Planting a Walmart Water Lily: Decoding the Kit

Those $10 water lily kits (lily, basket, rocks, fiber, fertilizer tab) are confusing. Here's what the instructions mean—and what they leave out.

What's in the Kit

• Bare-root rhizome (the "stringy fiber" is roots/rhizome).
• Plastic mesh basket (planting container).
• Rocks (top dressing).
• Fertilizer tablet (slow-release).
• Coir/fiber mat (liner for basket).

Step-by-Step Planting

1. Line basket with coir mat (or burlap) to hold soil.
2. Fill ⅔ with heavy clay loam (not potting soil—it floats and clouds water). Cheap alternative: unscented kitty litter (plain clay) or bagged "pond soil."
3. Make a mound. Place rhizome horizontal, growing tip pointing toward basket center, crown slightly above soil.
4. Cover roots with soil; leave crown exposed.
5. Press fertilizer tab into soil near roots.
6. Top with 1" pea gravel/rocks.
7. Lower slowly into pond at 6–12" depth (deeper as leaves grow).

Critical Corrections to Kit Instructions

• ❌ "No soil needed"—False. Lilies are heavy feeders; they need soil for anchorage and nutrients.
• ❌ "Fiber around plant"—It's a basket liner, not a root wrap.
• ✅ "Rocks on top"—Yes, prevents soil escape and fish digging.

First-Year Expectations

May not bloom year one. Focus on leaf growth. Fertilize monthly (tabs). Full sun = best flowers.

That $10 kit can produce a gorgeous lily—if you add the soil they forgot to mention.