Planted lotus tubers this weekend...

[slackjeep]

using Joyce's method, but I think the composted steer manuer I purchased wasn't quite composted enough.  It stinks and has a bunch of floaties and the water is totally un clear. 

I mixed about 1/2 with aquatic soil.  I had planned to do the same with my lilies but they will be in the pond. I don't want this particular concoction in the pond.   

Joyce-before you grew your own, where did you get your composted manuer?

[Joyce]

I bought mine at the local Agway.
Hampton Estates Composted Cow Manure.
Looks just like really dark, rich topsoil, but not as heavy.
Smells like topsoil, earthy, no fresh manure smell.

A few times I found some at HD, but it didn't look right, 
(moldy) and I ended up throwing it under the white pines along the property line.

I also bought some at Lowes once, and it stunk to high heaven. (not composted enough)
That was also thrown back behind the white pines.

When you first repot, no matter what I use, the water is murky for a few days, up to 2 weeks.

[slackjeep]

Ok, good about the murky.     So I take it when the pots go into a pond you don't worry about the cloudiness because it goes away?

I bought this stuff at a local privately owned nursery and actually smelled it in my hand before I bought it.  It smelled like earth.  But when I put the remaining bag of it on my plumerias, ppppuuuuu...  the yard still stinks.  and the darned dog keeps trying to eat it.   

Next bag I buy I'll try to find something with less floaty material.  I inspected some of this bag but apparently didn't inspect well enough.

[GAJen]

One day I'll get the nerve to try one.

[Joyce]

I don't put my lotus in the pond.
But if I did, I wouldn't put them in right after potting,
I'd let them sit for a while outside of the pond until the murkiness subsides.

But when I repot my lilies, they go in pretty much right away.
But sometimes I let them sit in a big (Cheapo Walmart) plastic tub for a day or so.
Then plunk them in.

Like I said, no matter what kind of soil you use, it'll make silt, murkiness.
Even gravel has a dust on it that makes the water murky.

I was having a bad time with raccoons a couple summers ago, and had 2-3 dozen tropicals potted up for customers. One night the 'coons trashed at least a dozen of them. (besides trashing a few of my container ponds)
Ended up letting the freshly potted tropical sit in my fishermen size chest coolers while the dirt settled out. At night I closed the lids and locked them. 'Coons were foiled!

[slackjeep]

good idea about letting them sit in a temp location.     Right now my lotus are in their own pots, but I will end up putting them in the big pond once it's done.  At least I'd like to try that first and see how they do.

and as for those darned raccoons...      is all I have to say.