How to Make an Indoor Water Lily Container

Water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) are tropical plants that develop flat, green leaves floating on top of ponds and lakes. In the spring, the plants produce white, multipetaled blooms rising above the green leaf. While most water lilies are located in outdoor ponds and water gardens, they can grow indoors. When growing water lilies indoors, carefully construct the container, so that it provides everything the lily needs to thrive.

4- to 6-inch diameter plant pot
Waterproof caulk
Potting soil
Gravel
Aquarium
Stones (optional)
Aquarium heater
Fluorescent light of aquarium light

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a 4- to 6-inch diameter plant pot with no drainage holes in the bottom. If you cannot find one without drainage holes, set the pot on top of a sheet of newspaper and fill the inside bottom of each hole with waterproof caulk sealing them. Wait until the caulk completely dries.
- 2
  Turn the pot over and fill it half way with potting soil. Insert the water lily roots into the pot and then add more soil until the roots are no longer exposed. The green stem and pad are exposed, depending on the root system’s maturity.
- 3
  Spread a one-half to three-quarter inch layer of gravel on top of the soil until it is completely covered.
- 4
  Insert the pot into a 20-gallon aquarium filled with water to within 2 to 3 inches from the top. If needed, placing one or two stones on top of the pot keeps it submerged.
- 5
  Hang an aquarium heater inside the tank and plug it in. Set the heater to maintain a water temperature of between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 6
  Place the tank under a fluorescent light and leave the light on for at least 12 hours per day. If desired, purchase an aquarium light that clips onto the tank wall’s back.

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