Water Lily Requirements

• Sun: Full sun, 6+ hours of sun, including strong midday sunlight
• Container: 15–20"+ wide, shallow aquatic container (fabric pots preferred)
• Depth (soil surface → water surface): 8–18" (shallower = more flowers)
• Spread: ~4–6 ft at maturity
• Soil: Heavy loam topsoil only (no bagged mix, peat, “aquatic media,” or gravel)

Care & Fertilizing (simple schedule)

• Fertilizer tablets: 4–6 tablets on the 1st & 15th each month (May–September)
• Application: Press tablets 3–4" into the soil around (not on) the crown
• Maintenance: Trim spent blooms/yellow leaves; divide every 1–2 years to maintain peak flowering

Water Lily Planting Tips

• Plant shallower (8–12") to warm the crown and ramp up buds
• Keep surface water open and unshaded—pads are the plant’s solar panels
• Never cover the crown with stones or gravel; leave it slightly exposed
• Choose wide, shallow containers so rhizomes can run and produce more flowers

Do’s & Don’ts

Do

• Plant in full sun and heavy loam
• Fertilize twice monthly on schedule for continuous blooms
• Repot immediately on arrival; keep all parts wet while planting

Don’t

• ❌ Don’t use compost/peat mixes, “aquatic media,” or gravel (they float, rot, or smother crowns)
• ❌ Don’t let floating plants shade your water lily—light drives flowering
• ❌ Don’t plant too deep (>18") if you want frequent blooms

Shipping Information for Hardy Water Lilies and Live Pond
Plants

We ship our live pond plants with care so they arrive
healthy, moist, and ready for planting. Hardy water lilies are shipped as live
young adult plants. This means they usually arrive as a rhizome with roots,
stems, leaves, and lily pads.

Because these are live plants, shipping times are based on
plant readiness, weather, and the plants included in your order. We do not ship
by calendar date alone. We ship when the plants are large enough, strong
enough, and safe to send.

When Hardy Water Lilies Ship

Hardy water lilies usually begin shipping to southern areas of the USA near the very end
of March or during the first few weeks of April. Note that if you have other plants that are not ready to ship or are still sensitive to your weather, those factors will weigh in on the exact shipping time.

The exact timing depends on:

1.   The weather conditions and temperatures in the Georgia growing area.

2.   The variety of water lily

3.   When the plant wakes up in spring & reaches a proper shipping size

5.   The other plants included in your order

Some hardy water lilies emerge early in spring.
Others take a little more time. We know it is exciting to get pond plants
early, especially if your pond is already warm, but we cannot force plants to
grow before they are ready. Plants are lovely, but they are not great at taking
orders from a shipping calendar.

How We Decide When to Ship Your Order

We ship your order when all plants on that order are ready
and large enough to ship safely.

This is one of the most important things to understand
before ordering.

If every plant in your order is ready, we will prepare the
order for shipping. If one or more plants are not ready yet, the order will
wait until the full order can ship together.

We look at several things before shipping live plants:

1.   Is the plant actively growing?

2.   Is the plant large enough to handle shipping?

3.   Is the plant strong enough to be planted by the customer?

4.   Is the weather safe for shipping?

5.   Are all plants on the order ready at the same time?

6.   Are there tropical or late-spring plants on the order?

This helps us send better plants and avoid shipping weak,
tiny, or sleepy plants that are not ready for the trip.

Orders With Early and Late Season Plants

Some plants are ready earlier in spring. Others need warmer
weather and more growing time.

Hardy water lilies are often ready before tropical water
lilies. Tropical water lilies are usually not ready until May in most cases.

Some other pond plants may also be ready later in spring,
including:

Hardy hibiscus

Marsh marigolds

Mosaic plants

Lemon bacopa

Tropical water lilies

Other warm-season pond plants

If your order includes both early-season plants and
later-season plants, your order may ship later so everything can ship together.

How to Receive Early Plants First

If you want early spring plants shipped first, please place
them in a separate order.

For example:

1.   Place one order for hardy water lilies and early spring pond plants.

2.   Place a second order for tropical water lilies and later spring pond plants.

This allows each order to ship when the plants in that order
are ready.

If everything is placed in one order, we will ship the order
when all plants on that order are ready.

Can We Hold Orders for Travel Dates?

We are not able to hold orders for vacations, travel dates,
work schedules, holidays, or special delivery windows.

We are a live plant nursery, and we ship based on plant
readiness and safe shipping conditions. We are not set up to manage individual
order holds around personal schedules. That may sound a little firm, but it
helps us keep shipping fair, organized, and focused on plant health.

If you will be away or unable to receive live plants, please
wait to order until after your travel.

You may also ship your order to a friend, family member, or
neighbor who can:

1.   Receive the package

2.   Open it quickly

3.   Keep the plants wet

4.   Plant them or place them in water until you return

Live pond plants should not sit unopened in a box.

How We Ship

We ship live pond plants by UPS.

When your order ships, you will receive tracking information
by email. Please watch this tracking so you know when your plants are on the
way.

You may receive email updates when:

1.   Your order ships

2.   Your package is out for delivery

3.   Your package has been delivered

These shipping emails are meant to help you receive your
plants quickly and care for them right away. We try not to fill your inbox with
extra emails, because nobody needs a nursery acting like an overexcited group
chat.

What to Expect When Your Plants Arrive

Live pond plants may show light shipping stress when they
arrive. This is normal.

Hardy water lilies may arrive with:

1.   A rhizome

2.   Roots

3.   Stems

4.   Leaves or lily pads

5.   Some older leaves that look yellow or tired

Minor yellowing, bent stems, or small leaf damage from
shipping is normal and is usually replaced by fresh new growth after planting.

The most important thing is to open the box right away, keep
the plants wet, and plant them as soon as possible.

What to Do If Your Package Is Missing or Misdelivered

If UPS marks your package as delivered but you do not have
it, please contact UPS first.

UPS can check the delivery scan and GPS delivery location.
In many cases, this is the fastest way to locate a package that was delivered
to the wrong place.

Please follow these steps:

1.   Check your porch, side door, garage, driveway, mailbox area, and any common delivery
spots.

2.   Contact UPS with your tracking number to report the package as missing or misdelivered.

3.   After reporting the issue to UPS, email us if more help is needed.

UPS phone number:

1-800-PICK-UPS

1-800-742-5877

After You Contact UPS

After you report the issue to UPS, you may email us with the
details.

Please include:

1.   Your name

2.   Your order number

3.  A short note explaining what happened

4.   Any case number or information UPS gave you

This helps us understand the situation and assist you more
clearly.

What to Do If Something Is Wrong With Your Order

If your package arrives damaged, missing plants, or in
less-than-good condition, please email us right away.

Please include:

1.   The name used on the order

2.   Your order number

3.   A short description of the issue

4.   Clear photos of the plant or package problem

5.   A photo of the full packing slip or the packer’s initials on the box

Photos help us see what happened and respond faster.

Please send the email to:

PondQuestions@gmail.com

Simple Shipping Checklist

Before
ordering:

1.   Make sure you are available to receive live plants.

2.   Do not order right before travel.

3.   Order early and late-season plants separately if you want them shipped at different
times.

4.   Have your pond, pots, soil, and fertilizer ready.

After your order ships:

1.   Watch your UPS tracking.

2.   Bring the box inside after delivery.

3.   Open the package right away prepared to inspect and care for or plant the items.

4.   Keep live plants wet.

5.   Plant as soon as possible.

If your
package is missing:

1.   Check around your home.

2.   Contact UPS at 1-800-PICK-UPS or 1-800-742-5877.

3.   Report the missing or misdelivered package.

4.   Email us after reporting it to UPS if more help is needed.

Shipping FAQ

When do hardy water lilies ship?

Hardy water lilies usually begin shipping near the very end
of March or during the first few weeks of April. Timing depends on weather,
plant growth, variety, and order contents.

Why has my order not shipped yet?

Your order may be waiting for all plants on the order to
become ready. If your order includes tropical water lilies or later spring
plants, the full order may ship later.

Do you ship partial orders?

Orders ship when all plants on that order are ready. If you
want early plants shipped first and later plants shipped later, please place
separate orders.

Can you hold my order until after my vacation?

No. We are not able to hold orders for travel dates or
special receiving windows. Please order after your travel or ship to someone
who can receive and care for the plants.

What carrier do you use?

We ship live pond plants by UPS.

What should I do if UPS says my package was delivered, but I
cannot find it?

Contact UPS first with your tracking number. UPS can check
the delivery scan and GPS location. You can reach UPS at 1-800-PICK-UPS or
1-800-742-5877.

Who do I contact if there is a problem with my order?

Email us at PondQuestions@gmail.com with your order
number, a short explanation, and clear photos of the issue.