How to Plant Lotus? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
Lotus is also known as the water lily and water hibiscus. Since ancient times it has been admired from afar but not to be trifled with. Despite its beautiful appearance and extremely high ornamental value, it is also an economic planting business. Its seeds, seed pods, and rhizomes are all edible, and its economic benefits are significant, attracting many people to plant it. So how should lotus be planted? Let's take a look together.
1. Planting Environment
Lotus is an aquatic plant, generally planted in ponds. When planting, it requires slow water flow and a stable water level. Lotus does not have high water quality requirements, as long as the water is not seriously polluted. A water depth of 1-1.5 m is sufficient, and the bottom of the pond requires a deep soil layer. In addition, lotus is a sun-loving plant and needs more than 10 hours of light per day. Also, to prevent lotus from being eaten by fish and shrimp, all fish and shrimp in the pond should be cleared out before planting, and protective measures should be taken to prevent fish from entering.
2. Sowing
The seed coat of lotus is relatively hard, so before planting, the shell must first be broken to allow it to sprout smoothly. Generally, use scissors to make a small hole in the shell, then place the seeds in clean water and soak for 2 weeks so they absorb enough water and sprout and grow leaves before sowing. When soaking the seeds, be sure to change the water every day to avoid water quality deterioration that could affect seed germination. When sowing, first drain the pond water. After several days of sun exposure, the bottom soil will be in a slightly dry state. Then bury the seeds and maintain light exposure.
3. Fertilizer and Water Management
Lotus has different water requirements at each stage. Generally, shallow water is used in the early growth stage, deeper water in the middle stage, and less water in the later stage, with the water level kept within 1.5 m. To make lotus grow quickly, fertilization is essential. Before planting, sufficient base fertilizer can be applied. Generally, 3000 kg of organic fertilizer and an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer are applied per mu as base fertilizer. The principle for topdressing is light application at the seedling stage, heavy application during flower bud formation, and frequent application during the flowering and fruiting stage. At the seedling stage, 30 kg of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and 10 kg of nitrogen fertilizer are applied per mu. During the flower bud stage, depending on the plant's growth condition, increase by 1-2 times the seedling-stage amount. During the flowering and fruiting stage, to improve the seed-setting rate, topdress once every 20 days.
4. Field Management
During planting, pay attention to changes in water quality and substrate. Once deterioration of water quality or substrate is found, deal with it promptly to avoid lotus death and yield loss. In addition, weeds should also be removed promptly during planting to avoid adverse effects on lotus growth. Spray herbicide once a month to control weed growth. Also, aquatic plants such as algae and water moss on the water surface should be removed promptly. When lotus grows 3-5 standing leaves, plow promptly, once every half month, for 3-4 consecutive times, until the rhizomes fill the pond.
The above are the planting methods for lotus. We hope they can help you. If you want to learn more about lotus planting knowledge, please stay tuned to us.