Water Lotus Planting Instructions

Water Lotus Planting Instructions

Some people may think lotus and waterlilies are the same, but they are two distinct water plants. Waterlilies (Nymphaea spp.) have leaves and flowers that float on the surface of the water and long roots under the water. The leaves of lotus plants are at the top of tall, sturdy stalks held high above the muddy soil they grow in. Both plants have large cup-shaped blossoms. The two lotus species, the native American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) and the Asian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), have similar needs. Water lotus is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10, and has an aggressive growth habit, although it hasn’t been classified as invasive.

Planting Lotus Seeds

Spent lotus flower heads form unusual, attractive seed cones filled with large brown seeds with hard seed coats. Collect the seeds when the cones have dried, but don't wait too long or the wind will shake the seeds out of the cones. File the hard seeds slightly to expose the white inside, but don't damage the seed or it won't be able to sprout. Another way to deal with the hard seed coat for better germination is by soaking the seeds in warm water for a couple of days, then removing the outer seed coat. You'll see the white seed and possibly the beginnings of the sprout. Plant the seeds in containers or in the muddy water along your pond by pushing them into the wet soil about 1 inch and patting the soil down firmly.

In Containers

Lotus has been grown in bowls and pots since ancient times. Even the tallest lotus grows well in a large container as long as it has the right soil -- rich soil mixed well with peat and kept moist to wet. Plant the tuber or seedling at least 1 inch deep in wet soil in a sunny spot and watch the beautiful gray-green foliage sprout and leaf out. The smallest types of lotus grow less than 24 inches tall and grow well as houseplants in small containers with the right conditions, including evenly moist soil that never dries out, moisture in the environment with daily misting and at least 12 hours daily of bright light.

In Ponds

Lotus plants add an exotic flair to ponds and water features. They will quickly take over a location if left unchecked, so planting them in containers is a good idea. Use a 20-inch pot for large lotus varieties and a 12-inch pot for medium lotus varieties. Put a few heavy rocks at the bottom of pots to anchor them and add wet soil, then push seeds, tubers or seedlings at least 1 inch into the soil before submersing the pot at the pond's edge. Dig a hole in the wet soil to sink the pot into or submerge the pot in water to the rim.

In the Landscape

Lotuses grow well in boggy or marshy areas without much attention. If you have a section of property that is consistently wet, muddy or flooded, pushing a few lotus tubers into the soil 1 inch deep will soon populate the area it with elegant plants. If you want just one lotus, or perhaps a border of lotus but don’t want a whole field of it, dig out a shallow 2- to 3-foot-deep area and line it with a plastic or rubber pond liner. Put a layer of gravel on the bottom of the liner and fill it with wet soil. Plant seeds, tubers or seedlings at least 1 inch deep and 1 foot apart in the wet soil and anchor the liner with decorative rocks or stones.

How to Germinate Lotus From Seed

How to Germinate Lotus From Seed

1.Sowing: under a proper temperature(above 16℃) and sunshine; can be sowed at any time of a year; takes only 50 to 60 days from sowing to blossoming, a little longer in autumn (60-80days), without any dormant period

2.Seed treatment: break a little mouth on the sunken end of the seed; carefully not to hurt the embryo, do not peel; (you may find the method in the follow)

3.Seed germination: in summer, seeds should be good to be submerged under 20 ℃ -30 ℃ in water; Be kept inside and changed the water twice a day; It can germinate within 1 week; After that, Put it towards the sun, strengthen light but never let it dry; It Will outgrow fine-root and 2 to 3 young small lotus leaf after two weeks

4.Transplanting: choose a proper basin, put in a half basin of garden soil or soil without any chemical pollution, immerse the soil whit water but no fertilizer 2 weeks before you transplant the plant; carefully transplant the seedlings into the soil, each one basin, proper of water after transplanting(not over the lotus leaves)

5.Autumn and winter management: 2-3 weeks after transplanting, fertilize the plants properly, better to keep it above 16℃

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PAPAYA FRUIT

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PAPAYA FRUIT

Christopher Columbus, an Italian voyager once referred to papayas as the fruit of the angels. The fruit which is extremely rich in Vitamin C has a wide range of health benefits making it a great fruit option to include in your diet. Here are some of the top health benefits of papaya.

1. LOWERS CHOLESTEROL

Papaya is rich in fibre, Vitamin C and antioxidants which prevent cholesterol build up in your arteries. Too much cholesterol build-up can lead to several heart diseases including heart attack and hypertension.

2. HELPS IN WEIGHT LOSS

Those looking to lose weight must include papaya in their diet as it is very low in calories. The fibre content in papaya leaves you feeling full and also clears your bowel movement making your weight loss regime easier.

3. BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNITY

Your immunity system acts as a shield against various infections that can make you really sick. A single papaya contains more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, making it great for your immunity.

4. GOOD FOR DIABETICS

Papaya is an excellent food option for diabetics as it has a low-sugar content even though it is sweet to taste. Also, people who don’t have diabetes can eat papaya to prevent it from happening.

5. GREAT FOR YOUR EYES

Papaya is rich in Vitamin A which helps protect your vision from degenerating. Nobody wants to lose their ability to see due to diseases like age-related macular degeneration, and eating papayas will ensure that you do not see a day where you cannot see.

6. PROTECTS AGAINST ARTHRITIS

Arthritis can be a really debilitating disease and people who have it may find their quality of life reduced significantly. Eating papayas are good for your bones as they have anti-inflammatory properties along with Vitamin C which helps in keeping various forms of arthritis at bay. A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed that people who consumed foods low in Vitamin C were three times more likely to have arthritis than those who didn’t.

7. IMPROVES DIGESTION

In today’s times, it is near impossible to avoid eating foods that are bad for your digestive system. Often we find ourselves eating junk food or restaurant food prepared in excessive quantities of oil. Eating a papaya daily can make up for such occasional mistakes, as it has a digestive enzyme known as papain along with fibre which helps improve your digestive health.

8. HELPS EASE MENSTRUAL PAIN

Women who are experiencing menstrual pain should help themselves to several servings of papaya, as an enzyme called papain helps in regulating and easing flow during menstrual periods.

9. PREVENTS SIGNS OF AGEING

All of us would love to stay young forever, but no one in this world has managed to do it. Still, healthy habits like eating a papaya daily will prolong the process and may make you look 5 years younger than you are. Papaya is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E and antioxidants like beta-carotene which helps prevent your skin from free radical damage keeping wrinkles and other signs of ageing at bay.

10. PREVENTS CANCER

Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids that prevent your cells from undergoing free radical damage. Some studies have also linked the consumption papaya to reduced risk of colon and prostate cancer.

11. HELPS REDUCE STRESS

After working hard for the whole day, it is a good idea to come home to a plate a papayas. The wonder fruit is rich in several nutrients like Vitamin C which can keep you free from stress. According to a study conducted in University of Alabama, found that 200 mg of Vitamin C can help regulate the flow of stress hormones in rats.

Papaya Varieties and Their Characteristics

Papaya Varieties and Their Characteristics

COORG HONEY DEW : Popularly known as 'Madhubindu' and is cultivated for table as well as processing purpose. The variety bears greenish-yellow oblong-shaped fruits with orange thick flesh and good flavour. The variety can be maintained pure by growing in isolation. Due to its excellent fruit quality it fetches good market value.

PUSA DWARF : It is a dioecious variety with dwarf plants and medium-sized (1-2 kg) oval fruits. The plant starts bearing from 25 to 30 cm above-ground level and is comparatively drought hardy. This variety is very suitable for high-density planting.

PUSA GIANT : Plants are vigorous, sturdy and tolerant to strong wind. It is a dioecious cultivar with big-sized (2.5-3 kg) fruits, suitable for canning industry.

PUSA MAJESTY : A gynodioecious line, tolerant to viral diseases and root knot nematodes. The variety is suitable for papain production and is comparable to C0.2 variety for papain yield. The fruits are medium-sized, 1- 1.5 kg in weight, round in shape and have better keeping quality. It starts fruiting 146 days from the time of transplanting. The variety is tolerant to root knot nematode.

PUSA DELICIOUS : This is a gynodioecious line with medium-tall plants, starts yielding 8 months after planting and has good quality fruits (10°-13° Brix). The fruit is medium-sized (1-2 kg) with deep orange flesh having excellent flavour. It is grown as a table purpose variety.

PUSA DWARF : Medium size fruits, oval in shape and suitable for high-density planting.

CO.1 : It is selection from cultivar Ranchi done by TNAU, Coimbatore. The plant is dwarf in habit, producing the first fruit within 60-75 cm from the ground level. Fruit is medium-sized, spherical, has smooth greenish-yellow skin, flesh orange-yellow, soft, firm. It is moderately juicy with good keeping-quality. The objectionable papain odour is practically absent in the fruits.

CO.2 : It is a selection purified from a local type at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore. Fruits are medium-sized, obovate, greenish yellow, ridged at the apex, flesh red in colour, soft to firm, moderately juicy with good keeping-quality. It is a suitable type for extraction of papain. It gives 4-6g dried papain/fruit or 250-300 kg papain/ha.

CO. 3 : The fruit of this hybrid (CO. 2 x Sun Rise Solo) is larger in size when compared with Solo and exhibits all the desirable attributes of Solo. Total soluble solids (TSS) is as high as 13.8° Brix and average fruit weight ranges from 1-1.5 kg. The fruits have a good keeping quality. Each tree yields 100-120 fruits in two years.

CO. 5 : It is a selection from Washington and isolated for its high papain production. It produces consistently 14-15 g dry papain/fruit. It gives 75-80 fruits/tree in two years with an average yield of 1,500-1,600 kg dried papain/ha.

WASHINGTON : It is a table purpose variety. Fruits are round to ovate, medium-large in size with few seeds. When ripe, skin attains a bright yellow colour. The average weight of fruit ranges from 1.5-2 kg. Male and female plants are separate.

SOLO : It is a table purpose variety. The fruits are small with deep pink pulp and a sweet taste. Excellent for kitchen garden.

RANCHI : It is a variety from Bihar and popular in south India. The fruits are oblong with dark yellow pulp and sweet taste.

IIHR39 AND IIHR54 : Developed at IIHR, Bangalore. This variety bears medium sized sweet fruit with high TSS (14.5° Brix) and better shelf life.

TAIWAN-785 : This variety is cultivated for table as well as processing purpose. The plant is dwarf in habit, producing the first fruit within 60-75 cm from the ground level. Fruits are oblong with thick orange red sweet pulp. Each tree yields 100-125 fruits in one year. It has a good keeping quality and disease tolerant.

TAIWAN-786 : It is a gynodioecious variety cultivated for table as well as processing purpose. The fruits are oblong with a tasty sweet pulp having few seeds. The plant starts bearing fruits from 100 cm above the ground level. The fruit weigh between 1-3 kg and has excellent keeping quality.

Dwarf Papaya Seeds Germination

Papaya Seeds Germination

Under full sunlight, seedlings may emerge in about two weeks. Plants can be set out after they are a foot tall and spaced 8 to 10 feet apart. The seedlings will flower after five or six months. When considering the best papaya growing conditions in the home landscape, don’t forget about planting location. The best place to plant a papaya is on the south or southeast side of a house with some protection from wind and cold weather. Papayas also grow best in full sun. Papayas like well-drained soil, and because of shallow roots, growing papaya trees will not tolerate wet conditions.

Mix the seeds with a handful of standard potting compost. Spread evenly over the top of a pot containing at least 3 or 4 inches of a good planting mix. Or, plant five seeds in a hole with no compost or manure (do not plant them very deeply). Make sure they are planted in loamy soil in a well-drained area. Then cover the seed mix with another 1/2" of compost. Be careful to keep the pot damp but never wet! Try to maintain a steady temperature between 15ºc to 20ºc or 80 degrees F or so. Keep the area warm until they sprout. Don't keep them too damp or they are likely to suffer from damping off. Germination should take between 2 to 6 weeks. Prick the seedlings out when they have about 4 true leaves and transplant into 4-inch containers if they are in the pot.

Papayas don't transplant well. Anything that disturbs the roots of papayas really sets them back. They just hate it. The most effective way to grow papayas is to simply plant them where they are to live.

Papaya trees are very hungry. That means they need very good soil, rich in organic matter and nutrients. If you don't have fabulous soil, make some. Dig a hole half a meter across and fill it with a mix of good compost and soil. Actually, make at least two or three such planting beds in different locations. Cover the seeds lightly with more compost, and then mulch the patch well. The seeds usually take about a couple of weeks to germinate and may take longer.

Papayas start flowering when they are about one meter tall. The males flower first. Male flowers have long, thin stalks with several small blooms. Female flowers have usually single bloom, bigger, and very close to the trunk. You should end up with one very strong and healthy female plant per bed. If the weather is warm enough, and if you are growing your papayas in full sun and in good soil, then you could be picking the first ripe fruit within 10 months.