Use soil and fertilizer as for hardy lilies, except use 2 to 3 times as much fertilizer once plants are established and in active growth . Shallower plantings will result in faster growth due to warmer surface water. Plant tropical lilies in the center of the pot. To actively winter over, keep in a heated greenhouse. To store the tubers, wait until the plants have started to die back for the winter.
Cut leaf stems and roots from tuber, and rinse well.
Tropical lilies bloom profusely, far more than hardy lilies and for longer in the fall. Lotus tubers are banana-like in shape. Handle carefully, as the growing tip is easily damaged. Use shallow and wide containers of 5 to 25 gallon capacity for all but dwarf varieties. Place tuber almost horizontal so that the end of the tuber is about 2 inches under the soil, and the growing tip is barely exposed.