Detailed Guide to Opening Bowl Lotus Seeds and Water Changing Techniques

Bowl lotus is a kind of lotus grown in a small container. Since bowl lotus cannot be grown directly in water alone, during cultivation we need to mix some mud with water to grow it, but this cultivation method very easily causes the water to become turbid, which is not good for appreciating the bowl lotus, so we need to manage the water and soil for bowl lotus.

How to change the water for bowl lotus

Under normal circumstances, water-grown bowl lotus does not need a water change. Doing so can ensure that the nutrients in the water do not leach away, so that the bowl lotus has nutrients for growth. However, over time, the water will still evaporate, so you need to add water to the container on time and in the right amount. Sometimes after exposure to the sun, a lot of green algae may dirty the water color. This actually does not matter. In this case, the bowl lotus and the algae will grow in mutual support, so there is no need to change the water.

How to open bowl lotus seeds

1. First, go to a hardware store and spend 5 mao to buy a hacksaw blade. The cheapest kind as shown is fine.

2. Find the correct spot on the bowl lotus seed where it should be opened. If you are not sure, the spot to open will have a small dent in the middle.

3. Pinch the seed tightly with your thumb and index finger, and use your middle finger to brace the seed so it does not wobble side to side. Once you start sawing, your thumb and index finger must hold the saw blade firmly and not let it swing side to side.

4. While sawing, the hand holding the seed should rotate the seed so that the opening cut into the seed shell is an arc shape.

5. Next, soak it in water. Do not worry about whether the seed floats or sinks. After soaking overnight it will swell open, like the one below. Then change the water twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and wait for the embryo to move (sprout).

6. When a little green sprout emerges, peel off the shell. During the days of waiting for leaves to grow, change the water 3 times a day.

Why the water always becomes turbid when growing bowl lotus

This phenomenon of water becoming turbid is mostly related to the soil used when growing bowl lotus. Many flower enthusiasts use garden soil or nutrient soil when growing bowl lotus, without thorough mixing, and such soil contains some organic matter that has not been rotted and decomposed, which will gradually become fertilizer with sunlight exposure, causing the water to become more and more turbid.

Many flower enthusiasts growing bowl lotus can find that when pond mud is used as the soil for growing bowl lotus, this phenomenon rarely occurs, and the water is basically very clear. So if you have the conditions for growing bowl lotus at home, it is best to use pond mud as the soil, which can properly maintain water quality.

If you are going to use garden soil to grow bowl lotus, when planting bowl lotus, be careful to use a small wooden stick to stir the soil hard, stirring continuously, and the finer the better. After the soil settles, the water will be relatively clear.

Second, when using garden soil, sprinkle sand on the surface. Be careful to sprinkle it in several rounds. After each sprinkling, wait for the sand to settle before sprinkling the second time. This can also keep the water clear. However, when using sand, you must wash it first beforehand.

Also, you can soak the soil for several more days and stir it several more times before use, cleaning out as many impurities in the soil as possible.

When adding water to bowl lotus, also be careful not to pour water directly into the pot. You can add water gently and slowly, and it will not become turbid so easily.

Methods to clear worms from bowl lotus water

1. Keep fish

Once you find worms in the water, put in a few small tropical fish such as guppies. Do not choose koi, as it is a cold-water fish, while bowl lotus likes warmth. Do not harm the small fish for the sake of the bowl lotus. When keeping guppies, note that guppies will jump out of the pot when startled. Do not frequently move the flower pot, and especially for shallower repotted pots, do not knock on the flower pot, otherwise just wait to collect dried fish!

2. Soak oleander in water

Find some oleander and soak it in water. You can crush it or mash it into juice. Oleander is highly toxic. During crushing, be careful not to swallow it by mistake. Be sure to wear gloves, wash your hands after handling, and throw away all used utensils directly to avoid poisoning.

3. Soaking electric mosquito repellent tablets in it also works

Everyone has electric mosquito repellent tablets at home. Just crush them directly and soak them in the water.

4. Spray pesticide

When spraying, spray only into the water, and do not splash it onto the leaves. You can use pyrethroid insecticides, which break down within a few hours. Even if they splash onto the leaves, they will not affect the overall growth of the bowl lotus. Another commonly used agent is Huahuashen. Wear a mask when spraying to avoid poisoning.

When spraying pesticide, dilute it first to avoid damaging the rhizomes of the bowl lotus due to excessive concentration.

Opening the bowl lotus is a way to promote bowl lotus germination. Bowl lotus seeds have a very hard 2-layer shell. It takes a relatively long time for the tender sprout of the seed to break through the shell. By breaking the shell, we can quickly promote the germination of the planted seed, letting us more quickly enjoy the growth of the lotus.