Winter Care of Water Lilies

It’s September and that means it’s time for many of us to think about which plants we’re going to try and over-winter indoors. I have to make lots of space under the lights for my bay tree and rosemary. After that, I need to get particular about what I drag indoors. I only have so much room and light and those pots can be very heavy.

No plant really wants to be brought indoors for the winter, especially those that need a dormant period. But some plants, like tender bulbs and water lilies, won’t survive outdoors near me. I have to provide them with just the right sleeping conditions, if I want them to survive the winter in my basement. Bulbs are pretty easy and there are usually enough of them that if I lose 1 or 2, I can handle it. Water lilies have always made me nervous. If you can leave yours in your pond all winter, I am truly jealous. My pond is not deep enough, so I hold my breath all winter, hoping I’m doing right by my water lilies. I suppose I could just compost them at the end of the season and start over, but where’s the thrill in that? If you’d like to try over-wintering your water lilies, here are some tricks I’ve learned along the way.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.
My 1st water lily, 'Charlene Strawn'.