Nymphaea Fidelity » Tropical Water Lily Care

Always work in a fairly cool and shaded location. Do not use any of the peat based soil mixes as these soils will float and will make a mess. Also, there is no need to purchase the expensive specific “aquatic plant soils.” They offer no real benefits over sand, clay, or heavy garden soil.

Consider using a time-release fertilizer over aquatic plant tabs. Most aquatic plant tabs release the fertilizer over a short period of time. This could shock the plant and set it back. If you choose to use aquatic plant tabs, be careful to set the tabs several inches from the crown of the plant. We recommend Osmocote. If not accessible, we recommend AgSafe Aquatic-Tabs or Pondtabbs Plus.

General Planting Instructions

First fill a container 1/3 with a substrate. This can be sand, clay, or another heavy garden soil. After the container is filled 1/3 with a substrate, then place the proper amount of aquatic plant tablets or a time-released pellet fertilizer in it and mix. Then add a bit more substrate. Now place the plant in the center and spread the roots out around the container. Add more substrate until the substrate is in line with the crown of the plant. The crown is the portion where the stems are connected to the plant. Lightly press the substrate around the container. If you have fish, you may now add pea gravel or large rocks to deter fish from digging in the substrate. Keep the pea gravel or rocks away from the crown of the plant. Now place the container in a bucket of water. You will see the water cloud a bit from the extra dirt on the surface of the pot. The plant is now ready to be placed in the pond.

Tropical Water Lily Recommendations

Tropical water lilies (TWL) should be planted when the pond temperature is at least 70°F. At our location in west central Florida, tropical water lilies grow year round. If you plant a TWL too early when the water temperature is colder than 70°F the plant can become shocked and in worst scenario the plant will die.

Follow the general planting instructions above. You should initially set the container 12-18 inches from the surface. If you are planting a vivip or a tuber, set the container about 6 inches beneath the surface of the water. Also, when planting tubers, be sure to set them horizontal instead of vertical (the plant will grow away from the tuber and you can break it off and do the process over to get another plant). Within a few weeks, if you desire, you may lower the the TWL to a depth beyond 18 inches.

Osmocote may be given to already potted tropical water lilies. Simply poke a hole in the substrate that reaches near the bottom of the pot–then fill most of the hole up with Osmocote and cover hole with substrate and press firmly.

Quick Tips

• Keep plants cool until you are able to plant. Get plants in water as soon as they are out of the package.
• Plant in the evening (plants have a period to adjust and have a less chance of drying out due to the sun).
• Its better to set a new plant closer to the surface of the water than deeper. It will establish itself more quickly.
• Freshly planted tubers and vivips should not be crowded by larger plants. This will slow their growth significantly.

Become more enlightened about growing aquatic plants by visiting Victoria-Adventure.org.