Lotus needs water but also fears water: how do you manage water scientifically when planting?

Lotus is an aquatic plant and cannot survive without water. Fearing water means that if the water level is too high, it is difficult for it to bloom, or even the whole plant may suffer; because varieties differ, their requirements for water depth also differ. For example, the red lotus growing in East Lake in Wuhan, 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 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 survive, it is not easy for it to bloom that year.

The water level suitable for lotus growth is generally no more than 1 m, while medium and small flower varieties should be at 15-20 cm. If water is lacking during the growing season, and the soil has not yet dried completely (still moist), timely irrigation can still allow recovery, but growth will also be affected to some extent; if the soil has dried to the point of cracking, growth stops, the leaves scorch, and it is difficult for the plant to recover.

Although lotus depends on water for growth, its water requirements differ at different growth stages. When dividing and planting lotus rhizomes, 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 lightly. At this time it has not yet sprouted, water evaporation is very low, and the plant will not be harmed by drought. Moreover, controlling the amount of water 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 water, and as the standing leaves grow, gradually raise the water level. In summer, when temperatures are high and growth is rapid, for tub planting add water once every 1-2 days; for basin and bowl 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, when new rhizomes form and the plant is about to enter dormancy, 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, in lotus management, water is the key, and one should act according to its patterns to achieve satisfactory results.