How to plant water lilies?

The painter Monet immortalized them through a series of 250 paintings called the Water Lilies. 250 paintings that celebrate the dazzling beauty of these aquatic plants that are water lilies. Of rare elegance, the water lilies adorn the pools with their white, yellow, pink, purple or even red flowers throughout the summer.

Seemingly fragile and delicate, water lilies turn out to be plants of great hardiness and above all very easy to establish in an aquatic basin. Plants that are also important for the ecosystem of your pond. Follow all our advice to understand how to plant water lilies.

The benefits of having water lilies in your pond

A beautiful bloom

Who has never been ecstatic in front of the beauty of the water lilies which seem to literally float on the water? Commonly called water lilies, these rhizomatous perennial aquatic plants are actually water lilies of the Nympheaceae family. And as in any family, there are different varieties and species, and therefore different sizes, of these magnificent aquatic plants.

Plant with heart-shaped foliage (which distinguishes it from the lotus!), the water lily is rather easy to live with. Its only requirement is good sunshine for at least 6 hours a day. Likewise, it prefers calm waters so avoid placing it near a jet of water that would disturb it. By respecting these two conditions, your water lilies will bloom without any problem to offer you a beautiful bloom from May-June to September, or even until October. In winter they will lose their leaves but some varieties can withstand temperatures down to -25°.

Oxygenating properties for your pool water

Beyond their decorative virtue, water lilies have the advantage of oxygenating the water and therefore participating in the good biological balance of the pool. Especially since they "feed" on the nutrients in the water, much appreciated by the algae, which makes it possible to keep the water clear and above all clean.

The last advantage of these plants lies in their ability to maintain a constant water temperature. The width of their leaves makes it possible to shade the surface of your pond, the water heats up less quickly and your fish can find a cool refuge there.

When and how to plant water lilies?

Water lilies are planted from April to September in at least 15 cm of water. Be sure to choose the variety of water lilies carefully, as some need more depth.

Water lilies are planted in pots or perforated trays or even better special baskets that allow water to circulate while preventing soil from escaping. All these containers will be submerged at the bottom of the pool. It will therefore be essential to place a hessian or a rot-proof film that will exceed the upper edges of the basket. Then fill with heavy, clay soil. There are also soils specifically intended for aquatic plants. You can optionally add a special aquatic plant fertilizer. Place the water lily rhizome, taking care not to damage the fragile roots. Cover with soil, tamp well and fold down the burlap which will be held in place by a few pebbles. Soak the basket in water before gently placing it in the basin. The leaves must reach the level of the water. To do this, it may be necessary to lay bricks or rubble under the pot. As the water lilies grow, you can sink them deeper and deeper.

Easy-going aquatic plants

Water lilies require little attention. Once well established, they will bloom from summer to summer without your intervention. Just check the water level and offer them some water lily fertilizer in the spring .

Its only drawback is its tendency to invade the pelvis if it feels good there. Every three to four years, either in the spring before flowering or in the fall after flowering, you will therefore need to divide your plants by simply cutting the rhizome. Return the first part to its original basket and plant the other elsewhere. Or share it with your friends or neighbors who are lucky enough to have a pool.

Which varieties of water lilies to choose?

The choice of your water lilies is made according to the color of their flowering but above all according to the size of your pool.

Water lilies for small pond

These are dwarf water lilies, which grow in 15 to 30 cm of water:

• The candida water lily: profusion of pretty pearly white flowers

• The water lily pygmea: very floriferous. Bright yellow or bright pink flowers depending on the variety

• The water lily tetragona: white flowering, weak development

Water lilies for the middle pond

• The water lily andreana: it needs 30 to 60 cm of water. Beautiful pink flowers with a pleasant fragrance

• Nymphea indiana: it grows in 25 to 50 cm of water. During flowering, its flowers evolve from orange-yellow to dark red.

• The nymphéa aurora: orange-yellow flowers close to the color of the apricot. It grows in a water depth of 30-60 cm.

Water lilies for large ponds

• The water lily alba: this is one of the most common. Magnificent with its white flowers illuminated by yellow stamens. Ideally, it needs at least 60 cm of water.

• The nymphea attraction: it grows in at least 60 cm and has a very flowering. Large dark pink flowers

• The fragrant waterlily sulphurea: it likes great depths but can adapt to smaller ones. Its large yellow flowers are very fragrant.

• The carbuncle nymphea: it flowers from mid-May. Large dark pink flowers and beautiful dark green leaves. Long and abundant flowering

• The Colonel Welch nymphea: it appreciates large expanses and must be immersed in at least 60 cm of water. Pretty bright yellow flowers. It loves heat very much and multiplies on its own.

Faced with an abundant flowering of water lilies, one easily indulges in daydreaming. Zen plant par excellence in the same way as the lotus, the water lily will delight in the calm waters of your pond