The lotus produces beautiful pond flowers that don't need too much maintenance. Remember that the plant will need a sufficiently large pond to grow, as it tends to expand enough. You can plant it either in the pond directly or in a container and then transfer it to the pond.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Dig a Pond
Step 1. Plan to dig a deep hole for your pond in a sunny part of the garden
- Expect a large expansion of the plant: the leaves can grow to over 60 cm, unless you want to grow a dwarf lotus. But even that will grow enough.
- If you are growing a classic variety of lotus, the pond will need to measure at least a generous meter wide and 45cm deep to give the plant the right amount of space.
- It would be better to wait until the end of winter to dig the pond, so the soil is easier to work.
Step 2. Choose a material to line the pond with
Decide between hard plastic or soft material that you can cut. Dig to delimit the space of your pond and then coat with the material of your choice.
- If you are using a fabric cover, make sure there is 30 cm of extra material sticking out of the edges of the pond ditch.
- Next you will need to bury the excess coating at the edge of your pond, under stones, gravel or paving stones. So you will lock and hide the fabric at the same time.
Step 3. Add a mix of compost and manure to the bottom of the pond
You need to add this mixture to a depth of about 20 cm and then cover it with sand or gravel.
Lining the pond edges with large river stones would be another nice idea - just make sure you don't pull or tear the liner
Step 4. Fill the pond with rainwater
If you only have tap water, let it sit for a couple of days so it loses some of the chemicals (especially if you want to add fish to the lake).
- Avoid water gushing from the pond, as this will upset the layers of sand, gravel and manure and make the water muddy.
- You need to wait for the water to reach a temperature of about 20 degrees before planting the lotus on the bottom.
Step 5. Plant the rhizomes as soon as the water is at the right temperature
When you're ready, place a lotus rhizome on the sand layer at the bottom of the pond and weight it down to stay on the bottom with a handful of gravel.
Alternatively in a larger pond you can plant the rhizome in a large pot to keep the plant steady in that area of the pond
Step 6. Take care of the plant as it grows
Lotus is a plant that needs a lot of fertilizer during the summer months. You can get special water fertilizer tablets on the internet or at garden stores.
- Start with a light fertilizer in June and use a stronger one for the rest of the summer. In the fall, around October, the plants will be inactive and once the leaves have fallen, you can clean up the pond.
- Lotus is frost resistant, but in colder places still consider moving the plant container to deeper water, as these tend to freeze less.
Step 7. Avoid pond water from stagnating
Flies use standing water to reproduce, you will need to use chemicals (available on Amazon) or consider mounting a fountain to keep the water moving and make it less appealing to breeding insects.
Method 2 of 3: Plant the Lotus in a Container
Step 1. Plant the lotus in a container to secure it at the bottom
You don't have to plant the rhizome directly on the bottom of the pond, you can also plant it in a container that you can then place in the pond itself.
- Planting lotus in a container is a good idea for a fish pond.
- A large pot or a half barrel may be fine for the purpose.
Step 2. Choose an appropriate container
The important thing is to use a round one, so that the corners do not block the growth of the lotus. Do not choose containers with drainage holes, the water would come from the top not from the bottom.
- Also avoid using baskets for aquatic plants. The delicate roots of the lotus would get stuck in the spaces, damaging themselves.
- Black absorbs heat, so a round plastic pot that is at least 75cm wide and 15cm deep (with no drainage holes) is the best solution for the lotus. Color is important as black helps to accumulate heat.
Step 3. Make sure there is at least 5-7cm of water covering the surface of the container
Plant the rhizomes in the container and place the container in the pond so that the surface of the soil is covered with 5-7 cm of water.
Method 3 of 3: Plant the Lotus in a Fish Pond
Step 1. Make sure there is enough water for the lotus
The plant needs fairly shallow water, so if you have a deep pond you will also need to have a lower side for the plant or container with the plant in it.
Step 2. Protect the lotus rhizomes from fish
Big fish eat lotus bulbs, koi carp in particular. So you need to make sure that the plant bed is fixed to the bottom of the pond by gravel, sand or stones to prevent fish from accessing the tubers.
Step 3. Prevent the lotus from taking over your pond
Fish need fresh, clean, well-oxygenated water, food (especially on the surface), areas to hide in, and enough space to grow and move.
- Unfortunately, the lotus will most likely clog the pond and so you will need to get a filter or fountain to keep the water clean if you have fish. Ask about such a device at the aquarium store.
- The lotus prefers calm waters, so keep it away from fountains or filters, in a separate part of the pond.
Step 4. Make sure the fish have enough space
They need an amount of space appropriate to their size - don't believe the old story that they grow according to the size of the place they are in. It's not true!
- Fish will not like living in a small space with a hitting fountain overhead and a plant blocking all the space.
- You will need to confine your lotus to one area of the pond and leave the rest of the space to the fish.
