The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Water lilies include several dozen plant species belonging to the genusNymphaea.
Although there are marked differences in the various species, water lilies are all prized for their great beauty.
They typically grow with large floating leaves and delicate, often colorful flowers.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Water lilies are excellent plants in ponds or other large outdoor water features.
Because they are such beautiful plants, many people wonder whether they can be grown indoors to enjoy daily.
While it is possible to grow water lilies as houseplants, it’s quite difficult.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Can You Grow Water Lilies Indoors?
Even hardy water lilies are not suited for people seeking easy-to-grow ornamental houseplants.
However, the following guidelines apply more to growing hardy lilies indoors.
The Nymphaea ‘Red Flare’ water lily gives a burst of color to your moonlight garden.pzAxe/Shutterstock
These plants need at least four to eight hours of full, direct sunlight a day to thrive.
It may take some experimentation with different types of light bulbs and fixtures to get the lighting right.
However, there is no strict water temperature requirement for hardy water lilies.
This was my hardy water lily “Charlene Strawn”. She came back for several years, until I tried to bring her out of dormancy too early, to bloom indoors. Be patient and let your water lilies have a full winter of rest.Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Ideally, the top of the growing basket should be submerged by at least 12 inches.
You will not need to change properly aerated water as often.
When you add additional water to the tank, a small amount of additional fertilizer should be added.
Pruning and Maintenance
Remove dead leaves as they appear to keep the water fresh and prevent stagnation.
It’s okay to change the water every so often.
The plants themselves are placed in a net pot or planting basket filled with a growing medium.
Lower the pot into the water container so water can freely circulate around it.
Even here, the shock is often more than the plants can bear.
Both thewater lily and lotustypically grow in ponds.
A water lily will have thick, waxy flowers and waxy notched leaves.
Alotuswill have thin, papery leaves.
Outdoor water lilies can form dense mats which negatively affect aquatic life.
Hardy water lilies in dwarf varieties are best for indoor growing.
When planted from rhizomes in ideal conditions, water lilies usually bloom in the first year.
Water Lilies for Home Gardeners.Missouri Botanical Garden
