The lotus flower (from the genus Nelumbo) is known for its beauty and elegance. In many cultures, it holds deep symbolic meaning, representing purity, spiritual enlightenment, and strength.
Beyond its cultural importance, the lotus has long been used in traditional medicine, with its seeds, roots, and leaves valued for their health benefits, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.1
If you’re looking to grow this special flower in your garden or pond, learning how to cultivate it and find the best seeds is the first step.
How to Grow & Transplant a Lotus
Growing and transplanting a lotus is a process that starts with careful planning. Here’s how to do it:
1. Choose a Sunny Spot
Lotuses love sunlight, so pick a place with lots of sunshine streaming through. If you’re growing it in a pond or container, make sure it gets at least six hours of direct sunlight every day.
2. Start with the Seeds or Tubers
You can grow lotus from seeds or tubers (underground storage structures). Tubers are easier and faster to grow. Place the tuber in shallow water, with its tip slightly above the water surface.
3. Use the Right Container
If you’re using a pot, choose a wide, shallow one, at least 12 inches deep. Fill it with a heavy loam soil, avoiding light potting mixes. Gently press the tuber into the soil, being careful not to damage it.
4. Fill with Water
Once the tuber is planted, slowly add water to the container until it just covers the top of the soil. As the lotus grows, increase the water level gradually to keep up with the plant’s height.
5. Wait for Growth
It can take a few weeks for the lotus to sprout leaves. Once you see leaves, make sure the plant gets plenty of sunlight and warm temperatures.
6. Transplanting
If you need to move the lotus to a larger space or a pond, wait until it’s established with strong roots. Gently remove it from the pot, keeping the tuber intact, and plant it in a new, larger spot. Keep the water level consistent as the lotus adapts.
With the right care, your lotus will thrive, giving you beautiful blooms year after year.
How to Grow Lotus Plants from Seeds
Growing lotus plants from seeds can be both enjoyable and fulfilling. Follow this easy steps to get started:
1. Pick the Seeds
Start by choosing good quality lotus seeds. They should be hard and dark brown or black. These seeds have a tough shell, which you need to scratch before planting.
2. Soak the Seeds
Place the seeds in a bowl of warm water. Change the water every day to keep it fresh. In a few days, you’ll see the seeds start to swell and sprout. This can take about a week.
3. Let the Seeds Grow
Once the seeds have sprouted, let them grow in the water for a little while longer. They will start to grow small roots and leaves. Make sure the water stays clean and warm.
4. Plant the Seedlings
When the seedlings are about six inches tall and have a few leaves, they are ready to be planted. Fill a container with heavy soil or clay, and carefully place the seedlings in the soil. Press the soil gently around the roots.
5. Place in Water
Put the container in a pond or a large bowl filled with water. The water should cover the soil by about two to four inches. Make sure the lotus gets plenty of sunlight.
Key Tip: Speed up the growth of lotus plants from seeds by carefully scarifying the seeds—scratching or filing the hard shell—before soaking them in water. This helps the seeds absorb water faster, encouraging quicker germination.
Where to Find the Best Lotus Flower Seeds
Finding the best lotus flower seeds takes a bit of searching, but there are some great places to start:
- Online Stores: Many garden websites sell lotus seeds. Look for sites with good reviews, so you know the seeds are fresh and high-quality. Some stores even offer specific types of lotus, like the Sacred or American lotus.
- Local Garden Centers: Some local garden shops may carry lotus seeds, especially if they specialize in water plants. You can ask the staff for advice on growing them, too.
- Nurseries Specializing in Water Plants: Some nurseries focus on water gardens and may have a wide variety of lotus seeds or tubers. These places often sell high-quality products since they specialize in these plants.
- Lotus Growers or Farmers: If you can find a lotus grower in your area or online, they might sell seeds directly. This is often a good way to get fresh seeds that are more likely to grow.
- Community Gardens and Plant Swaps: Sometimes, you can find lotus seeds through plant swaps or garden clubs. This is a fun way to connect with other gardeners and get seeds for free or at a low cost.
When buying lotus seeds, make sure they come from a trusted source to ensure they will grow well.
Should You Get a Sacred or an American Lotus Flower
When deciding between a Sacred lotus or an American lotus flower, there are a few important things to consider.
Aggressive Growth & Spread
Both the Sacred and American lotus spread quickly and can be hard to control once they start growing. If you plant them in your garden, pond, or water feature, they might take over the space before you know it. This can be a problem if you don’t want them spreading to other parts of your yard or into nearby water bodies.
American Lotus
The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is native to the southern United States and grows naturally in warm, wet areas like ponds and lakes. In areas where it isn’t naturally found, it can spread and push out other native plants, causing environmental problems. (ref)
If you live outside the American lotus’s native region, planting it could lead to it becoming invasive.
Sacred Lotus
The Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), on the other hand, comes from Asia. In many parts of the U.S., it’s considered invasive and can harm the local environment. In Wisconsin, planting Sacred lotus is prohibited due to its invasive nature. (ref) Always check your local regulations to see if it’s allowed in your area.
Choosing between Them
If you’re considering adding a lotus flower to your garden or pond, make sure you understand the risks of aggressive growth. The Sacred lotus can add a beautiful, exotic touch, but its invasive nature might cause more harm than good in certain areas.
The American lotus might feel more fitting if you’re in its native region, but it can still be a challenge to manage.
How to Manage Lotus Growth
If you do decide to plant either lotus variety, you can take steps to control its spread:
- Growing lotus in a large container instead of directly in the ground can help keep its roots contained.
- Trim back the plants often to stop them from spreading too far.
- Keep an eye on how fast the plant is growing and take action if it starts to get out of control.
- The lotus leaf is known for its ability to stay clean by repelling water and dirt particles, thanks to its superhydrophobic surface. (ref) This natural feature, often called the “Lotus effect,” is efficient at self-cleaning.
Whether you go for a Sacred or American lotus, make sure you’re ready for the challenge of keeping it under control. Both are beautiful, hold cultural importance, offer health benefits, and have self-cleaning properties.
But their invasive nature means they need to be handled with care, especially in areas where they aren’t native.
Source;
More About Lotus Flowers
Revered for thousands of years, the lotus is more than just a pretty bloom. Its very existence is a paradox – rooted in murky waters, yet remaining pristine and untainted as it reaches towards the heavens each day.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.