Growing tropical water lilies in containers.

[Chris Chance]

3 hours ago, Kevin S said:

 At the very top of the tub you can see a different kind a tree frog I have.  Originally I collect a tad poles from the local creek.  But that was many years ago.  I really want to make a ground-level pond so I could have tadpoles of toads. 

I thought about doing that since I could hear them near my house. My worry is introducing disease or ending up with bullfrogs.

[Kevin S]

 There was a whole bunch a little frogs hanging out on one Lillypad 

[Kevin S]

Some of what is in flower and the water is starting to warm up things are starting to grow a lot faster. 

[Kevin S]

 A little green tree frog decided he wanted to be in the photo too.

[Kevin S]

 It is interesting how this water Lily hasn’t figured it out that the flowers are supposed to be above water.

[Kevin S]

 This weekend I added guppies to all the containers to make sure I’m not just breeding mosquitoes.

[Hillizard]

This is my Nymphaea 'Texas Dawn' hardy water lily blooming today in a big-box-store-type plastic bucket. Since I don't have a pond installed at this house (yet) like I had in my previous one, I'm growing it this way for now. Interesting that the plant seems to have 'down-sized' to adapt to the container it's in. 

Here's a very accurate grower description of this variety (based on my experience with it):
"Freckled leaves. Can grow 6-12 feet wide in full sun in 6-40 inches of water. Good for medium or large ponds. Gorgeous award-winning yellow with large flowers borne in profusion well above the water. Thrives in the hottest summers as well as in mild climates. Blooms until late in the fall. Nymphaea ‘Texas Dawn’ Hardy Waterlily displays a 6-8″ star-shaped, medium yellow flower and medium light green leaves, lightly marbled when young. The flower stands 4-8″ above the water in medium depth water and has a strong lemony fragrance. Texas Dawn is an extremely good bloomer, spreads 4-6′ in 6 in. to 3 ft. of water, is adaptable to smaller pots and ponds, and is shade tolerant."

[Missi]

Hey guys! What kind of maintenance does a water lily tub need? Water changes? What kind of cleaning? How often?

I've been wanting to try this! Also, to @PalmatierMeg and others, there are dunks that contain a kind of bacteria that is safe to aquatic animals, but easily kills mosquito larvae, if breeding mosquitoes is keeping you from starting your own container pond. https://www.summitchemical.com/mosquito/mosquito-dunks/

[metalfan]

Have a new bloomer....night bloomer Antares! I was surprised it bloomed in this small of a container it really has a huge natural spread