Water lilies are best known for their star-shaped flowers, which seem to sway calmly on the surface of the water. If you have a particularly large pond and want to plant it with additional water lilies or have other reasons for propagating this plant, you can do this very easily!
How can I propagate water lilies?
To propagate water lilies, you can divide their rhizomes in spring or sow the seeds after flowering. Division is the quicker method, while sowing can require up to several months of germination time.
Dividing in spring – step by step
The fastest method of propagation for the water lily is division. You can undertake this procedure in spring, but also in early summer between May and June. It should be noted that water lilies with rhizomatous rhizomes divide differently than water lilies with tuberous rhizomes.
First you should get your water lily out of the pond. Rinse off any soil still attached to the roots. Then you have a better overview:
- rhizoma-like roots: cut into 15 cm long pieces (e.g. with a knife)
- tuber-like roots: pull apart into sections
The divided roots are cleaned. Dark roots that are attached to it are cut off. Younger roots are shortened. Now the sections can be placed at different locations in the garden pond (distance at least.1m). It is best if you use a plant basket (€13.00 on Amazon) for planting.
Self-seeding and targeted sowing
After the flower has faded, it sinks to the bottom to form a fruit. The ripening time is around 8 to 12 weeks. It is often the case that the seeds sow themselves and no direct action is necessary.
But be careful: Some water lilies multiply so much in the pond that they soon become overgrown and space has to be made again. If you don't make space by removing some plants, you may have to assume that they won't bloom.
Take a targeted approach to sowing
Please note this when sowing directly:
- Fill the container 4 cm high with soil and 2 cm high with sand
- fill with water (4 cm)
- Cover seeds thinly with sand (distance between individual seeds: 2 cm)
- place in a warm, bright place
- Germination time: very variable (a few weeks to several months)
- expose in spring
Tip
Dividing water lilies is recommended every 4 years, regardless of propagation. This prevents the plant from spreading too much.
