How to Divide Waterlilies - Pond Gardening Tips

If there is too much leafy growth in the center of a waterlily and you've noticed smaller and/or fewer flowers, this is a sure sign that it needs to be divided. Most waterlilies need to be divided every three to four years. Some smaller hybrids of waterlilies can go anywhere from six to seven years without dividing.

Check the flowers and leaves of the plant if you aren't sure if you need to divide waterlilies. If few flowers are appearing and there is a plethora of green, leafy growth in the center, it's time to divide the waterlilies. The best time to divide waterlilies is in the late spring or early summer.

How to Divide Waterlilies - Step #1

The first step to divide waterlilies is to remove the waterlily from the water carefully by lifting it out. Wash off any soil from the rhizome. The rhizome of a waterlily consists of a main rhizome with several side-shoots. Each side-shoot will produce one single, healthy waterlily plant. After you've washed any soil from the rhizome, carefully remove all of the opened leaves from the waterlily.

How to Divide Waterlilies - Step #2

The second step to divide waterlilies is to use a sharp, clean knife to remove the best looking side-shoots with a portion of the rhizome. Trim off any long and/or coarse roots that you can. Then, plant the roots individually into pond containers that you have filled with a heavy loam for soil. These containers with the waterlily roots can be returned to the pond at this point.

How to Divide Waterlilies - Step #3

The next step to divide waterlilies is to reposition the new waterlilies in your pond on bricks. The depth for planting the waterlilies should be two to three inches below the water. Once the plant is more established, you will be able to remove the bricks one at a time until the waterlily is sitting at its recommended planting depth. As the waterlily plant grows, remove bricks as needed until the plant is strong enough to survive on its own without the extra support.

How to Divide Waterlilies - Step #4

The final step to divide waterlilies is to throw away the central portion of the plants. Once you've removed all the sides-hoots, you'll no longer need this part of the plant. You'll now have learned to successfully divide waterlilies and replant them to grow into new adult plants.