Water Lilies make an attractive addition to any pond. Not only will they create gorgeous colours and add to the beauty of your pondscape, any plants will also help create more of a natural ecological balance in your pond, which is beneficial to both your pond water, and your fish. Your fish will love them too, as their leaves (or lilypads), provide shade and cover for your fish and an interesting underwater environ for your fish to explore.

Lilies need proper care to reach their full potential however. Take a look below at our top tips for growing lilies and you’ll be sure to avoid missing or lacklustre flowers, and puny, small sized lilypads.

One problem sometimes encountered is that your lilies are not receiving enough nutrients. Curling or yellowing of leaves or flowers could indicate you have this issue. The solution to this would be to add some aquatic plant fertiliser. Lotus Lily Grow Tablets are just the thing. These are slow release tablets that work at the root source and will ensure your lilypads and their flowers are lustrous, healthy, vibrant and colourful.

You also need to ensure that your lilies are getting enough sunlight throughout the day. Six to eight hours of partial to full sunlight is the ideal. If your lilies are not receiving enough they will appear weak and fragile. If they are in partial cover or shade consider moving them to another location where they will receive more light.

Overcrowding plants is another common issue. All plants whether terrestrial or aquatic need room for their roots to grow and spread out. If too many are placed in an insufficiently sized planter then this will definitely stunt their growth. It’s worth taking some time to pull out those planting bags and baskets from your pond, then divide and replant your lilies and other plants where necessary. We have quite a range of Planting Baskets, Bags, Socks and More to suit all planting requirements.

One final thing to check to ensure optimum conditions, are your pH levels. Water lilies will thrive best in water within the 6.2 to 7.4pH range. Check your pH levels with a pH Test Kit and follow the advice in our pH Levels Guide. You could also use a pH Adjuster if you find your levels are not within the desired range.

As well as Lilies we now have a huge range of other Pond Plants, and just like any other terrestrial or aquatic plant, lilies will benefit from some regular pruning and deadheading. Prune away and trim any flowers or leaves that are displaying yellow or brown colours, or that are looking dried up and unhealthy (dying or dead, basically). Performing this task regularly will encourage more growth and possibly even some new blooms.