water lilies as a house plant?

Just a crazy idea.  for reasons, I need to buy a water lily but I don't know if they will survive the winter in our climate, especially in a container where they might freeze.  Can I bring it inside as a house plant?  If so, how much of a 'pond' do I need?  

Interesting! I think you could try growing it in a pot filled with water, maybe with some soil covered with gravel. Something like a tiny planted aquarium. Or maybe grow it in a glass bowl, with some more aquatic plants and shrimps? Shrimps do well in bowls and they help circulate the nutrients.
But I had no luck growing water lillies in my pond so I don't know...

i'm sure i saw water lillies growing pots somewhere. have no idea where, however i did find this...

webpage

at least someplace to start

cheers   james

I think there are miniature varieties that can be grown in an aquarium although I have never seen one myself. There are also tropical and hardy varieties. They hardy ones I have do fine in my little garden pond which is only about 2 and a half feet deep. They just go dormant like any other plant and survive just fine under the ice. I doubt they would make it if the container froze all the way to the bottom.

Raven, I’ve seen another thread of your’s on water lilies. I’m also learning about them this spring and curious about many of the same things. Here’s my thread: https://permies.com/t/217550/Tips-aquatic-plant#1840202

I keep hearing how they need full sun, but I haven’t read much on hardy water lilies. All I have is tropical. They obviously won’t survive a Michigan winter out on the balcony. Maybe if you kept it in a sunroom or a greenhouse?? I’m just guessing. I’d guess a sunroom still might not be enough given how emphatic the instructions tend to be for full sun.

I’m looking into preserving the bulb over winter. They say it can take two years to even get flowers sometimes. The majority of tutorial videos I came across start with the bulb.

I’ve also read that the hardy varieties will survive(remain dormant) just fine under ice, as Mark said.