How to Grow Potted Lotus? A Detailed Guide to Growing from Seeds and Rhizomes

Lotus is a fairly common plant in people's daily lives, and there are two methods for growing lotus: seeds and rhizomes. If planting outdoors, the best sowing season is after the Spring Equinox; depending on the weather conditions in different provinces, the timing varies. It is best to sow when the temperature is around 15 degrees; when temperature, moisture and other conditions are suitable, the seeds normally sprout in one week.

I. How to Grow Potted Lotus

Growing lotus from seeds: first, break the shell. From May to June, rub the indented end of the seed on cement ground or a rough stone until it wears through, then soak the seed to raise seedlings. Keep the water clear and change it often; sprouts appear in about a week, and roots form after two weeks, at which point they can be transplanted. Plant one per pot, keep the water layer shallow, and do not submerge the lotus leaves in the water. About 90% can bloom in the same year, but not many blooms appear that year.

II. Growing Lotus by Dividing the Rhizome

Mid-March to mid-April is the best time to repot lotus rhizomes. Planting too early exposes them to cold snaps, and the rhizomes may easily suffer frost damage. Before planting, mix the pot soil into a paste; when planting, insert the tip of the rhizome diagonally into the mud along the edge of the pot at a 20-degree angle. For bowl lotus, plant about 5 cm deep; for large lotus, about 10 cm deep, with the head low and the tail high. Let half of the tail end stick up so that water does not enter the rhizome tail. After planting, place the pot in the sun so that the surface soil develops fine cracks, helping the rhizome bond fully with the soil, then add a small amount of water. Once sprouts emerge, gradually deepen the water level, and finally maintain a water layer of 3—5 cm.

 III. Caring for Lotus

(1) Water management:

Lotus is an aquatic plant and cannot do without water throughout its growing period. Summer is the peak growth period for lotus, and its demand for water is also greatest, so throughout the summer take care that the tub or pot does not dry out. During the plum rain season, rainfall is more concentrated; for lotus grown in ponds, the water level must not submerge the standing leaves, so drain promptly to prevent the lotus from being completely submerged and ruined.

(2) Fertilizer management:

Lotus likes fertilizer, but too much fertilizer will burn the seedlings, so apply light fertilizer frequently. Summer is the flowering period for lotus, and its demand for fertilizer is greater than at the seedling stage. If after the flower buds emerge the lotus leaves are yellow and thin with no disease spots, this indicates a lack of fertilizer, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be added promptly; afterwards, fertilize once every 15 to 20 days (either cake fertilizer or compound fertilizer is fine). For lotus grown in tubs or pots, depending on the size of the container, push the fertilizer into the mud in the middle of the tub or pot and let it release gradually.

(3) Light management:

Ornamental lotus is a long-day plant, and the growing location should have sufficient light. When growing potted lotus, the spacing between plants should be appropriate; if they are too crowded, the plants become thinner and taller with fewer standing leaves. When growing lotus at home in containers such as tubs, pots or bowls, place the lotus in a spot with sufficient light or move it outdoors every day to receive light. After the lotus buds, daily light exposure must be no less than 6 hours, otherwise the plant will show symptoms such as yellowing leaves and dried-up flower buds.