A lotus flower not only floats gracefully on the water in a pond. If the pot size and water level are right, it also develops splendidly as a houseplant. And in a bright and warm place, she even shows us her flowers!

The lotus flower needs a lot of light, especially as a houseplant

How to get a lotus flower

You can buy rhizomes of the lotus flower commercially from March to mid-May and plant them in pots at home. Even an existing lotus flower can be propagated by division in the spring. Seeds, on the other hand, can be used for growing indoors all year round.

This is how the planting takes place

The pot must be round, at least 50 cm in diameter and at least 60 cm deep. The soil can come from the garden or from the store shelf. A higher proportion of clay is good because it gives better grip. However, compost and other organic additions are not desirable as they can lead to rot.

  • Fill the pot 1/3 full with soil
  • Mix in special mineral fertilizer
  • fill another third with soil without fertilizing!
  • Add water until the soil becomes mushy
  • Make a furrow and put rhizome in it
  • Do not cover shoots with soil
  • fill up with approx. 15 cm of lukewarm water

location in the room

The lotus flower in the pot also likes bright and sunny places as a houseplant. Temperatures between 21 and 25 °C are ideal during the growing season. The thermometer should not rise above 30 °C.

supportive care

The lotus flower does not have to be watered, because it is literally in the water. Make sure the water level does not fall below 25 cm. Only dwarf varieties get by with less water. If the water is no longer clear, it should also be changed.

Fertilize during the vegetation period with a special fertilizer for water lilies, never with an organic fertilizer. This would lead to rot. The manufacturer's instructions should be observed with regard to dosage and frequency.

Pruning is not part of the care, just remove withered leaves.

tips

If you want more flowers, you must cut off faded specimens promptly so that no seed heads form. Even if they look attractive on their part, their formation costs a lot of energy.

Allow yourself a break

Overwinter a houseplant in a cool and dark place from November at 8-10 °C so that it gets the rest it needs. All parts of the plant above the water surface are cut off beforehand. Maintain the water level during this time.

Category:

Vegetable garden