Water Gardening: darlindeb..... and also others... I'm starting lotus seed..., 1 by darlindeb

darlindeb wrote:
One thing that happens with growing in containers is the water gets foul smelling until the plants gets large and established then everything seems to adjust better. You do have to remind people to give them water if you go on vacation.

I want to remind you that even though the parent of the lotus seed is white you might have it bloom a different color. Please do send photos of your blooms. If you don't have access to aquatic plant food, you might want to take some "aged" cow manure and place it in the bottom of your container then place your soil on top of the manure. Then put your water in and let it set a day or two. Flush the water then the next day put your baby lotus in to float.

Eventually the seeds will grow into tubers that look like these. I know the orientals eat lotus tubers and the American Indians reportedly would eat them. It's not a common item in the American diet. I do see them for sale in the Asian market in Tulsa, OK. I have also read a report that said Auburn University was going to approach commercial fish farmers about raising lotus with fish to create a second cash crop. Where I am most people divide their lotus in containers every 3 to 5 years. Your weather may be better and you might need to divide more frequently.

If I make friends with some Asian ladies who cook lotus, I'll send along the info.