Lotus Planting Tips ???

[joejoe123]

I got me two lotus this year off ebay. These will be first i ever had. I am wondering how to plants them when i get them.
I bought 2 24inches containers to plant them in. I just dont know how to plant them.

Joey

[Ky Kim]

There's and excellent turtorial about planting Lotus.  Check it out under turtorials.

Kim

[Bonnie]

 You can search here for information, this is a great tutorial from Lawanna:
http://www.americanponders.com/forum/index.php?topic=142.0

Also, http://web.archive.org/web/20001024191710/theplantplace.com/lotus.htm

[joejoe123]

According to both planting guides my pot is to deep will that be ok. There pots i bought at Lowes I got them because there 24 inches in diameter probably a 1 foot to 1 1/2 foot deep. Is there any reason why i should not use these pots or will the depth be ok. I will be growing them outside the pond of course.

Joey

[Bonnie]

Your pots sound like a perfect size!   

The recommended amount is 6-8 inches of soil then fill with water, UP TO 8 inches.

(when first planting you don't want that much water)

[tranquility]

all of my pots are 18" tall and my large varieties do just fine....how ever if its a smaller variety- it is probably too deep....you can still use it though-just don't fill it all the way up with water.....
Lawanna

[joejoe123]

So I shouldnt fill the pot all the way with dirt ? Right now i have the pot filled with dirt except about 5-6 inches below the rim to allow for water to be above the tuber.
Should i take more dirt out of the pot . Thats what im not getting is the soil depth
will it be ok the way i have it .

Joey

[tranquility]

So I shouldnt fill the pot all the way with dirt ? Right now i have the pot filled with dirt except about 5-6 inches below the rim to allow for water to be above the tuber.
Should i take more dirt out of the pot . Thats what im not getting is the soil depth
will it be ok the way i have it .

Joey

NO NO thats not what I said...if it is a small variety...you don't want 18" of water over it....you should be fine with that much dirt and a little water over it...thats how Joyce plants hers and she has gorgeous lotus...
Lawanna

[joejoe123]

Thanks Lawanna for your reply. I got it now and will take pictures when i get them which should be tomorrow.

Thanks to the others you replied as well i needed all the info i could get.

Joey

[tranquility]

Oh gosh Joey...I just realize how hateful I sounded...I really didn't mean it like that  ....
Lawanna

[Bonnie]

Oh gosh Joey...I just realize how hateful I sounded...I really didn't mean it like that  ....
Lawanna

Geez Lawanna, getting skinny has already made you mean!

LOL, no j/k you are a sweetheart as always.. just a skinny one now!

Joey, Lawanna does a great job at growing lotus so she gives good advice.

Good luck.

[Joyce]

I only have 1" of water over my baby doll.
When it rains, maybe it gets as deep as 2" when the water is all the way to the brim.
First planted, filled to the rim, maybe 2"..






On my Momo Botan, max water depth was 4".

[joejoe123]

Its ok Lawanna i didnt take it as you being mean in anyway.

Joyce love the pictures of your lotus. I hope mine will bloom this year.

Joey

[Jerry]

Johns clued me in on those oil pans you see at automotive deparments and stores..  Cheap and ideal.  Square containers are not a good idea.
I bought mine for maybe $2.50 each.  Black is good too, doesn't stand out.

[Bonnie]

Johns clued me in on those oil pans you see at automotive deparments and stores..  Cheap and ideal.  Square containers are not a good idea.
I bought mine for maybe $2.50 each.  Black is good too, doesn't stand out.

Jerry, are you talking about the normal sized oil pans?
I'd say maybe 14 inches W x 4 inches D????????

If so, this must be for a dwarf variety???

[Jerry]

Yes Bonnie  but 4" seems a tad small  5 or 6" I would think.  Hey I will measure tomorrow.

[karen J]

It takes a lot to kill a lotus. The only way I've successfully killed them is by leaving them in a half whiskey barrel liner (24" round by 6-9" deep) on the ground through a Chicago winter. That will kill them. 

Depth of water is far more important than depth of soil. They don't need much water over the crown, a few inches is fine. As far as soil... one can never have enough good soil. 

[happyoutsidegirl]

So  If I plant my Baby Doll in a deck pot as per joyce's instructions, come fall can I just stick it down in the pond for the winter? Will she be ok in there?

[perplexed ponder]

I was wondering about maintenance on lotus. I heard you should not cut the stems, how do you remove dead or dying foliage?