Water lilies are best known for their star-shaped flowers, which seem to sway peacefully on the surface of the water. If you have a particularly large pond and want to plant more water lilies in it, or if you have other reasons for propagating this plant, this can be done very easily!
The water lily often multiplies all by itself
Share in spring - step by step
The fastest propagation method for the water lily is division. You can do this procedure in spring, but also in early summer between May and June. It should be noted that water lilies with rhizomatous rootstocks divide differently than water lilies with bulbous rootstocks.
First, you should get your water lily out of the pond. Rinse off the soil that is still clinging to the roots. Then you have a better overview:
- Rhizome-like root system: cut into 15 cm long sections (e.g. with a knife)
- bulbous root system: pull apart into sections
The divided roots are cleaned. Dark roots clinging 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 1 m). It is best if you use a plant basket (€11.99) for planting.
Self-sowing and targeted sowing
After the flower has faded, it sinks to the bottom to develop into a fruit. The ripening time is about 8 to 12 weeks. It is often the case that the seeds sow themselves and no direct intervention is necessary.
But be careful: some water lilies multiply so much in the pond that they soon proliferate and space has to be made again. If you do not create space by removing some plants, you must expect that flowering may not occur.
Target the sowing
Please note this when sowing directly:
- Fill the container with 4 cm of soil and 2 cm 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 different (a few weeks to several months)
- put out in spring
tips
The division of water lilies is recommended every 4 years, regardless of the propagation. This prevents the plant from spreading too far.