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.
