Bowl Lotus Growing Guide: Treat the Seeds This Way for Easier Germination

SummaryGrowing environment: Bowl lotus loves light and warmth, its growing temperature is around 20-30°C, and it prefers fertile clay soil rich in organic matter. Sowing time: keep the water temperature above 16°C and it can be sown in all four seasons. Seed treatment: first grind off the seed coat of the lotus seed, crack it with pliers, cut off a small piece of the seed coat, and soak for a few days. Soaking seeds to promote germination: put the cracked seeds into warm water to soak and wait for them to sprout. Choosing a flower pot: a diameter of about 50cm and a depth of about 40cm is better.

I. Growing Environment

1. Bowl lotus needs sufficient light during growth, is not tolerant of shade, and also loves warmth; its growing temperature is around 20-30°C. If the temperature is below 15°C, it will stop growing. It likes moisture and fears dryness, and prefers relatively stable still water.

2. Its soil requirement is best met by fertile clay rich in organic matter, with a suitable pH of around 6.5.

II. Sowing Time

1. Lotus seeds have no dormancy period; as long as the water temperature can be kept above 16°C, they can be sown in all four seasons of the year.

2. Under conditions where both light and temperature are suitable, lotus seeds take only about 50-60 days from sowing to flowering in spring, and about 60-80 days in autumn.

III. Seed Treatment

1. Because the outer shell of the lotus seed is relatively hard and dense, it needs to be manually cracked before soaking. One end of the lotus seed has a small pointed tip, and the other end has a small concave dot.

2. Rub the end with the small concave dot on rough cement ground to grind off a layer of the seed coat. Be careful not to damage the kernel inside, and do not remove the shell. The purpose of grinding is mainly to allow water to seep in through this opening, so the seed can absorb water and swell.

3. Method for treating the seeds: first place the lotus seeds on cement ground and grind off the seed coat, crack them with pliers, then use a sharp knife to cut off a small piece of the seed coat. It is best to soak them for a few days; once the seed coat becomes soft, they are easier to handle.

IV. Soaking Seeds to Promote Germination

1. Put the already cracked seeds into warm water at around 20-40°C to soak. When the water temperature drops to 20°C, the germination speed of the seeds will slow down. If the amount of seeds being soaked is not large, you can put them in a thermos to keep them warm.

2. The speed of seed germination is directly related to temperature. In an environment at around 30°C, soaking seeds to promote germination generally takes only about 3-5 days for them to sprout, and the embryo will extend a small sprout from the opening.

3. During this period, change the water once every 1-2 days or so. Generally, as long as the seed coat can absorb water and swell, they will germinate.

4. When soaking seeds to promote germination, note: if the temperature is low, you can use a thermos cup with warm water at around 30°C; at temperatures above 20°C, simply place them outdoors to soak.

5. Change the water 2 times a day; generally, changing it once in the morning and once in the evening is enough.

6. When soaking, the water must cover the seeds.

7. If the temperature is relatively high, germination will be fast; generally above 20°C, they will germinate within at most 7 days.

V. Choosing a Flower Pot

1. Although it is called bowl lotus, using a household vegetable bowl to grow it is too small and too shallow.

2. If the bowl is small, it will hold less nutrient soil, the plant will not get sufficient nutrients, and its root system will not be able to spread, which is not conducive to growth.

3. A suitable container size for bowl lotus is a diameter of 25-87cm and a depth of 20-62cm, ensuring it can hold 38cm of soil deep enough for the roots to grow fully.