How to Plant & Care for Water Lilies in a Pond

Water lilies turn any pond or big pot into a showpiece.

Getting started

Soak lotus seeds 1–2 days until the shell cracks, then place in warm, still water in a sunny spot (6+ hours). Change water every couple of days while sprouting.

Planting

Once rooted, plant in a wide, shallow aquatic planter with heavy clay soil, lower slowly into the pond so leaves reach the surface. Water lilies like still water and full sun.

Season care

In cool zones, trim spent leaves in fall. In mild zones (9–11) they can over-winter outdoors; elsewhere lift and store dormant rhizomes.