If you live in Zone 6 and have a water lotus, could you please tell me what it looks like right now? I have 3 that look exactly the same as when I planted them which is nothing. But I'm really hoping it's just too cold yet for new growth. I have them inside my greenhouse which can get really warm on sunny days. I did not break the tips off when I planted them. And they are planted in a top soil/mushroom compost mixture. The end of the tip is about 3" above the water and the rest is in the soil. Too deep? The water on top gets a very yucky green coating on top that I've been skimming off every day. Should I change the soil? Or am I just being impatient?
Thanks bunches!
"T"
Help! New Water Lotus Question
Sledder, I'm in zone five and that's how mine look right now, that's normal. They go crazy once the water temp is a constant 70*. I imagine that yours will be taking off in the next couple of weeks or so.
First you will have small floating pads and before long new ones will come that are standing, the pads will get bigger and bigger. You won't be disapointed. You can fertilize it when you have standing pads, if you do it before, you may burn the plant.
This message was edited May 3, 2004 8:49 AM
branka, do you get that green "scum" on top? or is yours in your pond?
The green coating is an Algae. It shouldnt hurt your lotus. :)
I knew that but here's what I was thinking. The algae gets about 1/2" thick on the top of the lotus bowls and completely engulfs what little I had sticking up out of the dirt. And my fear was it was cutting off any oxygen from getting to the plant. Am I wrong?
Well, you could be right. That and it will inhibit the light. If I were you I'd just do regular water changes, if at all possible.
Try not to use pesticides to kill the algae, you might hurt your plant. HTH's!