With your own cultivation, new Indian lotus flowers can be obtained cheaply. A few germinable seeds, suitable substrate and a patient breeder's hand, these are the three ingredients that promise success. And of course there shouldn't be a lack of warmth and light.

The Indian lotus flower can actually be grown from seeds

Obtain or buy seeds

As soon as a faded lotus flower drops its leaves, the hemispherical seed pod is revealed. Clearly visible green seeds ripen in several depressions arranged in a circle. When these have turned dark brown and dried, they can be removed.

Anyone who does not have access to a flowering plant can order the seeds of the Indian lotus flower all year round in an online shop. A bag with about eight seeds costs about four euros.

Sowing is possible at any time

The seeds are sown indoors in seed trays and germinated under controlled conditions. Therefore, sowing can in principle be carried out on any day of the year. However, experts recommend that you start growing in spring or autumn.

Instructions for sowing seeds

The various seed suppliers on the market give slightly different instructions for sowing. Keep this in mind when buying seeds. Otherwise, the following procedure has proven itself:

  1. Soak the Indian lotus flower seeds in warm water for 24 hours.
  2. Then score the seeds with a sharp knife or roughen them with a nail dart until a small hole is visible.
  3. Fill one or more seed trays with pond soil as required.
  4. Put the seed on the ground and add some more soil on top.
  5. Place the seed trays in a bright, 20-30 °C warm location.
  6. Keep the soil evenly moist.
  7. After a few weeks, the first seedlings will appear.

Transfer young plants

As soon as the small plants have reached a height of approx. 8 cm, you can move them to larger pots
plant. Make sure they have the following characteristics:

  • a dark colour
  • round shape
  • a depth of 60 cm
  • and a diameter of at least 50 cm

tips

You can also keep a lotus flower in a pot as a houseplant. However, it needs to winter cooler in order to get the rest it needs

Category:

Vegetable garden