Lotus Seed Myth....

[Joyce]

There are rumors out there claiming that lotus seeds that float are no good, unfertile, wont sprout.
Well, it's a myth. 
I had a lotus seed in one of my jacket pockets since last Fall.
Found it this spring when I needed a light jacket on a warmish day.
Put the seed on the kitchen counter to be started when I got a chance.
When I came home, seed was gone, no doubt to my 5 cats playing soccer with it.
(busted: yeah they were on the counter!)

Couple of days ago I was doing a quick vaccuum before having company and saw something being bounced around in front of the vaccuum.
It was the seed!  So I started it in a plastic cup on the windowsill in my laundry room and it floated. I wasn't convinced so I left it there.
One week later is sprouted.  Now it is getting a couple inches long, will take pix when I get home. 

Please note disclaimer below.

[miguynmkoi]

Interesting, not that I know anything about seeds of any kind.  Just lucky if anything sprouts.  But to have a lotus seed sprout...that's magical!  Forgive my ignorance but will this seed grow into a tuber and so on?  And how long to flowering? 

[Double S]

Thanks for the info Joyce!!

So.....your cats do that too....

[Joyce]

Here are pix!

(yup, it's in the measuring cup of a laundry detergent top)



Yes, you can grow a full size lotus from seed.
Takes 2 years 'til it blooms, even less if you live in a warmer climate.
As you can see, it's very easy. 
I like to dd a little dirt and a couple Osmocote pellets to my water once I see 1" of growth.
I also gently peel the dark outer shell off too.

[purplepshn2004]

Joyce,

Thanks for the info and pic's.  I tried growing a couple lotus seeds one year and one sprouted, got about an inch long and then died.  Not sure what I did wrong.

I always enjoy your posts...

[bunny56lbc]

Hmmmm , I alway's wondered about those floating lotus seed's .
Thx for the info .

bonnie

[tinkster]

pretty cool!  I have a situation with lotus to that doesnt really fit the myths,  they are suppose to need a leaf getting sunlight to live etc etc??? well I had that big one in the pond that died by the middle of june  after just as short burst of huge growth, flowered and then total dead.. .. so that lotus lay under the mud for almost a year and its alive right now.  how did the tubers continue to grow, they were on the opposite end of the pond from where it was newly planted last year,  without any leafs above surface for sun??? just seems odd to me.. I was so shocked it came back.

tinkster

[tranquility]

I had always heard the same....learn something new everyday...
Lawanna

[karen J]

I have always maintained that Lotus are a lot more rugged and hardy than they are made out to be by common myth. Thanks for that! They really are the most rugged plant ever, with seeds that are still viable after 2,000 years. I've abused my Lotus and have been impressed at how well they tolerated that!

Your little seedling looks great.

Eagle Eye sent me some native seeds that I have not scarified. I wonder if they need scarification in the first place?! 

[Joyce]

Karen,

I scarified mine first a bit on a nail file, just until I started to see a lighter color.
Mine floated for DAYS. Then slowly started sinking over a 3 day period.
Then I forgot about it, and when I remembered, there was almost no water in the cup, and when I filled it up, saw the sprout.

Tink, lotus can send out runners YARDS long. In NC my native lotus sent a runner out the length of the pond, which was about 15 feet. Then it made a u-turn and started making it's way back.    If I hadn't noticed a few little lotus leaves that didn't belong there, I wouldn't have know because the lily pads obscured my view. And thank goodness the runner didn't get into any lily pots....then it would have rooted in and taken over the lily pot(s). THAT is how lotus get where they don't belong. And like I said...I didn't notice. But the runner did have little pads up here and there...but mostly covered by and competing a LOT with the lily pads. The Mother plant wasn't doing much at the other end, probably putting all it's energy into making that huge, long runner!

This is how I learned that lotus need bigger pots than oil pans or dish pans....mine was in one. Needed more room in less than 2 months. So it went into a  10 gallon bucket with a handle...than lasted another 2-3 months before it outgrew that pot.
From then on...I grew lotus in half barrels. 

Growing lotus in small pots is like raising your child in a broom closet.