Want to know how to plant lotus seeds? Lotus flowers may seem exotic and hard to grow, but they actually thrive in cold-hardy areas in the United States.
5 Practical Tips in Planting Lotus Seeds
If you’re looking to plant lotus seeds, here are some tips you need to remember:
Tip 1: The best time to plant lotus seeds
The best time to plant your lotus seeds is during early summer, around the first or second week of May. Your plants will have more time to mature and survive throughout the cold winter months. But if the weather is still too cold during early May, you can start planting your lotus indoors or in a greenhouse until the weather becomes friendly enough.
Tip 2: They need full sun
Be sure your lotus plants are placed under the full sun for at least six hours. This ensures that they will successfully bloom.
Tip 3: Scarify the seeds
You need to scarify the seeds because otherwise, your lotus plant will not reproduce. Here’s how: hold the lotus seed in place and use a metal file to get rid of the brown coating. After filing the seed, you should be able to see a cream-colored seed. Be careful not to file the seed further as it may damage the pulp below it and cause the seed to rot and not germinate.
Tip 4: Place the seeds in the container
Drop the seed in a container with water. If you notice that the water becomes cloudy, replace it with fresh, clean water. Never fertilize your lotus seed because it may cause it to rot.
You’ll notice when the germination begins because a shoot will grow from the seed and form a coin leaf. Once this happens, transfer the seed with the shoot to your growing pot with one-part loam and one-part clay soil. Place the shoot a couple of inches above the soil.
Don’t worry if the seed is floating because it will eventually sink and form roots in the soil. You can also gently place the see in the soil but be extra careful not to break the shoot and the leaves attached to it.
Tip 5: Fertilize
You can fertilize your lotus plants every three weeks throughout the growing season once the coin leaves grow out of the water and become aerial leaves.
Tips on How to Take Care of Your Lotus Plant
After you’ve started your lotus plant from seed, the next step is to know how to take care of it. Here are a few tips you should know about taking care of lotus plants:
The water temperature should be about 70 degrees F for lotus plants
Your lotus plants will only grow if the water and air temperature are at 70 degrees F. You can expect your flowers to bloom in the water three to four weeks after with a temperature of 80 degrees F. Be sure to check the water and air temperature every two days. If you live in areas with an erratic climate, you may want to grow your lotus plants in a controlled environment, such as a greenhouse.
Lotus plants prefer to be under direct sunlight
These plants grow best in full sun for at least five to six hours per day. For lotus flowers in partially shaded areas, remove the foliage or other materials that block the sun’s rays.
Prune wilted, yellowed, and damaged leaves
To maintain its appearance, be sure to prune your plants. Do not remove flowers and leaf stems below the water level as the plants use them for oxygen. Keep in mind that lotus plants are invasive, so if you want, you can also remove new growth. But the best solution to stop growth is to report it in spring.
Fertilize your lotus using pond tabs
Pond tabs are fertilizer specific to aquatic plants. You can usually start fertilizing when you see at least six leaves develop on the tubers. Be sure not to place the fertilizer directly on the plant as it does more harm than good.
The amount of fertilizer your plant needs depends on its size. For instance, small varieties generally need two tabs, while bigger ones may need three to four. Stop fertilizing in the middle of July to prepare your plant for dormancy.
The Benefits of Using a Semipro Greenhouse for Your Plants
There are several reasons why you should try using a semipro greenhouse, and here are some of them:
Greenhouses are great for starting seeds before transplanting them to your garden. The enclosed space provides your plants with the warmth and protection they need to grow healthy.
Greenhouses are also great in keeping pests out. You can lower the risk of pest infestations by growing your plants inside the greenhouse and adding traps and screens.
Greenhouses protect your plants from bad weather. Growing them inside the enclosed space shields them from heavy rain, high winds, storms, etc.
Final Thoughts on How to Plant Lotus Seeds
Keep in mind that lotus seeds are invasive, so it’s important to know how to plant lotus seeds properly and how to take care of them. Fortunately, caring for lotus plants is easy – just remember to place them in a sunny spot and fertilize them once in a while.