Can lotus seeds grow lotus roots? This article explains it clearly

Yes, lotus seeds used for sowing must be mature fruits that have not lost their seed coat. Before sowing, the seeds need to be opened. One end of the seed is pointed, and the other end is blunt and round with a small depression in the center. Rub the depressed end on rough cement ground until it breaks, or clamp a small opening with a file. Be very careful when making the opening so as not to damage the embryo, otherwise the lotus seed will rot.

Soak the cracked seeds in warm water at about 20-40 degrees. The soaking water must be clean, free of grease and dirt, and water above 50 degrees must not be used, otherwise germination will be affected. Let the water temperature drop naturally, and finally keep it at about 30 degrees, changing the water 2 to 3 times a day. They will germinate in about three days. Remove the seeds that float and do not germinate to prevent them from rotting and smelling in the water and spoiling the water quality.

After the seeds sprout, they should be grown in water at about 25°C for 5-7 days. During water cultivation, the root system of the lotus seedlings has weak absorption, and growth mainly relies on nutrients provided by the embryo, so fertilization is generally not needed. During water cultivation, keep the water layer about 10 cm deep and provide sufficient light; do not change the water or turn the plants frequently, so that the leaves do not over-elongate from constantly changing their growth direction; keep the leaf stalks in the water and let the leaves spread freely and flat on the water surface. When the first leaf opens, the second leaf is about to open, and white roots have grown, they can be planted.

Choose a container without a drainage hole, such as a porcelain jar, ceramic pot, large ceramic bowl, plastic box, etc. You can also use an old washbasin, a plastic flower pot without holes, or a round fish tank. Note that the fish tank should be wrapped with black cloth or a plastic bag to prevent the roots from failing to bloom due to light. Add half a pot of garden soil or river-pond mud free of chemical pollution, add water and soak two weeks in advance, and do not fertilize. When transplanting, press the fine roots of the small lotus seedlings into the mud, one plant per pot, and add an appropriate amount of water after transplanting, just enough so that the water does not submerge the small lotus leaves.

Miniature lotus likes light and must be placed in a sunny spot. The seedlings are delicate, and some may scorch in the sun, but they will generally sprout and survive. Do not water too much either, so as to raise the water temperature and promote growth. After 7-13 floating leaves have grown, standing leaves will appear. Generally speaking, for multi-flowered varieties, flower buds begin to appear after 5-17 standing leaves have grown. The time of bud appearance varies by variety; some varieties even bloom before standing leaves grow.

Lotus seeds can indeed grow lotus roots, but they need careful care to grow, and if managed improperly, they are very likely to rot and die.