Uncover the Secret to Successfully Re-potting Water Lilies!

This video will teach us how to successfully re-pot a water lily plant. Repotting a water lily is essential in plant care and can help your water lily stay healthy and vibrant.
Watch this video to learn the secrets to potting a water lily plant properly and get step-by-step instructions on repotting a water lily. We'll also cover the basics of water lily care, so you'll know how to keep your lily looking beautiful!
You probably came across our video by searching "How to repot a water lily plant" or for growing waterlilies or looking for advice.
In today's video, Mar,k "The Pond Advisor", talks about water lilies, the types of containers he likes, and which growing media is best. Shows and talks about how to fertilise a water lily.
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Mark is The Pond Advisor; Mark Wilson has been a garden pond specialist for over 30 years. He provides these pond and water feature videos to help you and promote his multi-award-winning landscaping firm, Any Pond Limited. He is based in the UK (but has been called out overseas to work on many different water gardening projects).
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[@danielleahy15]

Ive work for a Certified Aquascape Contractor for over ten years and this is EXACTLY how we do it too. Very informative and professional planting done in this video. Something I didnt hear mentioned but may have missed, in our climate zones (4a-6b) you often must fertilize a lily for it to get more than a few blooms each year. BUT BE CAREFUL not to let that fertilizer leach into the pond in any way. This is why it's important to us pots with no holes and the proper media like the presenter in this video. Top notch stuff guys!

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Thanks for your support, which CAC do you work for? We have 20 now in the UK zone 7 and 8

[@charlottewilson4560]

I love this video, it’s full of great information about repotting water lilies. I’ve learnt loads on how to, why and what to use and look for when repotting. I can’t wait to see the reward from these lilies when they flower - they are one of my favourite water plants and bring grace and beauty to the pond.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Thank you, hopefully we will have flowers today

[@Cupit29]

Wow...the timing! I "planted" a water lilly in my pond 2 days ago. Yesterday it turned yellow and I tried to save it and today this video is posted.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Glad to hear it

[@waldroc942]

My first flower bud gained two inches since yesterday and has now broken the surface. West of Scotland weather permitting, I might have a flower in a day or two. String algae is also now reducing, so that's good. The Lily did really well last year and looks on form again this year with more buds and leaves appearing. I've got a whole lot of stuff happening in the garden this year, with landscaping around the pond and a new lawn too... That's a whole lot more 'Youtubing' on top of your vids. Thanks again for all your advice.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

My pleasure

[@ProxyMaestro]

Excellent information. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maryperrysmith5815]

Thank you. Really appreciate. This information.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Thank you for watching

[@progressivepondkeeping]

Thanks mark really helpful and I away remember the 4 D's 👌👍

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Glad to hear it!

[@alaskanmalamutes]

New subscriber from Spain! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I'm about to build a pond and I find your videos very valuable! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Thank you for watching

[@davidtarrant]

Plenty of tips about planting from an older plant that needs replanting have learnt alot.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Glad we could help

[@epexlinux]

Will be repotting mine this weekend using your method

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Perfect 👍🏻 thank you for watching

[@waldroc942]

Thanks for the useful information Mark. My lily is already sending up buds and has plenty of leaves, so I don't want to disturb it now... and I had quite a lot of string algae so I'll leave the lily to eat the nutrients for this year and repot next year. Quite small 750 litre pond with no fish, and still have to build my cascade feature. I'll be taking your advice on that as well. Good stuff, thanks.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Sounds good

[@davidprice5707]

thanks again

[@warren5254]

Excellent video

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Thank you

[@atgcain]

Thanks Mark, great timing. I have loads of buckets like that, so i think I'll repot my lily into these, just need to get some more fertilizer, didn't know about the way they grow or spread. 👌

[@ThePondAdvisor]

waterfeature.shop/products/aquascape-uk-once-a-year-fertiliser-13-13-13-500g

[@absoluteprawn3805]

My dog knocked the potted lillies to the bottom of the pond while trying to get the fish, it also knocked a tunnel into the pond which is for small animals to use if they fall in. Me and my dog aren't friends right now.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Bless the dog and the fish, hopefully they will start to get along

[@twunderaquatics1770]

I'm definitely pulling my lillies next year and repotting. They're growing fine but the goldfish have worked half of the substrate out of the pots. Most of our garden centers only sell perforated baskets for lillies. And unfortunately that's what I used. Thanks and liked

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Can you use a washing up bowl?

[@twunderaquatics1770]

@@ThePondAdvisor I'm going to use a livestock feeding tub. They have low profile handles and made of rubber. And they can handle a beating..

[@condeerogers5858]

Mark, thanks for the tips. I just got my lilly started and a few leaves have emerged. Waiting for flowers. If by July I see none then I will repot or maybe just add tablets for this one season. Thanks for the videos. Ozark, Missouri. Across the BIG POND.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Thank you

[@pansepot1490]

I have heard opinions from a few pond owners they also use pots with no holes for their water lilies and advise against mesh baskets.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

It’s how we grow them around here. Mesh baskets for marginals and solid for water lilies

[@BFKILLER]

My lily has started to flower.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Perfect 👌🏻

[@blackwolfgaming1975]

Nice job, in my opinion I would put larger cobbles onto of the smaller aggregate as having the smaller stones on top would be great for fish to pick up and throw out. But again great video thanks :)

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes totally, depends on the size of the fish!

[@CoralMan24]

so how do you reapply the fertilizer to the pots next year since it will have grown and be wet and compacted could you do a part 2 on that? love the channel

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Repot again next year, removing the old soil and removing the old rhizomes

[@cepontzsons]

👍

[@ThePondAdvisor]

👍🏻

[@jmha2428]

Great video but i was wondering for us here in the States, where could i find an appropriate substitute for the Kaloam Cricket wicket loam because the product does not seem to be available here in south Florida in the U.S. Every turf type topper has peat, compost and alot of organics b

[@figandcloverranch5871]

Very helpful video .’ Thank you .’ Here in NY can I leave lilys in pots over the winter ??

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes, absolutely

[@terryparkinson3640]

Great video's. Just subscribed. Can I use Cricket loam for all pond plants eg water hawthorn?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes, make sure to feed the hungry ones

[@ClairePIcken-cl2ov]

Hi Mark, could you recommend some waterlily varieties for a small container pond. The container is a round one 50cm in diameter

[@joestarkie1064]

Hi Mark just refurbished my pond used pebbles in the base of my waterfall, washed them beforehand but have got foam building up at the waterfall saw you treat one on one of your videos, with what did you treat it please, Regards Joe Starkie

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Foam free

[@warren5254]

Originally watched this video a year back. Just repotted my lilies using cheap black washing up tubs from Asda (about 14” sq) and aquatic compost as I wasn’t sure where I could have got the loam locally…thinking on I maybe should have gone to the local cricket ground. Also used some clay fertiliser balls that I purchased, but will have a go at making my own. Great video by the way. Very informative. The lily you potted on, will that need repotting every year or will the pot be sufficient for a few years growth? And if it doesn’t need potting on, will it just be a case of feeding it in the coming years?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes we are going to be reporting and feeding the lilies again this year. It depends on what results you want, if the plants have lots of waste to feed on.

[@turneyberger4792]

Is cricket wicket palletized lime?. Like lime for your lawn?

[@marcnaidu5804]

Thanks mark. Useful. I want to add some water lilies to a eater catchment area. So I want to also spread and grow more lilies in the future. If I use the pot method, won’t the lilies be trapped and not be able to propagate themselves? What the best way to help them self propagate for the future?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

If you have an earth in pond plant into the earth

[@ThePondAdvisor]

If you don’t have earth in your pond use containers

[@jennetteclements6555]

Hi, you talk about cricket pitch loam for potting water lilies in but would it work with leca clay balls?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes 👍🏻

[@TubButter]

Thanks for the info. Any planting soil you'd recommend in the US?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

You should be able to find loam based soil, I would look into the granular clay also as we can’t get that and I know a few grows love it in the US

[@TubButter]

@@ThePondAdvisor Thank you very much for your reply and time.

[@caralynnolan1185]

Mark, quick question following on from this if I may? After some years of growing water lilies outside I now have my first flowers .... But only since I moved my water lilies to the greenhouse after reporting to establish. I now worry about how they will do outside. Is there a minimum water temperature below which a hardy lily will not flower, even in full sun? Thank you!!

[@ThePondAdvisor]

It might be the cold. It might be the food you gave it. If your in the UK hardy water lilies will flower in garden ponds with enough food and sun light.

[@jennetteclements6555]

Can you please give me more information on the cricket wicket loam and a picture would be very much appreciated.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

It’s the white bags on the bench

[@christinenicksgarcia4746]

I am from the US and I can't find the Kaloam cricket dressing here in the US. What would be a good alternative to use as a plant media for lilies?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Most loam based composts will be good

[@gregjensen7492]

I use cow Pat's to fertilize my Lillie's. We struggle to buy anything for them in New Zealand 😎

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Perfect, do you dry them first?

[@gregjensen7492]

@@ThePondAdvisor yes. Wet ones are a bit messy . Get already dried from the paddock

[@ThePondAdvisor]

@@gregjensen7492 years ago we could buy a pellet version, that broke down very well.

[@btbrick7908]

I’d like to see how you would put the pots in the pond. Some would be pretty heavy.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes they are heavy 15-20kg, the bigger ones I pot them inside the pond when they are empty

[@kungfupondfishdog]

I have a 90 litre shallow bowl from Freeflush coming soon, and I have a floating Solar Fountain. I was wondering if I surrounded the fountain with Lillies, to stop the fountain going from the center due to wind, would the lollies be OK, and what equipment would I need ? The bowl is 290mm deep X 830mm diameter.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Lilies don’t like being splashed

[@ThePondAdvisor]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqq2dWivbKipic0

[@kungfupondfishdog]

@@ThePondAdvisor Thank you for your advice. I just need to think of a way to stop the floating fountain from floating away from the centre of the plastic bowl. Any suggestions ? 🤔

[@jackiechapman2527]

Hello, where can you buy the Aquascape fertiliser in the UK please? Looked and can't find it anywhere. Thank you

[@ThePondAdvisor]

waterfeature.shop are the UK agents however aquascape have discontinued the plant food now

[@jackiechapman2527]

@@ThePondAdvisor thank you for replying. I have used something else. I have followed your directions and a rhizone I planted last Saturday already has leaves and is looking good. I will re-pot my other lillies next year.

[@susancruit5633]

What soil would be used here in the US?

[@jackietownsend7290]

I can’t find the soil you are using in Leigh-on-Sea Essex where I live :o((

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Use a sand loan or John inness no 1

[@peterdavies4635]

Hi mark , I have a problem growing oxygenation plants as my fish pull the plants out of the basket or they eat them . Would this system work on the oxygenation plant and I suppose it would help with the fish pulling them out , By the way I've copied this for my lilies and the water is clear and I get no leakage in the pond

[@ThePondAdvisor]

have you tried gravel, do you fish have stuff to do, enrichment? most of the time if fish are ripping plants out is too many fish or not enough to do kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGiQcqeMf7qJoKc

[@peterdavies4635]

@@ThePondAdvisor tried gravel even tried clay but to no avail

[@oliverdyas2798]

My lilies are looking poor and depleted, Can I repot lilies at this time of year? Worried about my koi over the winter. Thanks for any info :-)

[@ThePondAdvisor]

We’re about’s are you in the world? My Friday video this week covers autumn pond plants what yo plant and what not to plant. The answer to you question depends if you coming in to the autumn/fall don’t repot, if it’s your spring time then yes repot them and feed them

[@oliverdyas2798]

Thanks for the reply. We are South of England so we will wait till spring. Look forward to your video on Friday. :-)

[@leohorishny9561]

Would you still mulch as you did in a water feature without fish?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes 👍🏻

[@RAZOR12334]

Can water Lilly survive in a rainy forest. Because where I live we it's rains heavily for 4 months and we hardly get sun.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

yes we grow water lilies in the shade in the UK, they do prefer sun but some pond lilys and other plants do really well

[@MartinJG100]

I have two questions if you don't mind. I do not have any loam and certainly never seen it at our local garden centre etc. Is bagged topsoil OK? Also, some of the folk on YT advise against placing too many stones/gravel on top as they reckon it inhibits growth. Be grateful if you could clarify your views on the above. Thanks.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Green thumb, some plants will do well with gravel others perform better with fine free flowing soil. Top soil should be good,

[@MartinJG100]

@@ThePondAdvisor Thank you for your prompt reply.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

@@MartinJG100 my pleasure

[@ThePondAdvisor]

@@MartinJG100 my pleasure

[@ThePondAdvisor]

@@MartinJG100 glad we could help

[@shanefernandes9044]

Can I use aqua soil to plant my water lilies cause I have a a lot of it right now

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes, if your in the UK I would re feed next spring (to feed the plants before the growing season) but pot then on now (as it’s not harmful to the plant just might get a little algae). If you can keep the aqua soil in dry storage wait until the spring to pot on (if it’s wet the nutrients will wash out and the bag will fall to bits over the winter).

[@kalashrestha3251]

Which soil should I buy in nursery to put water lily ??I saw top soil in nursery ,

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Sand loam

[@rose-qo3iy]

Hello thank you really informing video. I cannot find anywhere that sells the aqua fertiliser you recommend, please can you tell me where to buy it from or recommend a different one please? Thank you

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Try googling a slow release granted nutricote fertilizer

[@rose-qo3iy]

Thank you will do.

[@andrewrees8749]

What is that fertiliser called ? Great video !

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Aquascape

[@atgcain]

What about iris, mine have now gone brown, do I just dead head them !

[@ThePondAdvisor]

4 ds

[@atgcain]

@@ThePondAdvisor sorry forgot about that 🤪👌

[@priyabhide8268]

What are 4Ds ? I think I missed it .

[@maxhadrian8680]

I just find out that I planted the rhizome of my baby water lilies (±1 month old) backward. Should I fix it immediately or can I wait until they are bigger?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

You can wait, or when wherever

[@vinylmatt8448]

Ive just purchased a couple of lily rhizomes and I have a yellow bellied slider turtle in my pond. Do you think he would provide enough fertiliser so that I wouldn't need to keep reporting my lilies? And if so, could I get away with planting directly into the pond floor as opposed to using pots?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Great question, if you have plenty of waste or deep gravel on the pond base then yes you can add the lilies. If you keep the lilies in pots it’s better as you can control the feed and the plants.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGiQcqeMf7qJoKc

[@vinylmatt8448]

@@ThePondAdvisor Awesome, thankyou!

[@ThePondAdvisor]

@@vinylmatt8448 my pleasure

[@bodybyvichallengeUK]

Hi, thanks so much for this video. Where can I get those buckets from?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Online

[@ThePondAdvisor]

waterfeature.shop/search?q=Planter

[@bodybyvichallengeUK]

@@ThePondAdvisor thank you so much, I obvs wasn't typing in the right thing.

[@MrSamurai137]

Is this the same for dwarf Lily’s?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

The second is a dwarf lily looking for 20cm of water

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Did you see me pot the miniature in the aquascape planter with the draw string

[@nathanlawrence8921]

Is it true that you can break the rhizome up into multiple pieces and grow multiple lillies?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes if you have a Lily rhizome with eyes on yes you can break the eyes off the rhizome.

[@reginapasqualino9565]

Choice: 5 gal (21" deep); or 10.5 gal (27" deep) galvanized tub ok? ? I can't go too large in my garden- OR do you prefer plastic tubs, and what depth? And, what is the proper spelling of the soil? thank you!

[@ThePondAdvisor]

I would prefer plastic as the metal tubs can get to hot.

[@sofiavasquez9919]

Hey hi I will like to know the drand of soil you use as I live in California thanyou

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Cricket wicket loam

[@elizamccroskey1708]

I’m in the US too and would love to know what “Cricket wicket loam” would translate to here. We don’t have many Cricket pitches/fields here!

[@GT-bx1jp]

Will water lilies survive the winter? If not what water plants can survive winter water freezing?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes all the hardy water lily’s will grow back every year.

[@divm8559]

I hear if you plant them facing wall of tub, about two inches away from tub wall, then it spends it's energy in making more flowers rather than making tuber. So if you want to make long tuber, plant it away from wall, and if you want more flowers then plant it facing the tub wall. And then repot about at 3 months. Your inputs please

[@ThePondAdvisor]

I would question that advice, I have not carried out a trial but I would say it will effect next season’s flowers 100%

[@dianeludick5310]

How do you pick up the big pot!

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Two people or plant it in the pond when empty, you can feed the lilies in a large pot in the pond.

[@high_fructose_corn_syrup]

I dropped my hardy water lillies into our pond but the leaves and flowers are about 6" or less from breaching the water surface, will they be ok? I dropped them in about 2 days ago.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

👍🏻 yes they will come up. If you can see them they will come up.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Watch this old video I talk a little bit about lily depths. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ6kqWyrnNNmq7M

[@high_fructose_corn_syrup]

@ThePondAdvisor unfortunately they didnt. All the leaves on one plant died off, the others are currently dying and falling off also. And zero new growth, i even moved some of the pea gravel and larger rocks. I somehow killed all 6.. doesnt seem right 🥺😭

[@ThePondAdvisor]

@@high_fructose_corn_syrup Where did you get them from? Did they dry out from wind or sun?

[@high_fructose_corn_syrup]

@ThePondAdvisor they were shipped im from California and im in CT. im wondering if the temperature change could have done it. And no they didnt dry out.

[@hoppyb6113]

H Mark does your shop sell water soldiers?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

We don’t sell wet goods online.

[@high_fructose_corn_syrup]

Whats in the clear container? It looks like pasta?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Koi Krunches (fish treats) for hand feeding

[@high_fructose_corn_syrup]

@@ThePondAdvisor oop I'll have to look into those for mine 🥰 ty

[@ecobbler2005]

Can you repot lilies without the fertiliser

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Yes you can if you have lots of fish and are not trying to get the best from the lilies

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Watch this one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGiQcqeMf7qJoKc

[@ecobbler2005]

Cannot get cricket wicket anywhere near me would river sand do

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Thanks for reaching out, a heavy clay loam, or loam based compost would be good.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXKap3V7j5ujhbs

[@VinylUnboxings]

What is he saying? Cricket-Wicket Light?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

I am saying cricket-wicket loam (loam based soil)

[@goldfishforyou.]

no matter how you try to lock in the soil it will get into the pond, The best way is not to put any soil in the pond at all so all should be planted up in gravel, and then feed balls added to them, But I get you are trying to sell something.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Something?

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Most Waterlilies prefer a fine substrate, but I guess you’re finding what works for you

[@codyklug2706]

Great video, but I highly disagree with the amount of stones. There shouldn’t be ANY in front of the Lilly, really just a couple behind it to hold it down. Unless you have a fish problem, but even then it should be limited.

[@ThePondAdvisor]

Not have any problems with or without fish. Water lilies grow in natural environments which include rocks and gravel. They will grow up and out of the baskets if there is more nutrients in the water.