The Plant Lady. Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery

Did the cold of last winter kill your tropical lilies? Is that such a bad thing? Waterlilies are such big plants and take up a lot of room in a pond that most of us only have room to grow 2 or 3. Losing one this winter means you can try a new one! But first....

How to tell if your lily is alive or not
Tropical lilies, overwintered outside, will frequently not show any signs of life until late April or early May. If you haven't seen any new leaves by early May, reach into the pot--that's right, stick your hands in that mud--and feel around for a hard tuber. If it's hard it will grow, but if you just feel a lot of mush, then the plant has not survived the winter.

But wait...
Was your tropical a night blooming lily? Night Bloomers are waterlilies that open at night and close the next day. In our 23 years, we have never lost a tropical night blooming lily. Night Bloomers are the last lilies to awaken each spring and typically produce numerous small tubers that can be missed when checking for life as described above. Just leave the pot alone and don't expect to see the first small arrow-shaped leaves until late May.

For those of you who can't wait, Mike and his crew have started hundreds of tropical lilies in our greenhouses so you can enjoy early season color now!

Is My Tropical Lily Still Alive?