerooster]

It's not in a pot per se, but in a sort of coconut fibre pouch. I just dropped it in the water, and it took off.
I have another in a basket, similar to the square one you have pictured. It's not doing as well as the two in the coconut husk pouches.

 

[Lisak1]

Just be aware that a lily out of a pot will take over an entire pond if you let it.

 

[Bluerooster]

I would like very much for it to "take over" about a 1/4 of the pond surface area. To provide shade for the fish.