When your lotus have sprouted a few leaves and established a healthy tuber, it’s time to transfer your baby lotus to their final home! Layer 3-5” of soil mixture to the bottom of the vessel and plant your lotus tubers into the soil. Fill with warm water to just barely top your leaves! As the lotus leaves grow, you can slowly add more water until they reach the top of the pot. Be sure to check back often to ensure the water level doesn’t drop too much due to evaporation.
Step 2: Planting
Your lotus seeds should be dark brown and hard, similar in size to a tiny acorn. This dark brown layer is a protective cover and allows the seeds to lay dormant for many years . It’s essential to file off this outer layer or cut the seed carefully until the cream-colored layer is visible so that the water can penetrate and activate the seed.
Step 1: Preparing the Seeds
Drop your seeds into warm water in a clear container and set them on a sunny windowsill to germinate. Keeping the water warm and clean will ensure a quick sprout. Change the water if cloudy to prevent bacteria growth. You should see sprouting in a week, roughly.
When the stems of your sprouted seeds are roughly four inches long, you can place them in a shallow bowl with a few inches of your soil mix and more warm water to top off. When the plant has established itself in the shallow bowl, it’s time to transfer it to your pot!
And then it’s only a matter of time! Once your lotus has aerial leaves (i.e., rising above the water), your plant has begun to mature! Expect blooms in the second year of growth, and enjoy your small oasis right in your backyard or porch!