The lotus flower is considered sacred to Hindus and Buddhists and is the national flower of India. This hardy aquatic plant is native to Asia and Australia, but can grow in almost any climate if conditions are right. You can breed lotuses from seeds or tubers. However, lotuses grown from seed usually do not flower in their first year.
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Method 1 of 3: Growing from Seed
Step 1. Scrape the seeds with a file
Use a regular metal file to scrape off the seed coat until the creamy core is visible. Don't scrape off this core so the lotus can grow. The outer shell of the seed is scraped off to allow water to reach the core.
If you don't have a metal file, use a sharp knife, or even rub the seeds into the concrete. Just make sure the seed core doesn't get eroded
Step 2. Put the seeds in warm water
Use a glass or clear plastic container so you can see the seeds as they start to germinate. Fill the container with dechlorinated water at 24-27 degrees Celsius.
- After soaking all day, the seeds will begin to sink to the bottom and grow to twice their original size. Floating seeds are almost always sterile. Remove the barren seeds so they don't cloud the water.
- Change the water daily, even after the seeds have started to germinate. When you remove the seeds to change the water, handle the sprouts with care as they are very fragile.
Step 3. Fill a 10-20 liter container with 15 cm of soil
This size is usually large enough for young lotus seeds. Ideally, use a black plastic bucket that retains heat and warms the seeds better.
- Ideally, the resistance should consist of clay resistant and river sand. Commercial potting soil for houseplants will float when the tube is submerged in water.
- Make sure the selected container has no drainage holes. Plants can grow into the drainage holes and stick out so they don't grow optimally.
Step 4. Remove the seeds from the water when they reach 15 cm in length
The seeds will begin to germinate after being soaked for 4-5 days. However, lotuses can die if you move them to a pot too early.
If you wait too long, the seeds will start growing leaves. You can still plant them, but make sure the leaves are not soiled
Step 5. Plant the seeds into the soil and space them 10 cm apart
You don't have to bury the seeds in the ground; Just put it on top, then cover it with a thin layer of soil. The root of the seed will grow by itself.
It's a good idea to wrap the bottom of the seed with some clay as a ballast anchor. If not anchored, the seeds will come out of the soil and float to the surface of the water when the container is lowered into the pond
Step 6. Lower the pot into the pond
The lotus is an aquatic plant so above the seeds there must be a minimum of 5-10 cm of water. If your plant is quite tall, it's best if the water is 45 cm deep. Dwarf lotuses need 5-30 cm of water.
- The water temperature should be at least 20 degrees Celsius. If you live in an area with a fairly mild climate, the shallower water will provide extra warmth for the lotus.
- The lotus grown from seed rarely blooms in its first year. You also need to minimize fertilizer use during the first year. Let the lotus get used to its surroundings.
Method 2 of 3: Growing from Bulbs
Step 1. Buy bulbs in early spring
You can buy lotus bulbs online, or at your local nursery. Because they are difficult to ship, they are usually unavailable once dormancy stops in late spring. However, you can buy seeds that have been grown locally.
For rarer hybrids, it's best to buy online. If there is a community of aquatic plant lovers in your city, try asking for recommendations. Some communities also sell their own plants
Step 2. Float the tubers in a bowl in 25-30 degrees Celsius water
Place the bowl near a warm, sunny window, but away from direct sunlight.
If you're planning to move the lotuses to a pond, use water from the pond (as long as it's warm enough). Change the water every 3-7 days or when it starts to look cloudy
Step 3. Choose a round container 1-1, 5 meters in diameter
If released, the lotus will grow as large as the area where it was planted. The container will control the lotus growth and prevent it from dominating the entire pond.
A deep container will help prevent the lotus from passing through the lips and spreading throughout the pond. The round container will prevent the lotus from getting caught in the corner, which could hinder or kill it
Step 4. Fill the container with solid soil
The soil suitable for lotus is a mixture of 60 percent clay and 40 percent river sand. Leave a distance of 5-7.5 cm between the lip of the container and the soil surface.
You can also use amended soil, on top of which there is a separate layer of sand 5-7.5 cm deep. Make sure there is enough space between the surface of the sand layer and the lip of the container
Step 5. Press the bulbs into the soil
Place the bulbs just below the surface of the sand, then carefully overlay them with a rock so they don't float to the surface of the water before growing roots.
Do not completely bury the bulbs completely in the soil as they will rot. Make sure the bulbs are just slightly below the soil surface
Step 6. Lower the container to a depth of 15-30 cm below the surface of the pool
Choose a sunny spot away from running water so the lotus has enough room to grow. If the bulbs are stuck motionless, you can lower them to the location of your choice.
Once settled in the pond, the tubers will grow on their own by circling down into the soil mixture and growing roots
Method 3 of 3: Caring for the Lotus
Step 1. Keep the water temperature at least 20 degrees Celsius
Active growth begins when the water table reaches this temperature. Lotus needs warm water to thrive. Ideally, the air temperature should also be 20 degrees Celsius.
- The lotus will begin to grow leaves after a few days in water above 20 degrees Celsius. The lotus will bloom after 3-4 weeks in water above 27 degrees Celsius.
- Check the water temperature once every two days. If you live in a cold climate, you may need a heater for your pool to keep it warm.
Step 2. Keep the lotus in direct sunlight
Lotus thrives in a sunny place because it requires a minimum of 5-6 hours of direct sunlight every day. If the pond is partially shaded, trim the trees slightly and remove any foliage that blocks the sun's rays.
In North America, lotuses usually bloom from mid-June or July to early fall. Flowers bloom early in the morning and bud in mid-afternoon. Lotus flowers can bloom for 3-5 days, then fall. This process is repeated during the months of active growth of the lotus
Step 3. Prune wilted and yellow lotuses and damaged leaves
If the lotus begins to dominate the pond, you can also control growth by pruning new leaves, but remember that the lotus will continue to grow until it is moved to another pot in the spring.
Never cut flowers or leaf stems below the surface of the water. Roots and tubers use stems to take in oxygen
Step 4. Use a “pond tab” fertilizer to fertilize the lotus
Pond tablets are fertilizers designed for aquatic/aquatic plants. Wait for the bulbs to grow at least 6 leaves before you can fertilize, and don't put fertilizer directly on the lotus bulbs.
- The small lotus only requires 2 tablets, while the large variety requires 4 tablets. Fertilize lotus every 3-4 weeks, and stop in mid-July. If you continue to fertilize the lotus at this time, the plant will not be ready for dormancy.
- If you are growing a lotus from seed, do not fertilize it for the first year.
Step 5. Watch out for pests
The types of pests that plague lotuses vary depending on geographic location, but it's generally the lice and caterpillars that are most attracted to lotus leaves. Apply a small amount of powdered pesticide directly to the leaves of plants to protect them from pests.
Liquid pesticides, even organic ones, have oils and detergents that can damage the lotus
Step 6. Transfer the lotus to deeper water in the fall
Lotuses can spend the winter in ponds as long as the water is deep enough to protect the bulbs from frost. The bulbs should be under the frost layer, the depth of which will depend on the climate you live in.
If your pond is shallow enough, remove the container from the pond and store it in the garage or shed until spring. Mulch the soil in the lotus pot to keep the tubers warm
Step 7. Transfer the lotus bulbs to another pot every year
In early spring, when you first see signs of new growth, give the lotus fresh soil and return it to its original container (unless the container is damaged). Lower the lotus container back into the pond at the same height as before.
If lotuses dominated the pond in the previous year, check for cracks in the container. This time you can use a larger container to better hold the lotus, if it grows past the lip of the old container
Tips
- Try an organic fertilizer made from sea kelp or fish meal if you don't want to use chemical fertilizers.
- Lotus bulbs are very fragile. Handle with care, and do not break the pointed end (the "eye" of the bulb). The lotus will not grow if the eye is damaged.
- Flowers, seeds, young leaves, and lotus stems are edible, although they have a mild psychedelic effect.
- Lotus seeds can be used for hundreds, even thousands of years.
