If I want my lotus to bloom next year, which I really do, can I start my seeds now? I have some nicked and soaking but didn't do them all yet. If they just get started and we have winter (I have another 2 months of growing season) then what happens, will they be too young to make it? I have a FL room with lights, but then will want to move them into their pots in the spring and they wouldn't be dormant, right???
help
starting lotus now
anybody???
tiG, don't quote me on this...but I thought lotus's were hardy. Therefore they'd need that "cold time" to germinate. No? So with that train of thought go ahead and start them. What's the worse thing that could happen? It won't bloom next year. Yes, that's a downer but not the worse thing. Worse is it won't germinate at all. Do you have more than one seed? Perhaps try both ways?
Trying to help ya...maybe not much help though. "T" :)
There is a new member that goes by babs something. I know she has info on her personal webpage about growing from seed. She posted on Cala's lotus seed posting that she could ask her questions. :)
If they are hardy,then they should be releasing seeds in nature right now...right?So what ever seed is deveoping and germinating right now should make it thru the winter,otherwise they couldn't spead in nature,.....I think
hi ms tig
Go ahead and start some of each variety of seed. The key is to get that tuber forming before winter sets in. I am starting some of mine now. I always keep a few extra on hand just in case something happpens.
Just make sure you change the water in the dish you start them in every day. I put mine in a old water bottle or something that has a cap on it. Untilt hey sprout, I shake it several times a day. That helps keep anything from clogging the nick you made. ALso change the water every day. YOu must do that. Keep the water warm, but not to hot. If it gets to hot, you might not get a sprout. LMK if you need anymore assistance.
What size pots are you planning on putting them in when they sprout?
Billy
Billy, you tell me what to do and that's what I'll do. I started some seeds last fall and they made it over the winter, but don't think it was this late.
If you go to our website, http://www.victoria-adventure.org
click on Water Gardening then Lotus you can read my Guidelines on how to grow Lotus.
They can be started anytime, but be prepared to care for them all Winter. Best time to start a whole bunch is in February. A couple you can manage for the cold times, but the more you have growing the bigger hassle it can become. One Winter I lived with 100+ in the house and they were in every available space including the bathroom. But then, I am addicted to Lotus, most people wouldn't understand
if I did want to go ahead and start a few now, and bring them in, what size pot would I put them in? and wouldn't take make it impossible to transplant them into a bigger pot in the spring?
Babs444.........I truly am impressed!!!!
"eyes"
I try to start mine in a 15 in pot or bigger. You need adequate room for tubers to form. You don't want to constrict the growth. This is a crutial time for survival of the tubers for winter months.