The lotus flower is a fascination for almost everyone. The lotus flower has a royal feel that draws everyone’s attention. Its beautiful colors also captivate. It will be a joy to have them in your garden or at your home. It can be challenging to grow this sacred flower. Once you learn how to grow them, there is no going back. Let us look at some easy ways to cultivate lotuses.
It takes much attention to plant lotuses using seeds. One fascinating fact about lotus seeds is that they are the longest-living seeds in the plant kingdom. They can live between 200 and 1300 years due to their seed dormancy.
To germinate seeds, one must deactivate dormancy mechanisms. The lotus seed coat is extremely tough and prevents water from getting absorbed. You can rub the seeds on any surface, including sandpaper. Concrete will work. The seeds can be rubbed until a layer of white is visible and the black part has disappeared.
The seeds should be placed in a glass container with enough water. Other containers are also possible, but you must remove any seeds that are rotting or it will kill all the plants.
The seeds will start to sprout after a period of between 4 and 7 days. The seeds will begin to grow, and the first set of leaves will appear in 2-4 weeks.
The container must be clean and free from dust particles. You can change the water if it seems muddy or has changed. These glass containers should be kept in shade.
It is time to transfer the leaves into large containers as soon as they emerge. You should make sure the container is at least 12 to 16 inches deep. Otherwise, your plants’ leaves will begin to scatter. The container’s diameter can be adjusted to fit the space available in your home or in your garden, but it must be at most 20-24 inches. You should not have drainage holes.
Add 1 to 2 inches of light sandy sand to the bottom of the container. Add 3 to 4 inches of clayey soil to form the second layer. You can skip the sand layer and add clayey soil to the container. The soil will become muddy if it has too many soil particles.
Plant tubers using pointy heads. Place them carefully on the surface. The saplings should be placed in the same way. Avoid burying them in deep. Instead, keep them on the surface.
Finally, make sure to water your plants every day. Otherwise, the plants won’t grow. The temperature of the water is an important aspect to consider. Lotuses prefer a warm bath, not one that is cold. Use water at room temperature, or heat it up in winter. The sun will regulate the temperature in summer.
Once the stems are large enough, you can move the plants with the container to a pond or other significant water source. They will be easier to maintain and fertile.
Lotus flowers require full sun for 6-8 hours each day to bloom.
You can increase the water content until the leaves become flat and floating as the leaves get bigger. In summer, it is important to keep the water level constant.
You will notice that the plants are developing aerial leaves, which are higher than the floating ones, and a longer stem. It’s just a matter time before you can witness the great event of a Lotus flowering right in front of your eyes.
