Water lilies are excellent plants in ponds or other large outdoor water features. Because they are such beautiful plants, many people wonder whether they can be grown indoors to enjoy daily. While it is possible to grow water lilies as houseplants, it's quite difficult. Ultimately, even if you provide the best growing conditions possible, you still may not get them to bloom. So if you do choose to try, be prepared for your efforts to fail at least as often as they succeed.

Can You Grow Water Lilies Indoors?

The basic requirements for successfully growing water lilies indoors are to provide carefully controlled water temperature and quality, and an exceptional amount of light. Few plants are more finicky about indoor conditions than water lilies, which is why indoor growing is usually pursued only by devoted enthusiasts. This is not an indoor plant suited for people seeking an easy-to-grow ornamental houseplant.

There are about 50 species of water lilies, as well as a considerable number of cultivars within those species. Although there are several ways to classify water lilies, including by their growth habit, they are most commonly divided into two groups: tropical and hardy water lilies.

Tropical water lilies are strictly warm-water plants with large and colorful flowers that are held on stalks above the water. There are both day- and night-blooming varieties. Flowers on tropical species are typically open for three to four days at a time, and the individual plants spread between three and 12 feet. These are some of the world's most prized water lilies, but they are not very practical for indoor growing due to their size and precise temperature needs.

Hardy water lilies grow in temperate regions, including throughout North America. They tend to have smaller foliage than tropical water lilies, and their flowers float touching the water. Hardy water lilies don't boast the same extravagant blossom colors as tropical water lilies. In many species, the flowers gradually change colors over the few days they are open. These are the best option for indoor growing since there are dwarf varieties that are well-suited for water containers of a manageable size.