Turn your pond into a picturesque Monet-inspired masterpiece with this popular aquatic plant. Its elegant bowl-shaped blooms appear in summer, while its distinctive circular lily pads spread across the waters surface, providing valuable shelter for aquatic wildlife.
Water lilies are a stunning addition to any pond or water feature. Their colorful floating flowers create an elegant focal point. But can you successfully grow these aquatic beauties without soil?
Many pond owners wonder if water lilies actually need soil. After all, they grow right in the water! While it may seem like soil is unnecessary, water lilies do require proper soil and nutrients to thrive long-term.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover why soil matters for water lilies and creative ways to provide soil even in ponds with gravel or rocky bottoms. Read on to get the full scoop on successfully planting water lilies without soil.
Why Water Lilies Need Soil
Although water lilies are aquatic plants adapted to life in water, they are not fully submerged plants that can live entirely under water. Water lily roots actually need access to oxygen and nutrients found in soil in order to grow properly.
Here are the key reasons why water lilies require soil:
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Absorbing Nutrients: Water lily roots uptake important nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from soil. Without this nutritional exchange, roots would be starved.
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Anchoring: Soil anchors the water lily securely on the pond bottom. Otherwise, the plant would simply float away.
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Promoting Root Health: The soil environment allows beneficial gas exchange to the roots and provides insulation from temperature fluctuations.
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Encouraging Flowers: The nutrients supplied by fertilizers mixed into the soil are essential for flowering. Without them, blooms will be sparse or non-existent.
Plants like anacharis can survive soil-free, but lilies are heavy root feeders dependent on soil for their needs.
Trying to Grow Water Lilies Without Soil
Some pond owners still experiment with planting water lilies directly into plain gravel, rocks, or even just water, without any real soil. But this soil-free approach simply does not work well long-term.
Here’s what happens when you try to grow water lilies without proper soil:
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At first, the water lily may appear healthy. But within a few weeks, signs of nutrient deficiencies emerge as reserves deplete.
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Without soil to anchor it, the water lily can detach and float freely around the pond on the whims of water flow.
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Temperature fluctuations in the water can damage roots left uninsulated by soil.
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Lack of gas exchange through rocks or gravel effectively suffocates the roots.
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Blooms cease since the plant lacks nutrients that encourage flowering.
Smart Options for Providing Soil
Now for the good news! With a bit of pondside ingenuity, you can absolutely provide the necessary soil environment even in ponds with gravel or rocky bottoms. Here are some effective options:
Planting Baskets
Specialty aquatic planting baskets designed for water lilies allow you to fill the container with soil, plant the lily, and situate the basket securely in your pond. The basket’s open bottom permits gas exchange while keeping the soil and roots contained.
Creating Soil Pockets
For ponds with a gravel substrate, dig out pockets in the rocks and fill them with a quality aquatic potting mix before planting the lily’s root ball. The pockets recreate a soil environment.
Using Fertilizer Tablets
In gravel or rocky ponds, supplement by adding slow-release fertilizer tablets made specifically for aquatics around newly planted lilies. While this doesn’t provide an actual soil medium, it does supply essential nutrients.
Top-Dressing with Soil
After placing the lily in position in your rocky pond bottom, add a thin 1-2 inch layer of potting soil or aquatic compost on top of the root area. Though it will disperse a bit in the water over time, periodically replace it to give roots access to nutrients.
Maintaining Soil Depth
When planting in pots or baskets in ponds without gravel substrate, situate containers so at least 12-18 inches of water covers the soil. This prevents the soil from drying out, which would damage roots. Add or remove water as needed to maintain depth.
Growing Stunning Water Lilies Soil-Free
While water lilies can’t grow fully submerged in just water, a lack of loose gravel or rocks in your pond doesn’t have to stop you from raising these beautiful aquatic blooms. With creative thinking, the right tools like planting baskets, and supplemental fertilizing, your water lilies will flourish wonderfully even “soil-free!”
Focus on providing lily roots with a balance of oxygen, insulation, nutrients, and anchoring to mimic the benefits of real soil. Then sit back and enjoy a gorgeous floral display gracing your pond all season long. Growing water lilies without soil is totally possible with the right techniques.
Choosing the right waterlily
There is a huge range of waterlilies to choose from, with flowers in various colours, adding elegance to both formal and informal ponds. They are beneficial as well as decorative, as they provide shelter for pondlife and the shade they cast helps to deter algae. 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 dont have a pond, you can still grow a dwarf waterlily in a large container of water (at least 30cm/1ft deep). Hardy waterlilies are easy to grow outdoors all year round. Tropical waterlilies can be more tricky, as they need warm water and frost-free conditions in winter. To find out about the various species and cultivars, go to RHS Plant Finder. Search for Nymphaea and you can browse the photographs and descriptions, and find out where to buy them. For more inspiration and tips, see our guide to pond plants.
How and what to buy
Waterlilies are mainly available from specialist aquatic plant nurseries and online suppliers. They may be sold as
These have been lifted from the ground while dormant, with little or no soil around their roots. Various plants may be available bare root, including fruit trees, hedging plants and some perennials. They are generally cheaper than plants in containers, but are only available in winter/early spring, while dormant
bare-root plants (without soil) while
Dormancy refers to a period of inactivity in plants, during which they slow down or stop their growth, conserving energy and resources. This is a natural process that helps them survive harsh conditions, such as winter or drought. Dormancy in seeds is a mechanism that prevents them germinating until environmental conditions are favourable for growth.
dormant in early spring, or as growing plants in spring and summer. They are sometimes available pre-planted into aquatic baskets, ready for placing directly in a pond. Waterlilies need to be planted in aquatic
Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers – a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.
compost or heavy loam, so buying ready-planted specimens is an easy and time-saving option, requiring no specialist products. 
Create a wildlife-friendly pond
Create a wildlife-friendly pond
How to choose healthy plants
How to choose healthy plants Planting
- Waterlilies prefer calm, still water, away from fountains, pumps, cascades or other turbulence.
- Plant in full sun to promote flowering.
- They are best planted in aquatic compost, or heavy clay-based loam, in an aquatic basket.
- Choose a cultivar to suit the size and depth of your pond – check plant labels/descriptions before buying.
- Aim to cover no more than half the ponds surface with leaves.
Most waterlilies are hardy, but tender tropical waterlilies are also available. These need a water temperature of at least 21˚C (70˚F) during the growing season, and 10˚C (50˚F) in winter, so are best grown in pool in a warm greenhouse or conservatory.
Dwarf/small cultivars reach 30–60cm (1–2ft) wide, and need water 30–45cm (12–18in) deep. Medium cultivars reach 60–120cm (2–4ft) wide, and need water 45–75cm (18–30in) deep. Large cultivars reach up to 2.4m (8ft) wide, and need water 75–120cm (30in–4ft) deep.
From late spring to late summer.
Waterlilies should be planted into an aquatic basket, with mesh sides, filled with aquatic compost or heavy clay-based loam. The basket prevents the roots spreading unchecked and makes plant care easier, as it can be lifted out relatively easily. Most waterlilies need a large basket, usually 5–10 litres, although a dwarf plant should be fine in a 2 litre basket.
To plant a waterlily:
- Line the basket with hessian and fill with aquatic compost or loamy soil.
- Trim back any long roots and cut off old or damaged leaves.
- Plant so the crown is at the compost surface, and firm in well. Add a layer of washed pea shingle to hold the compost in place. Water thoroughly.
- Place the basket carefully into the pond so the crown is covered with 15–25cm (6–10in) of water, and the young leaves float on the surface. You may need to stand it on bricks initially.
- As the plant grows, lower the basket in stages until it sits on the bottom of the pond.
Tropical waterlilies can be planted at their permanent depth immediately as they grow quickly. For more details, see our guide to planting aquatics. Ongoing care
Waterlilies are vigorous, hungry plants. To promote strong growth and flowering, add slow-release aquatic feed every spring. This comes in tablet form, to be pushed down into the compost, so it feeds the plant, not the water. You can also add these aquatic feed tablets at planting time and when dividing or re-potting plants.
When flowers start to fade, its best to remove them, if practical, so they dont sink down into the water and rot. If you can reach them safely, cut off spent flowers as low down on the stem as possible. See our guide to pond care.
Hardy waterlilies need no protection in winter. The leaves will die in late autumn, and should be cut off as low down as possible and fished out, to prevent them decaying in the water. The plant will stay dormant over winter, then start into growth once the water temperature rises. Leaves usually appear on the surface by mid-spring, depending on your local conditions. Tropical waterlilies need a water temperature of at least 10˚C (50˚F) over winter. Alternatively, take them out of the pond, remove the fading foliage, then store the tubers in damp sand at a minimum of 10˚C (50˚F).
Results of Planting Water Lilies using No Soil nor Fertilizer
FAQ
Can water lily grow in water without soil?
But while these perennials appear on the surface of waters in tropical and temperate regions, their roots do need soil to survive. Water lilies grow at a moderate pace, about 1 to 6 inches per month, and are best planted in the spring after the last frost date.
Can you grow water lilies in only water?
Under optimal conditions, water lilies can live 15-20 years or longer. Can water lilies grow in only water? No.
How do you plant water lilies?
To position, simply plant by your river edge using PVA or white woodworking glue. Once in place, you may wish to spray them with cheap hairspray or diluted PVA to stop them going too brittle with age. Often in places where there are reeds, water lilies can be found; they can be simply replicated with small blobs of green paint.
How do you care for water lilies?
Cut water lilies look best on their own, or paired with one or two tropical leaves to create more shape. Make sure you use a vase with a large neck, so the stems can move. Much like tulips, stems grow around 1cm in length per day. Give them fresh, clean water daily, and cut them back every second day to avoid the stems rotting.
How do you grow lilies in a pond?
We recommend The Pond Guy Aquatic Planting Soil topped with The Pond Guy Aquatic Planting Media for luscious growth without the mess. Lilies and Lotuses: Best grown in pots, such as the Planting Kit for Water Lilies & Lotus. Fill your tub with our premium pond soil (75%). Position the bulb inside the soil with the growing tip pointed up.