How to Grow Beautiful Lotus Flowers in Your Water Garden
Lotus plants are aquatic perennials that often grow in ponds and lakes and can be grown easily in backyard water gardens. While often called water lilies, they are not. Lotus (Nelumbo spp.) leaves and flowers are emergent or rise above the water's surface while water lily (Nymphaea spp.) leaves and flowers, which have a wider range of colors, float on the water's surface.
Lotus plants grow rapidly reaching three to six feet tall and spread through rhizomes rooted in muddy soil. The white, pink, or yellow flowers are large and appear in the summer and autumn. The plants go dormant in the winter and are hardy in USDA zones 4a-10b as long as the water does not freeze solid.
Common Name | Lotus, Lotus Lily, Sacred Lotus |
Botanical Name | Nelumbo |
Family | Nelumbonacea |
Plant Type | Perennial |
Size | 3 to 6 feet high, 3 to 4 feet wide |
Sun Exposure | Full sun |
Soil Type | Clay, silt, loam |
Soil pH | Neutral |
Bloom Time | Summer |
Flower Color | Pink, white, yellow |
Hardiness Areas | 4a - 10b USDA |
Native Area | Asia, North America, South America depending on species |
Lotus Care
Lotus plants require full sun or at least six hours of direct light per day.
Lotus grow in water and the soil must be kept wet.
Lotus plants are hardy down to zone 4 but a circulating system should be used to prevent the water source from freezing solid.
Mature plants growing in containers should be fertilized every 20 days with a complete (20-10-20) water-soluble fertilizer.
To prevent excessive spread, plants should be placed in containers with no drainage holes in the water source.
Commerce - Key Features
Some lotus cultivars are considered invasive in some areas of the United States.
Light
A lotus requires at least six hours of direct sun each day to produce its beautiful dark green leaves and flowers.
Soil
Growth and flowering are best when the plant is placed in a rich fertile soft silt loam or clay soil. A mix of pine bark and topsoil provides a substrate that is a good texture for lotus culture.
Water
Since lotus are aquatic plants, the soil should be wet at all times. Once growth begins in the spring after winter dormancy, don't submerge the new shoots but keep the soil wet. The water should not be allowed to freeze.
Temperature and Humidity
The hardiness of your lotus depends on the cultivar but most lotus thrive in very cold temperatures as long as the soil is kept wet and the water is not allowed to freeze.
Fertilizer
If grown in natural ponds and lakes, there is plenty of organic material to feed the plant and keep it healthy. For lotus grown in pots, feed mature plants growing in containers every 20 days with a complete (20-10-20) water-soluble fertilizer.
Types of Lotus Plants
American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea): Produces white or yellow flowers up to 10 inches across and is native from Canada to Florida.
Sacred or Asian Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): Originates from tropical Asia but is now found from Iran to northeast Australia and produces large white or pink flowers. All parts are edible and a good source of certain nutrients. The plant has religious significance in some cultures.
There are dozens of cultivars and hybrid lotus (N. lutea x N. nucifera) plants that produce varying shades of pink and yellow blooms including some with double petals.
Chongban Bayi Lian: A micro-lotus double-petaled plant with a yellow center and pink-edged petals.
Ancient Capitol Red Palace: Large 48-inch stems produce deep red blooms.
Green Jade of Qinhuai: Tiny lotus well-suited for growing in a small pot produces blooms with double white petals contrasting with a jade green center.
Mrs. Perry D. Slocum: Lotus with double flowers that change from pink to yellow to cream as they age.
Missouri: One of the hardiest lotus plants with large pink flowers.
Pink Beauty: Produces light pink flowers with dark pink centers.
Sunburst: A hardy, yellow-flowering lotus known for fast growth and large size.
Warning
Some lotus cultivars are considered invasive in areas of the United States. Consult your local county extension service for more information.
Pruning Lotus Plants
Regularly remove dead leaves and stalks to promote new growth. Most pruning is only needed in the late fall or winter when the plant has finished blooming and goes dormant.
Propagating Lotus Plants
While lotus plants produce seeds, propagating by dividing the rhizomes is much more successful. Division should be done early in the spring while the plant is still dormant or as leaves begin to sprout.
Carefully remove the lotus from the container.
Gently separate the roots into sections each containing at least one rhizome. The rhizomes can be planted directly into a new area of a natural pond or lake or placed in a container.
To plant in a man-made water source, add one inch of moistened soil to a container with no drainage holes.
Place the rhizome in the pot with the growing tip facing up.
Cover the rhizome with three to four more inches of soil until it is halfway covered.
Weigh down the soil with gravel.
Carefully fill the container with water and place it into the water source.
Keep the container close to the surface of the water to promote faster growth.
How to Grow Lotus From Rhizomes
Select a blemish-free, plump rhizome. Look for rhizomes that have not sprouted leaves or flowers.
Fill a large pot with no drainage holes with two to five inches of potting soil depending on the size of the rhizome and the pot.
Wet the soil until it is thoroughly moist.
Place the rhizome in the soil in the center of the pot with the growing tip facing up.
Add enough additional soil to cover about halfway up the rhizome.
Place stones or gravel on top of the soil to hold it in place.
Fill the container with water and make sure the tip of the rhizome is at least two inches below the waterline.
Place in an area with full sun.
If you are growing a tall variety, you may need to add a support cage as the lotus grows to prevent the plant from tipping over.
Overwintering
While lotus plants are hardy to cold temperatures, the water source must not freeze solid. To prevent this, add circulation pumps to the pond or water container. It can also be helpful to place the pots in deeper water that does not freeze. You can also remove pots from the water and keep them in a cool storage area. Check the pots frequently and keep the soil very moist.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Lotus plants are susceptible to spider mites, water-lily aphids, snails, and slugs, as well as, fungal diseases. To help control pests, remove dead leaves and debris from the water source and use slug and snail baits. Treat fungal diseases that cause leaf wilting and spotting by using a fungicide to treat the plant.
How to Get a Lotus Plant to Bloom
While the leaves are attractive, the lotus bloom is prized for its beauty and fragrance. If the plant is not blooming, it may not be getting enough sun or it has overgrown its container and needs to be divided when it goes dormant.
Common Problems with Lotus Plants
Lotus plants need full sun to thrive and bloom profusely. While cold hardy, the water source should never freeze solid and the plant should not be allowed to dry out. Plants will not bloom if they become rootbound or overcrowded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lotus flowers easy to care for?
Lotus plants are easy to care for once they are established. The main concerns are allowing the plants to get full sun, keeping the soil wet, and preventing the water source from freezing.
How long do lotus flowers last?
Lotus flowers usually last around three days. Lotus plants are perennials that can last for many years if cared for correctly.
Do lotus flowers grow on lily pads?
No. Lotus flowers grow on stems and have upright leaves that rise above the water line. Water lilies are a different genus that produces leaves and flowers that float on top of the water.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
