- Only possible to bloom on the water surface
- Grow floating leaves
- Provide ideal living conditions
- This is what the flower looks like
- Obtain viable seeds
The tiger lotus, which comes from Africa, can also bloom in this country, although it is mostly cultivated in the aquarium. But its blossoming is only possible under certain conditions. Anyone who knows them will soon be able to admire one or more flowers. Or do without it in favor of the leaves.
The tiger lotus impresses with its beautiful flowers
Only possible to bloom on the water surface
Both the green and the red tiger lotus are warmth-loving. That's why we only cultivate them in the aquarium, where they find consistently constant temperature values. However, tiger lotus does not flower under water. Only if it is allowed to rise to the water surface in an open aquarium will it sprout flowers above the water.
Grow floating leaves
In order for the tiger lotus to reach the water surface, it needs its floating leaves. Their development can also start under water. Then, however, the formation of underwater leaves stops.
tips
If you are not concerned with the flowers when keeping tiger lotus plants, but with the beautiful underwater leaves, you should cut off the newly developing floating leaves as soon as possible. They are clearly distinguishable from the underwater leaves.
Provide ideal living conditions
Only a tiger lotus given ideal living conditions and tailored care will bloom. Important is:
- a water temperature of around 23 °C
- soft, CO2-rich, slightly acidic water
- permanent water flow
The green tiger lotus prefers a nutrient-poor substrate and also gets by with moderate light. The red tiger lotus, on the other hand, needs a humus-rich, nutrient-rich soil and much more light.
This is what the flower looks like
Tiger lotus sprouts single white flowers. These are the features:
- Flower is 12 to 15 cm tall
- has four green sepals
- about 60 white petals (in several rows)
- about 75 yellow stamens
- it only opens at night
- usually several nights in a row
- exudes an intense scent
Obtain viable seeds
Tiger lotus can be easily propagated from daughter tubers and runners. But you can also get germinable seeds from the flowers. Young plants of the red tiger lotus in particular are in demand because their underwater leaves are the brightest red.