How to Grow Potted Lotus and Points to Note

Lotus grows in ponds, and at a glance it is truly magnificent and beautiful, making people wish they could take one home right away so they could see it every day. Some friends have made it into a bonsai and placed it at home, and the effect is really quite good, so how exactly should potted lotus be grown? What needs to be noted when cultivating it? Let's take a look below.

How to Grow Potted Lotus

Place the seed lotus horizontally or with the tip angled downward at 20°-50°, bury it into the mud along the inner wall of the container, and let the tail end protrude above the mud. One piece per pot is enough. It should be dried slightly in the sun to fix the seed lotus before adding water. If using lotus seeds for planting, in the south it can be planted in early April, while in the north it can be postponed to May to July; it is better to be late than early.

After the temperature rises and stabilizes, break the head and soak the seeds. Rub the end with the concave point on cement ground until broken, or crack it with pliers, then soak the seeds in warm water at 20°C-30°C, changing the water once a day. They will sprout within a week, and after two weeks the floating leaves will unfold and take root. When the roots reach 10 cm, they can be transplanted and planted in the center of the pot, with water added just enough to submerge the small lotus leaves. Do not let it lack water. With one planting, it can bloom in the same year.

Lotus Bonsai Cultivation Methods and Points to Note

1. Lotus Bonsai Cultivation Methods

1. Choose excellent varieties: choose ornamental varieties with a small plant type, large and brightly colored flowers, and many blooms. Such as Manjianghong, Table Lotus, Little Angel, Little Fairy, etc. If planting with seed lotus, choose lotus rhizomes with complete terminal buds, no disease spots, no damage, and robust growth. If planting with lotus seeds, select plump, fully mature old lotus seeds with large grains.

2. Choice of container: choose a flowerpot (or vat) with a diameter of 30-60 cm and a height not exceeding 50 cm. It must retain water and be durable. For courtyard or institutional planting, high-grade ceramic pots can be used; for industrialized mass production of commercial potted lotus.

3. Soil requirements: Lotus requires fertile soil rich in humus. The soil used is usually lake or pond mud. You can also mix 4 parts garden soil, 3 parts loess, and 3 parts sandy soil thoroughly for use. Absolutely avoid chemically polluted mud or sewage sludge.

4. Plant at the right time: China has great differences in latitude from north to south. The arrival of spring differs greatly between early and late, so the planting time must be adapted to local conditions and handled flexibly.

2. Points to Note for Lotus Bonsai

1. For the pot used to grow potted lotus, there must be no leaking hole at the bottom. Also, the diameter of the pot should be more than 60 cm. It is best to use a clay pot, not a plastic pot.

2. For the choice of cultivation soil, the best is the silt dug up from a pond, but it must be frozen outdoors before it can be used.

3. For the selection of potted lotus stems, the lotus rhizome planting time is in early March to April. Generally, for one pot of potted lotus, three sections of lotus rhizome are taken as one plant. Note that each section of lotus rhizome must have intact buds so that it can grow normally.

Why Potted Lotus Does Not Bloom

1. Different varieties

Lotus has wild varieties and varieties specially used for food. They originally bloom less, have stronger rhizome growth ability, bloom less, or even do not bloom. In addition, different varieties also have slightly different flowering periods. A few varieties do not begin to form buds until early August and bloom relatively late.

2. Light transmission through the container

The differentiation of lotus buds needs a relatively closed environment. Glass containers or white plastic pots are not conducive to flower bud differentiation. Poor flower development will affect blooming.

3. Insufficient light

Lotus is a sun-loving plant, and its growing environment needs good ventilation and sufficient light. If it grows in a shaded environment for a long time, the plant cannot get enough light, or because of weather reasons, if there is continuous rainy weather during the flower bud differentiation period, the leaves cannot carry out photosynthesis, and it is very difficult for lotus to bloom.

Solutions for Potted Lotus Not Blooming

1. Before planting, fully understand the habits of lotus. Do not mistake late blooming of lotus for not blooming.

2. If there are air holes around the flowerpot, try to seal them with black adhesive tape. Try not to use white or even transparent flowerpots.

3. Place the lotus in a place with sufficient sunlight.

So the cultivation method for potted lotus is actually fairly simple. Everyone can follow the steps and try growing a pot, which both satisfies the wish to see it every day and adds a touch of decoration to the home. But a reminder: during cultivation, be sure to pay attention to the choice of pot and soil, as this can affect its growth.