How to Care for Lily Bulbs Not Sinking in an Aquarium

While most plants, flowers and trees require bright, warm sites with dry soil and quick drainage, water plants like lotuses and water lilies grow naturally in standing water. They anchor their roots to the floors of ponds and extend their stems to the surface for air and sun. In captive environments like aquariums, this growing habit requires some extra help. Plant water lilies carefully to encourage healthy, natural growth.

Pots/containers
Topsoil/clay loam
Gravel
Fertilizer spikes

Instructions

- 1
  Plant each water lily bulb or tuber in a wide, shallow container. The University of Illinois Extension recommends containers 15 inches wide and 10 inches deep as the best anchors for water lilies.
- 2
  Fill each container two-thirds full of heavy topsoil or clay loam. Don't use compost or potting soil for these plantings as those soils float up and away from the pot and leave the tubers exposed. Don't use garden soil, which brings weeds and pests. Dampen the soil throughout.
- 3
  Plant each water lily tuber at the edge of its pot, with the growing ends pointing toward the center at 40-degree angles. Fill the pots to within one inch of the top with more soil to plant the tubers. Leave the top of each bulb exposed over the soil.
- 4
  Push fertilizer spikes into the soil around the tubers for long-term nutrition. Lay one inch of pea gravel on the soil for more weight.
- 5
  Put the pots in the water at depths of six to eight inches in sites with full sunshine. Move the pots deeper, to a maximum depth of 12 to 18 inches for these plants, as the stems grow. Never submerge water lily foliage or blooms.

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