I recently bought 2 water lily bulbs, I dont use gravel in the tank, just a bare bottom. I read that you can put tiny jars with gravel in the tank. But Im wondering, if I just throw a pile of stones in there, and put the bulbs on those, will the plants anchor to that? Or should I just try the jar thing?

Bulma, most fish will move the rocks in their tanks around, which leaves you with a floating bulb more than once. I believe that the bulb needs a secure anchoring place. Have you thought about those small terra cotta pots from nnnnnn or HD? I have some of them in my tanks, filled up with gravel or river rocks, and then put the plant in, secured by some more material....

I see, ok, what if I put the stones in a cut out water bottle bottom? (Like I cut the waterbottle and its like a small jar, only its clear so you can see all the nice stones...and it was a big water bottle, not the average size)

It seems heavy enough to keep the plants anchored (and the fish certainly isnt moving it), so is that all right?

Using the water bottle as a pot would be fine.

As for the water lily bulbs, I usually put them in the tank loose and let them sprout before I plant them up.

Funny thing, one of the bulbs that I bought a year ago, has just started to sprout. The others that I put in at the same time sprouted in a couple of weeks and are now large plants

Interesting. All my lilly bulbs from the pack sprouted. The Apo's didn't tho and I left them in the tank... so maybe there's hope for them too.

Those lily bulbs sure are a mysterious thing - most of the ones I got did sprout eventually, except one. Maybe I should have had the patience like you, Touchofsky, and waited a year. I do like them though, especially the ones with the redish tint to them.

I didn't get any Apo's, either, although I think they may have tried to sprout. i did see little nubs, but something ate them, maybe the snails.

Yes, I really like the lilies, too, they are great looking plants

I still have one bulb that hasn't sprouted, so I am curious to see if it will sprout, too, now that the other one is starting.

I thought the lillies looked cool, but were a pain. The leaves tended to grow tall and float on the surface blocking light to the other plants. I ended up trading them to someone.

I have kept mine short by removing the leaves that shoot to surface as soon as they appear