wrote:

I'm new to this, but I have a very small pond and want to get a very small
water lily to go in it. Unfortunately the ones I've seen look half dead
(possibly out of season) and cost a small fortune.

Growing from seed is a long slow route, _if_ you can get viable seed
somewhere.
Hardy lilies are grown (easily) from root divisions, and you're paying
mostly for labor and space, both vastly higher than those bedding plants
you buy in flats.
Sometimes the "big box" discount home supply places (I'm in the U.S.; don't
know UK names, but I know you have them) have decent plants for a smaller
fortune.
I tend to buy one plant a year, plant it in a plastic pail, and make
divisions yearly. Feeding them is NOT optional if you want a good display
of blooms.
This may not be the easy answer you want, but it works.

Cheers!


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at www.albany.net/~gwoods
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1200' elevation. NY WO G