Tugo,
The best thing you can do for those babies in the spring is to fertilize them. Time release fertilizers are best. Since your plants are already in pots, before any growth is seen, pull each pot from the pond, make a hole in the soil with a broomstick, tip the pot to drain the water from the hole, then place a tablespoon or two in the hole then plug the hole with wet clay to keep the fertilizer out of your pond water and in the pot where your lotus can get it.