The latest on lotus: it needs water but also fears water

The lotus is an aquatic plant and cannot survive without water. "Fearing water" means that if the water level is too high, it will struggle to bloom, or even the whole plant will suffer; because varieties differ, their requirements for water depth also differ. For example, the red lotus growing in Wuhan East Lake, at a water depth of 1.5 m, shows only a few floating leaves, and the standing leaves are all submerged in the water; without standing leaves it cannot bloom. If the standing leaves are submerged for more than 10 days, there is a risk of drowning; even if submerged for 3~5 days, although it can still maintain survival, it will not bloom easily that year.

The water level suitable for lotus growth generally does not exceed 1 m, while medium and small flower varieties should be kept between 15~20 cm. If water is lacking during the growing season, and if the soil has not yet dried through (still moist), timely watering can still restore it, but growth will also be affected to some extent; if the soil has dried to the point of cracking, then growth will stagnate, the leaves will scorch, and it will be difficult to recover.

Although the lotus depends on water for growth, its water requirements also differ at different growth stages. When dividing and planting lotus rhizomes, the water should not be too much, and there is no need to water immediately after dividing and planting. After 3~5 days, when the mud surface begins to crack slightly, water a small amount. At this time it has not yet sprouted, and water evaporation is very low, so it will not harm the plant through drought. Moreover, controlling the water amount can both prevent the seed rhizomes from floating and raise the mud temperature, which is beneficial for early growth. In short, in the early stage, the standard should be to keep the floating leaves and standing leaves above the water, and as the standing leaves grow, gradually raise the water level. In summer, the temperature is high and growth is rapid, so for tub planting add water once every 1~2 days; for bowl and basin lotus, water should be added every day. The water used in summer should have a temperature roughly similar to the temperature inside the tub. In late autumn and early winter, new rhizomes form and enter the dormant period, so keeping shallow water is enough, but there must not be no water; otherwise the new rhizomes will dry out, which will inevitably affect the following year. In short, water is the key in lotus management, and one should act according to its patterns to achieve satisfactory results.