when

do I start feeding my lotus, their water is still very cool (cold) but our days are 70s and nights mid 40s-mid 50s

tiG, feed them when they have two or three standing leaves. Make sure that the fertilizer tabs aren't touching tubers and don't give them too much. I've over fed them and it burns the leaves, makes them dried and curled up.

Thanks!! by standing, do you mean not the first leaves that float, but the other ones? sorry, I'm still learning.

Yes, the first pads are small with weak stems, they float on the waters surface like a lily pad. It won't be long before the plant sends up stronger stems that will stand. Once you have a couple of those, it's ok to fertilize.

Now, I start feeding mine when they have produced their 5th leaf. no matter if it is standing or not. I have had much luck with doing this. They need that extra boost when starting to grow good in the spring. Many people do things very differently. I have also tried this year placing composted cow poop in bottoms of pots along with bone meal and blood meal.

I agree to keep the fert away from tubers. If you are feeding the seeds you started last year, most of the tubers or runners will mostly be around the edges of pots. They curl around the pot and start putting out runners in the centers of pots in the spring. So just stick down away from edges of pots when you feed.

I usually put 2 pondtabs in to feed the lotus. They are very heavy feeders and need that extra food to produce good blooms and not weak leaves.

Just my thoughts.

Billy

Thanks Billy.