This is how you can grow your own lotus from seed (latin name Nelumbo nucifera). When I started planting bamboos and other plants I wasn't planing on planting lotus until I received 4 complimentary seeds from 1949Store. Those seeds grew into nice plants very fast.
Before weather becomes warm enough for lotuses to grow outside, I am planting few indoors. Later they will be transplanted into big containers. Their root is very delicate so that job must be done carefully!
PREPARING THE SEED
1. Scarring
the seed will make it germinate in 2-3 days. Take a saw and carefully
remove front and back top of the seed. Since seed is hard and round be
careful not to cut yourself. When making a cut on the seed do not
overdo-it; when you see the reddish layer under your saw you don`t have
to saw anymore and you can go to the next side. If you cut too much you
will see white part of the seed which will rot if it is damaged. If seed starts to stink it is rotting and most likely will not germinate. Seed can germinate in some cases after 48 hours and in some after a week.
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2. Since I never know from which side leaf will develop I remove front and back "cap".
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3. Put
the seed into to water. Don`t insert it deep into the soil (up to the
half of the seeds height) because this way you can see its progress much
better and that is very interesting part. :) (if seed starts to float
just leave it in the water - if it is viable and when it absorbs enough
water it will sink).
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4. Place
the container in a place where it is warm (kitchen or window or
something like that). In day or two (sometimes a bit longer) seed will
germinate. Sometimes water can become blurry so you if you have you can
put in it noninvasive water plant that will produce oxygen. But in most
cases water will stay clean. :)
NOTE if germinating in a small container: Changing water prevents the rotting of lotus seed. To do that you can simply use syringe or some other tool you can find :).
You can germinate seed and grow plant in a container inside the house and then transplant lotus into a bigger container or pond OR you can simply germinate the seed in a ordinary glass of water and when it cracks move it to the place where it will grow. (germinating inside speeds up the process because the seed is in a warm place)
Since weather is still cold I will germinate and temporarily grow my lotus in a container inside the house. This is how...
GERMINATING SEED IN THE CONTAINER
1. After finding a small container (deeper the better) where you will grow your lotus until it gets bigger, cover the bottom of it with 5 cm (2 inches) of nutritious soil (that used for flowers or you can dig some up in your backyard :) ). I dug some up from the place where snowdrops grow. Use container that can accommodate at least 3 leafs that are 5cm (2 inch) in diameter.
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2. Cover the nutritious soil with clay like soil which will prevent parts of nutritious soil to rise up to the surface. I use 1 cm (approximately 1/2 inch) soil from the fields. The color of soil on the photographs might be similar but the in reality the first one is much darker than second one.
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3. Slowly add water so that it doesn`t disturb soil on the bottom and water doesn`t get blurry (although even if that does happen particles of soil will settle down again after some time). If you get a lot of particles floating on the surface you can use a piece of cloth to collect them but it is not necessary.
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The one below is planted 20 hours ago. It swollen up after only 4 hours in a water. Keep in mind that sometimes seed can germinate and everything might look fine but half way from developing a strong root the plant can start to rot. I had that kind of situation and there was nothing I could do; at least I didn`t know what to do and still don`t know :(.
Update:
(small leafs on the surface are common duckweed)
Update:
This is a seedling 6 days after it has germinated.
This is a lotus 35 days old (counting from the day it germinated). It is the one from the first photo in this post and it is interesting to note that it has lost its first leaf but it continued to grow anyway.
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Progress...
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...all lotuses...
Some details...
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7 comments:
I am cultivating these also.
The portion to be removed from the seed according to the guy who sold me the seeds is the one which doesn't have like a tiny spine.
I just removed it this morning...will see how it goes.
Excellent! Thank you for the info! I am never sure where to make a cut so I cut everywhere :).
What color did you plant?
You don't really need to remove any part of the seed. I just file through the side so water can penetrate the seed coat and the seedling breaks through the end with the pore regardless. I've never had any lotus seeds fail to germinate.
Hi I am deepak from India.
I planted lotus in a pot, I got total four floating leafs. When will I get the leaves those will be above the water level?? and when will be the flower?
Hi there, great post.... I planted my lotus about 8 weeks ago and now have about 7 floating leaves.
It's also worth mentioning that the original 4 leaves which came up from seed have now died and the ones I have now are those which have come out from the root that it formed in the first 3 weeks from Germination.
As to when the first leaf comes up above the water level I am not sure as yet since mine is only about 3 months old..... But maybe this will help other people who might question the time it takes to grow a water lotus...
How much time does it take to bloom when a lotus is grown from seed
Hello thank you for your post. I want to ask your opinion on why the sides my the lotus leaves are turning dark. I grew them from the seeds I’m not sure what to do? Does it need to be a taller pot? As mine is only 10 cm depth. Please help 🙏🏼.
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