Plain, cheap, non-clumping, unscented, all clay cat litter is what I use. I apply black aquatic gravel to the top to weigh down the water lily and keep the litter form clouding the pond water.

I don't use soil. You can put the root system in the bottom of the pond or in a plant pot large enough for the root system. Place 4-6 small rocks on the root system to hold it on the bottom or in the pot. Place the pot in the pond. The root system has direct contact with nutrients in the water, it is easier to relocate the plant and no dirt to make the water cloudy. I plant all my lilies this way. Make sure you use enough rocks so the Koi don't uproot the plant. When you go to split the plant you don't have to deal with all the dirt. A much cleaner approach. Your plants will have bigger blooms and pads.

I would be very reluctant to use garden soil unless I put it through the microwave oven first. The soil in your gardens is frequently contaminated with bacteria that can kill your fish. I hope you reconsider. Sandy

I used the soil from my yard but it is all clay. Since your soil is sand (which btw you can use but the nutrients like lily tabs leech out quickly) they sell aquatic soil for about 8 to 10 bucks a bag at most larger garden centers or pond stores. Schultz is the brand I think.

You can plant in pea gravel and/or aquarium gravel too.

Mostly anything as long as it does not float (perlite, mulch, compost, etc) Layer the top two inches with pea gravel to keep fish (goldfish anyway) from rooting but expect spills. Or like what was said - no soil, although IMO waterlilies do better planted.

I use a particular bagged top soil that I get at Home Depot. I think the brand is Earthgro. It is mostly a clay type soil and sand mixture. It work very well for me.
Not all bagged top soil will work though. Some is quite black and has a great deal of organic matter that will float and stain your water and you don't want that.
Personally, I've tried the pea gravel and kitty litter methods and did not have good results but I know others have. I have the best luck with this particular top soil and pea gravel on top.

I add Osmocote fertilizer to the bootom of the pan before I add the litter. I find that works really well and I do not have to fertilize them for the season.

Pam, at my last house, my soil was almost pure sand. So that is what I used and it worked fine for waterlilies.

At this house, my soil is clay and that works well too.

So go ahead and use the sand. It will work fine.

Thank you, everyone, for your input. It looks like there are lots of successful choices.

lsst...I'm wondering how much Osmocote you use in your pan? I planted a lotus last year in a large container with the instructiosn I found on the forum that called for a cup of veggie Osmocote in the bottom of a large container (then compost, then pebbles). I think I almost burnt it up...most of the leaves browned, etc. But this year it looks fabulous.

I like the idea of planting in gravel since I will not have a filter/pump. It will be a still pond.

Thanks so much!
Pam

My first waterlilies were planted either in loose in the rocks on the bottom of the pond or in mesh baskets with pea gravel.

On the advice of several folks online who grow them professionally, I switched to garden soil (it is clay here)

For me, the waterlilies in dirt perform significantly better.

In my still waterlily ponds I covered the liner with six inches of dirt and planted right into it.
Many more blooms.

I just sprinkle enough to put a thin coating on the bottom before I put the litter in.

I used to use garden soil and top soil. Our garden soil is orange clay so if any leached in the water it turned a yucky orange. Also I am too lazy to dig up the soil..LOL

I would buy the 40 pound bag of topsoil for about $1.30 but after 2 hernia surgeries, ( from building the pond) I found a $1 bag of litter from the dollar store was just the right size.

I have not noticed a difference in blooms using any of these methods. I think they all work fine.

"Lefd05, I use the Earthgro topsoil and composted manure but that topsoil looks awful black to have clay in it."

This that I buy is not the least bit "black." Its a medium brown and is very sandy. :)

I used to use aquatic soil and one time the store was out I was told soil conditioner was the same stuff. It works good and is cheaper. I had used top soil at the start and have not noticed a difference in blooms. The only time I did not have good blooms was when I did not fertilize.

I have a coffee scoop and put 2 scoops in.