I grew lotus from seed last year and at the end of the growing season I dropped the planter down to the bottom of my pond with the filter running. Which is 4 foot deep. I live in zone 5. The lotus died! I once again started many lotus this spring and they have all lived and are doing well. We are getting to the end of the season. What can I do to insure that they will live for next year? Any ideas?
Lotus question.
Is it a tropical lotus?
Arent most lotus tropical Buck ?
(I'm not trying to be a smartie...I'm serious :)
Sorry I cant help Pinky....maybe someone in a colder zone will know.
Well, yeah, but ... most species I am aware of (which is not a massive list) winter-over just fine if the tubers are not allowed to freeze.
ANYHOW ... I was wondering it pinky's lotus was perhaps one that is not tolerant of colder winter temps. Perhaps my question should have been whether her pond freezes over hard (or, worse still, to the bottom of the pond). In practical terms, if a pond doesn't freeze to the bottom you should be able to cut your lotus down to a couple inches above the soil line (after it's gone dormant) and then move them to the deepest area of the pond. Once the average daily water temp moves close to/above 60 (but no less than 55), the plants should be moved back to their preferred growing depth: in many cases the soil surface being a matter of a few inches below the water surface. Of course, that varies based on the type of lotus being cultivated.
Yes...I think I have read that certain cultivars may be more tolerant than others... Could be that or several other things...did the tubers freeze at the bottom ?....did you leave it deep for too long or raise it up to early ? I've had lotus die for no known reason before. Pinky can you maybe try more than one method ? Anyplace to store one inside in a cool place ?
Knowing the variety would definitely be helpful ... and Char hit the nail on the head. As soon as the leaves start dying back in the fall, cut everything down to about 2 inches above soil.... and then move the whole pot to the deepest area of the pond. If you think your pond nearly freezes solid, then you need to find somewhere to keep that pot submerged where it cannot freeze.
ALSO ... as Char said ... at the first signs of growth and when the overnight water temperature of your pond gets above 55 degrees or so, move the pot back to its shallower growing spot.
Lastly, how much sun does the overall pond receive during the day? (I know there's no sun on it at night ... so please forgive the redundnacy ...)
Hey...the more I learn about my water garden....the more I realize just how ignorant I am :)
Well, there is some residual sunlight that hits the pond at night .... granted, it's reflected off of the mood and atmosphere is hardly detectable, but it's there all the same, I suppose. :o)
Thank you all so much for helping with this. The seeds are from India. They will grow into a deep pink when mature. My pond never freezes over. I have a filter running at all times. They were very healthy the end of last year and dead in spring. So I started new this year and I do not want the same thing to happen this winter. They are very healthy now. They are in full sun.
No my tubers never got frozen. Yes I could bring some of them inside. But what is the chances that they would live through the winter inside? Thanks Pam
This message was edited Sep 15, 2005 4:50 PM
Hmmmmmmmmmmm...... how long did you give them last spring before pronouncing them dead?
3 months
Wow ... bummer. Got me at a loss ... sorry. :o/
I believe that if I were going to bring some "inside"...I wouldnt try to keep them growing but just viable.
If you have a really cool place to put them...let them go dormant...keep the soil damp but not in standing water...that would mimic outside winter conditions in warmer climates.
I don't ever cut anything of my lotus until spring. I read that leaving hollow tubes open on them (stems or flower stalks) allows water to get inside and they rot. I just pull the dead stuff off in the spring if the fish have not eaten it. I have had a native type (lutea) in my pond for a few years, in a big rope handled bucket on top of cinder blocks. The lip of the tub sits just below the surface of the water. They come back bigger and better each year.
Charlotteda, I think I will bring in the lotus from India and give it a try. I hope they make it. In the pond I am sure they will die again.
Badseed, I will try my native type (lutea) being left in the pond. Those may do just fine.
Thanks so much for the information.
If it happens to croak, I am betting mine needs divided. LOL The container is only about 2' across and I believe the plant looks wider than that. Uh oh!
I will keep my fingers crossed. I baby them lotus. I have never been able to see the flower that will come on them when they die within a year. That is why it just made me sick.
I've always been told NOT to cut the stems if any life is left in them. The water gets in the stems when you submerge them and rots the tubers.
I have stored tubers in my garage over winter by waiting until all the leaves are dead. I then tip the pot upside down and use the hose to wash the tubers off. Don't use a blasting force, just a strong force. Be careful when you handle lotus not to break the growing tips. After they are clean, I've dusted them thoroughly with a fungicide (Captan). ***Captan can be toxic to fish! I use disposable gloves and mask while doing this. I use a plastic black garbage bag and layer damp peat moss (just a little moisture) with the tubers. I put the bag in boxes or an empty cooler in the garage. The first year I tried this all the tubers made it. The next time I tried it I lost some; however, I think I pulled them out later. I got this idea from reading about how some public garden in Colorado stored their water lilies. I'm in zone 6 and our last frost date is April 15th. When I pulled them out the first time it was about April 15th. When I pulled them they were starting to make leaves. I have a large tub where I can let them float and get the Captan off. ***Captan can be toxic to fish. I let them float for a while before potting up. I also keep my eye on the temperature and if it looks like it's going to get cold I drag them back into the garage.
I did this the first time because I was in the process of moving and couldn't see lugging all the pots.
If you are not getting any blooms, did you feed them with aquatic fertilizer tabs? Did the plant get plenty of sunlight?
I will try this. The reason why I did not get any flowers is because baby lotus plants that were started that same year most generally do not get flowers the first year. Are you sure that you are not speaking of tropical water lilies? Those do get flowers the first year. The above information is what I do for my tropical water lilies.
thanks Pam
Yes, I did this process twice with lotus and it worked with no loses the first time around. However, some tubers went bad the second time I tried it. Of course, I had lots of tubers so I could risk losing some.
I also have another friend who raises lotus to sell. She has some process where she stores them in an out building in closed tubs with water. I know she has to mess with them through the winter. I don't know what (if anything) she treats the water with.
I wanted to do something where I could close the lid and forget about it till spring. I haven't talked to her in a couple of years, but if you want me to I'll try to find out how she stores them.
I think Perry Slocum wrote a book about lotus. I think it was pricey, but you could probably get a copy through an interlibrary loan. I was looking through the Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants by Greg and Sue Speichert. There were a couple of things in there about lotus also some great pictures of different varieties. That book will also tell you how to hybridize.
Maybe the plant was left to deep for the spring and needed to be nearer to the water surface. Also, lotus don't like salt and some people use that water conditioner salt without iodine to cure problems their koi and/or gold fish have. I also found mention of the tropical lotus that never go dormant or produce tubers. Apparently water with a high pH is a killer too, but I wouldn't think that was your problem because it sounded like all your other plants did fine.
Then there is another plant person who advocates planting lotus in about 2 inches of soil and having a friend help you lift the plant up when you fertilize so you can slip the fertlizer beneath the tubers. He thinks you can damage or kill the tubers by jamming the tabs in.
And sometimes stuff just dies and you never can figure it out. I'll try to check and see if you have a want list and see if I've got anything you are looking for in the way of water plants.
Thanks for the information. I will give it a try from your post above. I looked at the zone for the water plants and they will not work here. I have to do an update on my wants. LOL I have been taking most of my time trying to grow the lotus. I started the tropical lily and they are doing great. Just my poor lotus is of concern. All my other plants are doing great. Infact most of my hardy water lilys are coming out of their planters. LOL
Thanks so much for your help.
Pam