My daughter , the conservation biologist , hand me a mailboat of American Lotus seeds for Christmas . A native of shallow lakes , ponds , restrained current and backwaters of the central United States and eastward , American Lotus ( Nelumbo Lutea ) is the largest of the midwest ’s wildflowers . With leaves that can reach two feet across and flowers the sizing of soup bowls , both rise above the water demarcation , these majestic flower are easily distinguish from the more diminutive water lilies .
The source , twenty - two in my Christmas gift , look like smallish cap - less acorn . And they ’re hard as rocks ! produce in a cum cod that await like nothing other than a shower bath head , the seeds require “ nicking”to jump - pop out their elbow room to a growing plant .
I assay nicking the seeds with a serrate tongue as well as rubbing them on sandpaper . Those efforts get trivial effect but the spinning bicycle of a bench grinder bore through that tough shell to reveal a glimpse of the white inner seed . This scarification allows water to enter the seeded player and the sprout to swell and emerge . I do wonder how this hap in the state of nature . A food source for uncivilised animals , it could be that just enough of them are crack and dropped by beaver , musquash , and otters to ensure survival of the flora issue .
American Lotus seeds “nicked” for proper germination.
My intention was to spring up several plant for the two small pool in our yard and maybe a few would thrive in our gravid wildlife pond . I put five seeds in each of two glass dry pint jar and half filled them with water supply . They all sink to the bottom as good levelheaded germ should do . I lobbed the other 12 seed over the wildlife pond at the border of our Wood .
I started the come on the 15thof May and changed the water daily ( the goal is to sprout the seed , not work them ) . By the last of the month , five of the seeds had sprouted , sending fleeceable tendrils up and above the surface of the pee . It may be that the other seeds remained dormant as these seeds can do for many eld .
white clay soil is preferred for pee lotus . constitutional matter is not recommended because it will just float to the control surface . The pots that contain the growing tubers ask a lower limit of three in of soil . Because the can will be place in water , with about 4 in of water above the pot , they do n’t require drain hole .
Seeds sprouting after ~14 days
I conjure up , sift , and sift corpse soil and sparge two quart in each of three container about 10 inches across and 6 inches deep . I poured water over the cadaver until it no longer absorbed water and then made dimpled chad in the soil to accommodate the sprouted seeds . After placing the seeds , I sifted more clay over the seeds to drop anchor them , up to the 3 dry quart mark on the container , making sure the sprouts stay free . I then filled the containers to the 4 quart grade with piss . Because I had sifted the wry clay , the water became cloudy , so I take into account the clay to settle before adding water to the top of the container . And then it set forth to rain down and this thanksgiving from the heavens fill the container .
Water Lotus ca n’t be expected to bloom the same year they ’re started from seed . look on the growing location , the growing tuber may need to be go under deeper in a pool to avoid freeze over the wintertime , or contain up and replanted the next outflow .
Source for American Lotus seeds : Prairie Moon Nursery , www.prairiemoon.com
Sifted clay soil mimics an American Lotus’ natural growing conditions
Instructional TV for starting lotus :
YouTube , How to Plant Lotus Seeds
YouTube , How to Plant Lotus Tubers
A pot filled with water and soil will help your sprout on its way
Nancy Packard Leasmanis a columnist , artist , and nurseryman who defend 40 acres in central Minnesota . Seetwiggerprofiles.blogspot.com , etsy.com / shop / leatherwoodandqdpainting.blogspot.com
Photo credit : The American Lotus prime photo ( featured ) is good manners of , and with license of , Dawn Tanner , Ph.D. , Conservation Biology . The other picture are courtesy of Nancy Packard Leasman .
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