Winterize water lillies...

[Louis]

As far as i know to winterize water lillies,
cut off all the folliage,
drop to the pond bottom.

can i drop them in a plastic barrel filled with water?
(it will completely freeze)

I think i had them too deep this year, only got
leaf pads on 1 plant and bush on the other 2.

[Jackie Ramo]

What depth do you have them at now? I never move my lilies.. nor do I drop plants to the bottom of the pond, that space is for the fish to overwinter and they are crowded already.

Tropical lilies need to be brought in but hardies should over winter just fine where they grew. For some reason only one of my lilies performed well this year and I've heard the same from others... you'd think they'd love the hot summers...

Also hardy marginals can stay in place and not be sunk or even put in the garden. Yes I lose one or two but 95% of the plants survive which is the same when I moved them.

[Busy B]

Where mine were at about a foot deep, the tops were mushy...the bottom of the tuber sent out new pads but it didn't do much. The ones where I had deeper did better. But I think our winters are colder than yours.

[Dave in Innisfil]

In "winterizing" water lilies, is it best to divide them in the fall before they go to sleep for the winter, or wait until spring and their first buds ? Mine are terribly pot-bound, but flourished well (still producing blossoms) despite their many depth changes this past season.

[Jackie Ramo]

Either spring or fall, actually spring would probably be best or early winter. You want them to take back the nurishment from the leaves to feed the tuber over winter. Although they can also be split in summer. weeds really :wink:

Busy water lilies like to be at least 18" - 24" deep, mine are more than that although I removed the 4 ft deep one, it was the best bloomer. At a foot deep sounds like the top of yours froze solid which is why it would be mushy.

[Louis]

i have three levels, 1 at each
3, 4 and 4 1/2' i only had pads on the 3'
i can leave them where they are, but i read to clip
the folliage and sink them in the pot?

p.s. sitting in the swim trunks, want to do this asap...

Terri has a picture of her yard with the lillies in a small pond
Oshawa i guess, completely frozen..

[Jackie Ramo]

I'd not leave lilies above a 2 ft mark. If they are that shallow I'd sink them but at 2 feet I'd leave them... Hope you've changed out of the swim suit by now, its cold out there !rofl

To grow and bloom lilies need at least 18" of water over the top of the plant.

[Louis]

I'm going to raise them to 3' for next year..
now do i need to cut off the folliage and sink them for the winter..

[Jackie Ramo]

If you are doing now yes I'd cut off the foliage but its a bit early yet for me to even consider bringing in the tropicals never mind wintering the hardies.... :frisbee:

Chestwaders Louis!!!

[Louis]

6' of cold.....

[Jackie Ramo]

Come on!! I thought you were a real Canadian :lol: Its not cold until there's an inch of ice on it, then its for skating!!!

[Dave in Innisfil]

I'm pretty sure I've seen the last of my water lily blooms. Does that mean it's safe to cut the leaves and stalks back now without them starting to grow again ?

[Jackie Ramo]

Yes, have fun! :lol:

[BonnieIN]

Do I get a prize for getting in the pond last week to cut some of my lilies back? Without waders that is!

I don't have a greenhouse like some lucky people but I'm going to try overwintering tropicals again this year. I believe I'll just use the sand method. As a backup, my "little" brother in FL will be getting a few and hopefully he can overwinter them in his pond so I can enjoy them again next year.

Wow, time flies when you're having fun........ :smile:

[Jackie Ramo]

Bonnie I plant to do that this weekend, gather in all teh tropicals and cut back the lilies. I hope our temps stay warm so that the chest waders can stay in the closet.

[Busy B]

I still have one out there..need to put some air into the tote ...water on the top is getting scuzzy but silly things are putting out new pads.

I'm guessing that's what happened to the one that was mushy..water was low anyway in the pond and it probably froze..still managed to send up some small pads at the bottom of the tuber..

Have never had tropicals..maybe some year..