70-80*F is ideal.

Happy ponding,
Scott

Hi
Would certainly agree with that but I've found they will tolerate down to frost. But they go dormant in the 40's. Did the light work over winter?? I've always wanted to grow them in an aquarium. Blamed the failure on too low light levels.??
Have never tried MH on FW tanks . Would think it would be great??? gary

Gary, you shouldn't need to grow in an aquarium. I lived down in Central Florida in zone 9b and left my trops in the pond through the Winter. I never had a problem until two Winters ago. I had a few that took a little longer to come back the following Spring.

Hi Marie,
I had tropical water lilies last year in zone 5, and it was a fairly cool summer....something like 70's, and they just didn't do very well. They like it really hot.

I took a chance on some of these, thinking that since our water never freezes over maybe they would be ok in a 4 to 5 foot deep pond. I was wrong! Lost them all. Makes me wonder at what water temp they give up the ghost. Tropical for most plants means no freeze. Or minimal freeze.

pondmanimal
I want to grow the tiny west african dwarfs . Much too small for a pond. Pads max out at two inches. ,
I just happen to like aquariums as much if not more than ponds . Most WL are far too large and need very intense light. I'd always blamed past failures on light levels.
Weathersby Have kept tropical lilies since 1982 . They have experienced down to 26 which is hard freeze
Sure it wasn't your water depth. WL are very light demanding ,that's why the floating pads.
This year all my fish were wiped out (Swordtails ) for the first time. ever . Not sure why ,only thing I see different is the duration of the cold . Set several record
as it stayed below 42 for almost 4 days . 28 was the lowest I recorded but there were several back to back frosts.
All the lilies were severly set back but all are recovering even the aquarium plants are recovering.except for those grown in the bog situation . They were above the water line.
What kind of lilies did you have ?? Most would be hard pressed in water that deep. gary

I don't remember which ones they were, but our winters have normal lows of 17 degrees. It doesn't stay cold enough long enough for the water to freeze over, which is why I thought the tropicals would be ok. I might have had them in too deep, but they did ok during the growing season.

Gary, I grew N. minutas last year, which were originally discovered in Madagascar. I collected most of the seeds and have been selling them on another pond forum and Ebay. It is a dwarf with a little pink flower. It would probably work in an aquarium.

Hi
Thanks I already have the plants lol They are growing in my outdoor lily pond but get lost among the regular sized lilieslol Not sure which species but are supposed to be native to Camarron in W. Africa. Have never been allowed to flower due to over crowding . Thought they might be fantastic in an aquarium IF I can provide enough light. Not sure I'd go to the expense of MH on FW water but might be a method??? Thanks gary