Any tips for water Lotus?

[JenH]

I came across a gorgeous water lotus online. If I buy it, it will be $30 with the shipping for a bareroot plant with several starter leaves growing. I'm just not sure if it will be to much for my pond, since I've never seen one in person. I plan to keep it potted. The website says to start it off shallow then move it to deeper water. However I called the local pond store to compare pricing and they said lotus should not be submerged. So which is it, because that makes a big difference in where I could even put a pot that big without it looking weird in my pond. Also, do they divide like lilies every year, and are they hard to divide? Barely being a step above a black thumb I don't want to shell out $30 for a plant I'll probably end up killing....Here's a pic of it, it's called Empress Lotus

View attachment 2521687_orig.bmp

 

[JenH]

Not sure why the pic attached differently...maybe because it is a bitmap file?

 

[Shoestring Ponder]

OMG That is beautiful. I have no experience with Lotus other than starting them from the dry nut. I haev no idea what I sprouted will look like or if it will even blossom this summer or next. I just wanted to tell you your potential Lotus is beautiful! Good Luck and be sure to keep us posted. :goldfish:

 

[HARO]

Lotus will do very well with 5 - 6" of water over the soil, no more. In winter you can place it deeper to avoid freezing, then raise it in the spring. They need lots of sunlight, and several weeks of 80+ degree weather to bloom, but are well worth the effort. Plant them in round tubs; in a square pot they will grow into a corner and die. If you get a bare-root one, just lay it on top of the soil and use a SMALL rock to hold it down. It will anchor itself in a short time. The young tuber is very fragile... be careful!
BTW; around here a potted-up lotus will cost you upwards of $80.!
John

 

[JenH]

Thanks Haro! Do you plant in clay kitty litter just like water lilies? $80!! Wow that is a lot! The pond store I compared to locally said $30 as well, but all you get is a tuber. Besides, I really want the one in the picture, it is just sooo pretty and I think will look nice with my salmon colored and almost black water lilies. Any idea what size tub to look for? I'd like to be able to let it be as long as possible between dividing.

 

[DrCase]

I bought 3 bare root lotus this year all are growing well with 12 to 18" water over the plants
I had one bloom open 4 days go and the other 2 plants have blooms coming up as well
They all are in kitty litter with a over dose of plant spikes

 

[don't ask]

hey Jen, sweet looking lotus.. i've heard anywhere from 2 gallon up to ginormous... i would say at least 10-12 gallon min and circlular.. i am only starting out with ones from seed so no where near the saize i am hoping for but i still switched it to i think a 12 gallon planter