Lotus flowers are some of the most sophisticated pond plants you can grow. Sitting upon the water surface with soft petals, they have the ability to bring an instant feeling of calm to the backyard. But, how exactly do you plant lotus seeds to add them to your pond?
Growing American lotus is easy to get the hang of once these elegant blooms are established. However, growing pond plants from seed can be a little challenging. To plant lotus seeds, you need to follow a few essential steps – it isn't just as easy as planting seeds in soil.
Here, I outline each step with tips for success from a gardening expert.
5 steps to plant lotus seeds
Whether you're growing American lotus or growing sacred lotus (the only two true types of lotus plants), you need to follow the same steps to plant lotus seeds.
Both plants grow best across US hardiness zone 4 to zone 11, which is important to keep in mind when purchasing lotus seeds (from Amazon) to plant.
1. Scarify the lotus seeds
The biggest seed sowing mistake to avoid when going to plant lotus seeds is not first scarifying them. This is because lotus seeds are encased in a hard, dark brown exterior shell.
'You should file down the hard outer coating of the seed until you see the cream colored interior,' advises Andrew Connolly, New York-based founder of Little Flower Cottage.
You can use a flat mill file (from Amazon) to do this, which helps water to get to the seed for germination.
Make sure to file the rounded edge when scarifying seeds, not the pointed one, and stop when you see the lighter interior. Filing too much can damage the seed and hinder its viability.
2. Soak the lotus seeds
The next step is to soak seeds before planting, to kickstart germination.
'Place the seeds in warm water and change it daily to keep it fresh and clean,' says Andrew.
You should place your seeds somewhere warm and with bright light to aid germination. However, be careful not to keep your seeds on a sunny windowsill, which may lead to overheating.
Within just a week, your lotus seeds will sprout. Any floating seeds are likely not viable and should be discarded.
If you're struggling to keep the water warm, use this seedling heat mat from Amazon – just make sure not to turn the temperature up too high. About 80–90°F is ideal.
3. Plant your lotus seedlings
You'll observe your lotus seedlings growing at a rapid pace, so it won't be long until they need planting up.
When they reach a height between four– six inches and they have a couple of leaves, plant your seedlings into pots. They should also have tubers at this stage.
It's not surprising to learn you'll need to use a poor soil type for your lotus seedlings, as they grow in very dense, low-nutrient environments. Often clay soil is best (like this aquatic plant soil from Amazon).
While it might seem contrary to container gardening mistakes, your lotus seedlings will perform best in a pot with no drainage holes (like this terracotta pot from Amazon). This will help create a consistently moist environment, which they favor.
Fill just the bottom of the container with a thin layer of soil to plant your seedlings into. You plant them by placing the tubers horizontally on the soil with the growing tip pointing upwards. Carefully cover the tuber lightly with soil.
You should then fill the container with warm water, covering around two–four inches above soil level.
4. Maintain sunlight and warmth
At this stage, your lotus seedlings need plenty of sunlight and warmth to continue growing. Choose a sunny spot where they will receive at least six hours of direct sun.
The ideal temperature to maintain for your lotus seedlings is above 75°F. You can use this room thermometer from Amazon to keep track of indoor temperatures, and once again use a heat mat (like this one from Amazon) to maintain warmer temperatures for your seedlings.
As your seedlings grow and develop more leaves, don't forget to add more warm water.
5. Transfer your lotus plant into your pond
After around a month, your lotus seedlings should be quite robust and established sufficiently to be transplanted to your garden pond, water feature, or a larger container.
The easiest way to transplant them into a pond is by keeping your lotus in its container and submerging it in a shallow part of the pond. 'You'll want to make sure it's under about two–four inches of water initially,' Andrew notes.
Make sure the pond water temperature is around 70°F (using this water thermometer from Amazon) before doing this. Spring is the ideal time to transplant your lotus plants outdoors.
Keeping your lotus in the container will keep it anchored and stop it uncontrollably spreading. Once again, a lack of drainage holes is important here, to contain plant rhizomes.
As the plant grows, gradually move it to deeper parts of the pond.
FAQs
When will lotus plants first bloom?
Lotus plants grown from seed are unlikely to bloom in their first year. Instead, the first growing season will be spent establishing rhizomes. It can take two or more years for lotus plants grown from seed to bloom. Lotus plants grown from tubers are much more likely to bloom in their first year, though it isn't guaranteed.
There's no doubt lotus flowers are some of the most impactful water garden plants you can grow in your yard. They're even thought to bring good luck in Feng Shui, alongside other lucky plants.
