Sowing and propagating potted lotus is the simplest; learn 5 tricks and flowers can fill the house

I. Lotus propagation methods, sowing is the simplest

Lotus is a flower with very strong vitality. There are many lotus propagation methods, such as sowing, division, and dividing lotus rhizomes, etc. No matter which method is used, everyone needs to pay attention to the propagation temperature. Temperature is the most important thing when growing lotus. If it is too cold or too hot, lotus is not easy to bloom. Below we explain these propagation methods one by one.

II. Propagation by sowing

Seed propagation is the most commonly used method for growing lotus at home. The specific method is relatively simple: just soak the opened seeds in water and change the water frequently. They can sprout in about a week, and after rooting in two weeks they can be transplanted. When transplanting, note that the water layer should be shallow, and the lotus leaves should be exposed outside. With a little care, they can bloom in the same year!

After sprouting, transfer them into a pot, place in a sunny spot, strengthen light exposure, and do not let them lack water. Add a small amount of rooting powder to the water to promote young root growth. After 2 weeks, fine roots and 2~3 small lotus leaves can grow, and they can be divided and planted. Generally, seedlings grown from seed can bloom in two years.

III. Propagation by division

After seed lotus rhizomes overwinter in a pond in dormancy, they can be dug up and divided for planting in spring when the temperature steadily rises. If too early, the temperature is low and the seed lotus rhizomes are prone to freezing and rotting. If too late, the terminal buds have already sprouted, and the coin leaves are easily broken, affecting survival. When planting in vats or pots, the selected seed lotus rhizomes must have intact terminal buds, otherwise they are not easy to survive. Division propagation is one of the lotus propagation methods.

Around Qingming Festival, select robust lotus rhizomes and cut every 2~3 nodes into one section as a seed lotus rhizome. Each section must have a terminal bud and retain the tail node, otherwise water will enter the lotus rhizome and cause the seed lotus rhizome to rot. Use your fingers to protect the terminal bud, then insert it diagonally at 20~30 degrees into the soil of the vat or pond. If it cannot be planted in time, place the seed lotus rhizomes in a wind-sheltered, shaded place and cover them with straw to keep them moist.

IV. Propagation by dividing lotus rhizomes

Lotus propagation by dividing rhizomes is usually carried out from mid-March to mid-April. Planting too early may be affected by cold waves, and the seed lotus rhizomes are prone to cold damage. In northern regions, transparent agricultural film can be used for coverage when cold waves occur. Before planting, mix the pot soil into a paste. When planting, insert the top end of the seed lotus rhizome diagonally along the edge of the pot at 20 degrees into the mud. For bowl lotus, the depth is about 5 cm.

For large lotus, the depth is about 10 cm, with the head low and the tail high, and the tail half tilted up so that water does not enter the lotus rhizome tail. After planting, place the pot in sunlight so that slight cracks appear on the surface soil, which helps the seed lotus rhizome bond completely with the soil. Then add a small amount of water. After the buds grow, gradually deepen the water level, and finally maintain a 3-5 cm water layer. For pond planting, the water layer in the early stage is the same as for potted lotus, and in the later stage it should be kept from submerging the lotus leaves.

V. Propagation by lotus rhizome shoots

Lotus rhizome shoots are the terminal buds at the tips of the main rhizome, secondary rhizomes, and tertiary rhizomes. They are all vigorous meristematic tissues, wrapped externally by thick scales, with internal tissues nested layer upon layer, containing young leaves, terminal buds, axillary buds, and flower bud organs of one order after another. Cutting the terminal buds for cutting propagation is a technique that uses the continuous growth of terminal buds to reproduce a new generation. It is usually carried out only when the spring temperature rises to 15°C and the buds begin to sprout. Using terminal buds to propagate lotus is most suitable for vegetable lotus production. It not only saves a large amount of seed lotus rhizomes and facilitates transportation, but can also reduce diseases. It is a propagation technique worth promoting.

VI. Propagation by lotus runners

Lotus runner propagation is usually carried out during the growing season when the lotus runners extend and many standing leaves grow on the runner nodes. For pond planting, you can enter the pond and follow the direction of the lotus rhizome, feel to the shoot bud, leave 2 leaves, break the lotus runner, take it out, and transport it to the pond to be planted or plant it immediately in the same pond. For lotus grown in vats or pots, from June to August, when flowers are abundant, leaves are lush, and new lotus rhizomes have initially formed, you can turn out the pot to take lotus runners and new lotus rhizomes, retain a few lotus leaves, and transplant into another pot to encourage reflowering. When using lotus runner propagation, materials must be obtained locally and planted on site, and the terminal buds and standing leaves must be protected from damage for success. The above are potted lotus propagation methods. I hope they can help everyone.

Water lily propagation methods

Water lily is an ornamental plant with both beautiful flowers and leaves. In ancient Greece and Rome, it was initially worshipped as a goddess. In 16th-century Italy, parks often used it to decorate fountain pools or embellish outdoor hall scenes. Today we will introduce water lily propagation methods.

Water lily propagation methods:

Propagation by division

Water lilies mainly use division propagation. Hardy species are usually divided in early spring from March to April before sprouting. Non-hardy species have high requirements for air and water temperature, so division can only be carried out around mid-May. When dividing, first dig out the rhizomes, select rhizomes with plump new buds, cut them into root segments 8~10 cm long, with each segment having at least 1 bud, and then plant them. Place the terminal bud upward and bury it in the surface soil. The covering depth should be such that the plant's bud eye is level with the soil surface. Plant 5~7 segments per pot. After planting, expose to a little sunlight before adding shallow water to help maintain water temperature, but do not irrigate too deeply, otherwise sprouting will be affected. When the temperature rises and new buds sprout, deepen the water level. Place in a well-ventilated, sunny place for care. The cultivation water depth is 20~40 cm. In summer, the water level can be appropriately deepened. In hot seasons, pay attention to keeping the pot water clean. When growing only a small amount in pots, you can turn out water lilies that have been planted for 2~5 years, cut them into 2~4 pieces, and plant them again in pots.

Propagation by sowing

Water lilies can also use sowing propagation. That is, after the flowers bloom, they turn into the water. Before the fruit matures, wrap the flower with a gauze bag so that after the fruit splits, the seeds fall into the bag. After the seeds are collected, they must still be stored in water. If stored dry, they will lose germination ability. Sow in March-April. Use fertile clay loam for the pot soil. Do not fill the soil too full; it should be 5~6 cm below the pot rim. After sowing the seeds, cover with 1 cm of soil, press firmly, and immerse in water. The water surface should be 3~4 cm above the pot soil. Cover the pot soil with glass and place in a sunny, warm place to increase the temperature inside the pot. The sowing temperature is preferably 25~30°C. They germinate after about half a month and can bloom the next year.

The water lily propagation methods are introduced here. Water lily is a precious flower among aquatic flowers. Its appearance is similar to lotus, but the difference is that lotus leaves and flowers stand out of the water, while water lily leaves and flowers float on the water surface. Because water lilies open during the day and close at night, they are known as the "sleeping beauty among flowers."

Methods for growing potted water lilies

Water lilies are loved by many flower growers because of their fragrant blooms. To grow water lilies, of course you must master water lily cultivation methods. Water lily cultivation methods include many aspects. Everyone must fully understand water lily cultivation methods to grow water lilies well. Below is an introduction to water lily cultivation methods.

Methods for growing potted water lilies

Morphology and habits of water lilies

Water lily is an ornamental plant, also known by aliases such as floating lotus and noon lotus. It is native to Mexico and eastern Asia, and is widely distributed in northeast, north, southwest, and south China, as well as Japan, Korea, and Siberia. It likes strong light, has extremely strong cold resistance, and is suitable for well-ventilated environments. It requires cultivation in humus-rich clay soil, lakes, or ponds.

One water lily flower can open for 3-4 days. The flower opens in the afternoon each day and closes at night. It can be used as a garden plant or potted water lily, for water body greening, or for ornament. Its rhizomes can be eaten or used for brewing wine, and can be used medicinally. They have a lung-clearing and astringent function, and treat pulmonary tuberculosis, coughing blood, and other symptoms.

Water lily is a distinctive aquatic flower and a perennial aquatic herb. The rhizome is short, thick, and upright, unbranched. The leaves are entire, round or heart-shaped, with slender petioles, floating on the water surface, dark green and glossy on the surface, and dark purple on the back. The flowers are solitary at the top of slender stalks, floating on the water surface, in colors such as white, yellow, and pink; there are many petals arranged in several layers; stamens are numerous and golden yellow; the ovary is inferior, and the stigma is arranged radially. The flowering period is from May to October, and the fruiting period is from August to October. The berry is spongy; the seeds are oval with a fleshy sac-like aril.

Potted water lilies

Water lilies are strongly sun-loving flowers and cannot tolerate shade. They are suitable for growing in fertile river mud and can overwinter in places where the soil in the water does not freeze. They like fertilizer. Fertilize according to the lotus fertilization method. The planting water depth is preferably 20—60 cm. For pot cultivation, use a pot with a diameter of 30-40 cm, choose clay river mud, and use hoof and horn pieces and bone meal as base fertilizer. The planting depth in the soil should be such that the rhizome is not visible, and keep the mud surface covered with 4—5 cm of water. When the leaves grow, gradually deepen the water level.

Potted water lilies have fewer pests and diseases during cultivation. After 4 years of cultivation, the soil should be changed and replanted: Irrigation and fertilization of water lilies. Water lilies are fertilizer-loving flowers. If they lack fertilizer, the leaves become smaller and the flower buds stop growing. Therefore, before planting, base fertilizer should be applied, mainly horse hoof pieces and decomposed cake fertilizer. During the growing period, the water level should not be too deep, otherwise growth will be affected and the leaves will turn yellow. Apply top dressing once during the growing period. The fertilization method is to decompose cake fertilizer and mix it with river mud to make mud blocks, then evenly throw the mud blocks containing cake fertilizer into the water lily pond. Division propagation of water lilies can be carried out in spring from March—April. First dig out vigorous underground stems from the pond mud, select a section with plump new buds, cut it into 6—10 cm long segments of underground stem, and immediately plant them flat in the mud, not too deep: usually keep the new buds on the underground stem level with the soil surface. After planting the underground stem, expose it to a little sunlight before adding water. At first, the water should be shallow rather than deep. When the temperature rises and the new buds begin to sprout, then deepen the water level. At this time, the pond water should not flow too quickly. The deepest water level is preferably 20—30 cm, because water lily petioles are slender and weak, and if the water level is too deep, new buds cannot emerge. If planting in a deep-water pond with a water depth of more than 40 cm, you can build a platform in the pond or place pots underneath,

and place the potted water lily on the platform or pot. Sowing propagation of water lilies can be done in March—April. Take the seeds out of the water and sow them in pots. After sowing, immerse the pot in water, and the water surface can be slightly higher than the pot soil. After leaves emerge, gradually increase the water depth as the stems and leaves grow. The sowing temperature is preferably 25—30°C. They germinate in about half a month and can bloom the next year. Seeds should be stored in water.

Once the seeds dry out, they lose germination ability. When growing yellow water lilies in home vats, a large number of mosquito larvae breed in the vat, making the water in the vat turbid and affecting the ornamental value of the yellow water lily. How should this be controlled? The simplest method is to put about 10 mosquitofish in the vat. When the plum rain season arrives, a large number of mosquito larvae are even more likely to breed in the vat. If mosquitofish are put in at this time, the effect is immediate. Within a few days, not a single mosquito larva can be seen, the water is clear to the bottom, and the small mosquitofish line up head to tail, chasing and playing among the water lilies, further adding to the ornamental value of the water lilies. Mosquitofish are commonly known as string fish. They love eating mosquito larvae, and they are also very easy to feed. Besides loving mosquito larvae, they also love eating flies. When fishing in the countryside, using flies as bait makes them easy to hook. Therefore, in courtyards, if lotus or water lilies are grown in vats, raising a few of them means there is no need to worry about mosquito larvae breeding in the vat again.

For home vat cultivation of water lilies, it is best to divide and renew them every spring to ensure stronger growth. Without changing the pot, continuous cultivation of water lilies should not exceed 2 years.