Spring is the best time to start water lilies and lotuses, says George Griffith of the Flower Barn in Johnstown.

But even if you're just getting around to it now, you'll still have several months of beautiful flowers in your pond. You may not even need a pond if you stick with the miniatures, which can thrive in a container no larger than a half whiskey barrel.

Bright sunlight is the key, Mr. Griffith says. Water that is aerated is fine, but keep the fountain or waterfall away from the plants; they don't like to be splashed.

The pond should be no more than 2 feet deep, and, ideally, pots should be raised so that the plants' crown is about 6 inches below the water surface. Don't use concrete blocks as supports; something plastic is better.

The pots should be perforated and filled with a rough, gritty growing medium. Fertilize once a month with aquatic plant tablets, two per plant.

Sources

Flower Barn, Box 1, Johnstown, PA 15907 1-800-234-5858; lotuses, potted -- $55; hardy water lilies, bare-root --$15 and up, potted -- $25-$60; tropical water lilies, bare-root -- $25, potted -- $35; also sells marginal plants including cattails, iris, sweet flag, thalia and taro.

North Hills Water Gardens, 1615 Babcock Blvd., Shaler, 412-821-6525; 4195 Old William Penn Highway, Monroeville, 412-666-0199 or www.nhwatergardens.net; hardy lotuses, potted -- $70; hardy water lilies, potted -- $30.

Water Lily World, Anahuac, Texas -- www.waterlilyworldoftexas.com or 409-267-6609.

William Tricker Inc., Independence, Ohio -- www.tricker.com or 1-800-524-3492.