How big will this plant get?

[jonny toe tags]

I forget the name...but all i know is i got it when it was the size of a golf ball.
Now the leaves are bigger than my hand.
Is there a max size?

 

[Magnus]

That plant looks like Nymphaea lotus 'zenkeri'. IME, the leaves don't get much bigger than the ones in the picture. You should clips leaves that reach for the surface to prevent it from blocking the light. Sometimes, if disturbed, it will drop all leaves but they will grow back.

 

[Bol]

i got it when it was the size of a golf ball

was it growing out of a woody bulb?

 

[jonny toe tags]

yup...

 

[Tempestuousfury]

It resembles a lily pad, so I assume it'll grow until it reaches the top of the water... this however, would mean that the other plants would not fare so well when or if this happens...

 

[Bol]

Sounds like the lily I have.

Most of the leaves of my particular one get about as large as my hand.

The ones that I let grow to the top stay much smaller (roughly circular, about 2" in diameter). Of course, as others have mentioned, the leaves on top do tend to shade part of the tank. Of course, so do the lower leaves, to an extent.