Overwintering a Water Lily

[Mysteria]

I live in Calgary, Alberta and it gets really cold here in the winter. My water lilie won't be able to survive outside during the winter.

Any suggestions? I have heard of taking the lily out of the pond for 24 hours to let it drain, then store it in a rubbermaid in a cool room.

What have you done in the past?

 

[*TJ]

Is this a hardy variety or a tropical?

for hardy lilies:
What depth do you have in your pond? If it's 3 feet or more the lily will survive as long as the tuber doesn't freeze.

You can store it indoors, using damp peat or spagnum(sp?) moss in container or even a paper bag - as long as it stays cool and moist - not soaking wet - so check it periodically to make sure it hasn't dried out.

for tropical lilies:
Can be brought indoors kept in a water filled container, placed in a sunny room/window or use artifical lighting... might not bloom much but will survive.

 

[PHPong]

I over winter tropical water lilies

I turn lilies out of the pot and look for a tuber. It looks dark gray and is hard . I winter it over in damp sand after rolling in captan. I put in zip lock bags and write what lilie it is. Then I put in popcorn tins on a shelf in the basement. It stays bewteen 55* and 60* in my basement. I have stored upto 94 tropical lilies this way.