Plant Care American White Waterlily

American White Waterlily

Also known as

Fragrant water-lily, Beaver root, Fragrant white water lily, White water lily, Sweet-scented white water lily and Sweet-scented water lily

Taxonomy

Nymphaea odorata
Nymphaea
Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeales

How to care for American White Waterlily

💦 Water

How often to water your American White Waterlily

Water needs for American White Waterlily
0.5 cups
every 9

American White Waterlily needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of American White Waterlily

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for American White Waterlily in your home

Light needs and placement for plant American White Waterlily: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

American White Waterlily love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

American White Waterlily does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of American White Waterlily in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize American White Waterlily

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for American White Waterlily: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your American White Waterlily after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

American White Waterlily prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

American White Waterlily Water Frequency →

American White Waterlily Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

American White Waterlily requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

American White Waterlily Light Requirements →

American White Waterlily Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

American White Waterlily is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


🪴 Soil

American White Waterlily is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for American White Waterlily →

When and How to Successfully Repot American White Waterlily →

What Are Healthy American White Waterlily Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

American White Waterlily should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize American White Waterlily →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

American White Waterlily grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

American White Waterlily Lifecycle →

American White Waterlily Size Guide →

How and When to Prune American White Waterlily →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
American White Waterlily can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-11a. Find your local hardiness zone here.

American White Waterlily Temperature Tolerance →

American White Waterlily Hardiness Zones →

Is American White Waterlily a Weed? →


🌱 Propagation

American White Waterlily can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate American White Waterlily →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in American White Waterlily, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for American White Waterlily

American White Waterlily

American White Waterlily


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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