Waterlilies (Nymphaea) and Lotus (Nelumbo) are treasures of the aquatic world, symbolic in both the ancient and modern world. These precious plants are celebrated for their beauty and immortalized in art and religion, adding a rich array of colors to the aquatic ec0ysystem. They serve as a nectar source for pollinators and provide habitat and shade for the aquatic ecosystem.
The genus Nymphaea – our beloved waterlilies – can be found growing on all continents except Antarctica. However, that was not always the case. Fossil records have uncovered an extinct waterlily species that once grew in Antarctica called ‘Notonuphar antarctica’.
In the wild, the genus Nymphaea are found on the muddy banks of freshwater ponds and lakes, dating back 120 million years. Having been around for so long, waterlilies have adapted to find ways to persevere in their aquatic environment.
One way in which they do so is to dislodge their root systems from the muddy banks in their natural habitat, when they are no longer content with the growing conditions. Perhaps the soil beneath it has become anerobic, lacking oxygen, making nutrient-uptake difficult. To remedy this, the waterlily uproots itself, floats downstream, and re-anchors in dirt more favorable.
Rethink what it means to Repot a Waterlily
When we think of repotting, we typically think of upsizing our plants into a bigger pot. Repotting waterlilies, however, does not necessarily mean ‘upsizing’ as much as it means ‘refreshing the dirt’ in the existing pot.
Give your lilies fresh dirt twice a year (spring and fall equinox) to mimic its natural tendency to uproot itself from unfavorable growing conditions, such as anaerobic soil. Supplement with plant-food rich in phosphorous such as our lily tab fertilizer, and optimize blooms, in a captive environment, such as in our ponds and water container gardens, ideally within eye-level, so you may enjoy their beauty and fragrance up close.
Our collection of Waterlilies and Lotus are waking up at Garden Ponds Nursery
Many waterlily varieties that have been dormant over the winter months will begin to show new growth in March, such as Albert Greenberg, Leopardess, Avalanche and Tropic Sunset. Some waterlilies bloom happily year-round here on Kauai.
Lotus sleeps during the winter months, and begins to wake up in February and March – the ideal time to repot and prepare for a robust summer blooming season.
Spring and fall are an ideal time to refresh your water gardens
Repot hardy waterlilies with fresh dirt adding new space for the plant to grow across the pot. Offer it fertilizer in March, starting with a small amount, proportionate to the current size of the plant, adding a full tablet when the plant is growing rapidly, in a month’s time.
Tropical waterlilies that have not gone dormant, appreciate a repot in the spring – around the spring equinox – refreshing the dirt and cutting away any old, or decaying corms (bulbs) or roots. To wake up a dormant waterlily corm, repot in March with a small amount of fertilizer, placing in a shallow, sunny spot.
Come and see our selection of tropical and hardy waterlilies at the nursery, in addition to a new selection of ceramic pots that serve as excellent water container garden basins. We welcome you to also peruse our stunning stone statuary collection, the ideal complement for featuring these glorious ancient aquatic flowers.
Awakening the Lotus
The genus Nelumbo is often colloquially confused with a water lily, yet they are very distant from the waterlily family of Nymphaea. The closest living relative of the lotus is the Protea flower. You can identify a lotus by its hydrophobic leaves that are elevated above the water’s surface, and blooms that stand tall up out of the water, up to 6 feet tall.
Wake up dormant lotus by repotting in February or March and beginning fertilizing when three aerial leaves have grown up and out of the water.
Join our Annual Lotus Class
Find out more about growing lotus in a captive environment in our upcoming Lotus classes on Saturday March 2, 2024 at 10am until 12noon and Saturday March 30, 2024 at 10am-12noon. Register for the Lotus Class via Eventbrite here.
Check out our other class listings, such as The Secrets of Water Gardening, Waterlily 101 and more by visiting Classes at Garden Ponds.
Garden Ponds is located in Kilauea, next to the Anaina Hou Mini Golf. We are open Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays we open at 9 a.m. (until 5 p.m.). Give us a call at 808-828-6400, email us with inquiries at [email protected] or visit us at www.gardenpondskauai.com for classes and blog posts.
siri amrit kaur
Beautiful awakening. What you shared expands insight into the connection between the lotus flower and the lotus mudra as used in Kundalini Yoga. Lovely.