How to Pick Water Lilies | ehow.com (2024)

FAQs

How do I choose a water lily? ›

A key factor when choosing a waterlily is the size and depth of your pond. Many waterlilies are vigorous and can spread to cover several square metres, although there are options for all pond sizes. If you don't have a pond, you can still grow a dwarf waterlily in a large container of water (at least 30cm/1ft deep).

It's considered a misdemeanor to pick wildflowers in California, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Colorado and you could be fined.

Waterlily flowers need some special care!

The stems keep growing in your vase so each day trim them back to the rim with a sharp knife and refill the vase. Waterlily flowers like LOTS of light! They open in the morning and close at night. Put them in the brightest place in your house out of direct heat.

Waterlilies and tuberous plants, such as Acorus, can be propagated from root-bud cuttings from the rhizome. They may produce tiny, new growing points on the roots where shoots emerge. Cut off a 7.5cm (3in) piece of the root behind the growing point. Pot up and grow on.

Choose buds that are just about to start opening or have recently opened. The flowers will continue to mature after they've been cut, and by choosing the young blooms, one can extend the lifespan of the lily display.

Almost all wildflowers are fragile and many wilt and perish soon after being picked. Over the years, the repercussions of wildflower picking by unthinking people go far beyond the loss of the flowers themselves. A critical chain of events is triggered for years to come once wildflowers are lost.

First, picking endangered or protected species is always illegal. Second, there are a number of traffic laws that create a problem for those picking wildflowers on the side of the road.

Harvest flowers during cool times of the day when they are plump and perky - early morning and late evening are best. If it's warm, sunny or excessively windy, postpone picking to allow the flowers to rehydrate. Always use clean, sharp tools.

Waterlilies release oxygen through their roots into the pond's soil. Submerged plants, aka oxygenators, float just below the surface and usually only their flowers emerge above the water. They also help to keep the water clear of algae and provide wildlife with shelter.

How long do cut water lilies last? ›

Water lily flowers add an exoctic touch to a room, but rarely last more than five days when cut. Pick buds or flowers that have just opened – they'll feel firm to the touch. When planting waterlilies, line mesh baskets with peat or coconut fibre and use good heavy soil, not potting mix.

The roots of water lilies also help to keep ponds clean by absorbing excess nutrients that would otherwise lead to excessive algae growth. And finally, lily pads help to oxygenate ponds by releasing oxygen into the water through their leaves.

Healthy water lilies grow rapidly and it's possible to get as many as 25 new plants from one large rootball - that's enough to transform your pond into a Monet-inspired artwork!

Pruning a waterlily in the pond:

If your waterlily is too large and has become too heavy with roots stretching out across the pond base then do not give yourself a hernia by trying to lift it out to repot it. Instead, prune the crown of the plant in the same way that you would a shrub in the garden.

The water lily petal is pointed and creates a star-like bloom; the lotus petal is more rounded, sometimes ruffly. Lily flowers last longer, up to two weeks, then wilt and fall beneath the water; the lotus has a significant seed pod that continues to grow above the water after the inflorescence has passed.

Nymphaea Pygmaea alba - Pygmy White Water Lily This enchanting water lily has miniature, cup-shaped white flowers and is the smallest of the white lilies. It is well suited to patio pools and small, shallow water features.