1. Use a container that is wide and shallow because Hardy water lily tubers grow horizontally. A good size pot is 12-18 inches wide and 6-10 inches deep. Using a pot with no drainage holes is best so the soil doesn't drift into the water and cloud your pond. If your pot does have holes, line it with burlap.

2. Pot your water lily with heavy soil again so it doesn't float out of your container. Also avoid soil mixes with perlite, vermiculite, or peat for the same reason. Now is the time to add aquatic plant fertilizer, push them into the soil before you plant.

3. A new plant will most likely be pot ready, one you overwintered may need some light pruning. Remove any old leaves and thick fleshy roots, leaving only emerging leaves and buds, and thin roots.

4. Plant the tuber against the side of the pot, with the growing tip pointed upward and angled around 45 degrees towards the center of the pot.

5. Cover the soil with a thin layer of rock or pea gravel to keep the soil in the pot.

6. You can now place your plant in your pond. Your water lily needs to be set so the base of the pot is 12-18 inches below the surface, allowing the leaves to float to the surface. If your pond is deeper than this, you need to support the pot.