How to grow lotus in a container at home? HOME GARDEN

 Lotus flower colors include white, red, pink, yellow, lavender, and blue. Blooming from early to late summer, they are one of the majestic aquatic plants you can grow. We can grow Lotus from two methods:- 

1. From seeds:- Take some seeds of a lotus plant/flower. Using a standard metal file or sandpaper, scrape or rub the hard seed casing to reveal the light-colored core. Do not file any of the core away or else your lotus seeds will not germinate. Filing away the outer covering allows water to reach the core. You can also use the hammer method to break the outer shell of the seed. Hammer the seeds gently, just enough to break the seed coat. Take a transparent container so that you can see when the seeds start to sprout. Fill the container with 2-3 inches of topsoil/ clay soil.
   
   
   
   
   
   Now add 3-4 inches of normal water to it. Put seeds into the container after a day of soaking, the seeds will swell to nearly twice their original size. After 3-4 days seeds will start to germinate. Make sure to change the water after every 2-3 days. When you remove the seedlings to change the water, treat the sprout with care as they are very delicate. After 20-22 days transplant the seeds into a tub filled with clay soil and water.
2. From tubers:- The best time to plant lotus from tubers is- in the summer season( March to August). Takes a medium size tub, 15-25 inches in diameter and 8-15 inches in depth which is good for planting lotus. Any watertight rounded container with no holes is acceptable for growing lotus. Put 3-4 inches of cattle manure or compost into the tub. Now add 4-6 inches of the topsoil/clay soil. Do not use potting soil as it is too light and will float and foam when water is added and the lotus tubers tend to float when planted in it. Take a healthy tuber, A healthy tuber is usually firm to the touch with one or more growing tips for leaves and flowers.
   
   
   Dig a shallow trench across the top of the soil mixture. Place your lotus tuber in the trench, being careful not to break or damage the growth tips. Embed your tuber slightly in the soil, Then carefully weigh it down with rocks so that it won't float up to the surface of the water before it takes roots. Now gently add 4-5 inches of water above the soil, being careful not to disturb the tuber. Do not bury the tuber completely in the soil it will root. Make sure it's embedded only slightly at the surface. Place the pot in a sunny location where it can receive a full day of sunlight. 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day is ideal. After 10-15 days small coin leaves will float on the surface of the water. They will begin the process of photosynthesis to help provide energy for the plant to grow. At this stage, buds will start to show up. During the first 60-80 days, only 1-2 buds will form as the plants are young and are still establishing. 

Fertilizing:- Once your lotus is established, you can fertilize it every 3-4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer, for a healthy plant and the best bloom. Never fertilize your lotus until you have aerial leaves growing up, out of the water. Fertilizing too early will kill your lotus. Lotus typically blooms during the hot season. March-August is the best time for flowering. Blooms last for 3-5 days, then molt. The process repeats through the remaining months of active growth.

After 3-4 weeks fertilize the lotus plant for healthy growth and heavy flowering. Keep 1 tablespoon NPK fertilizer(19:19:19) in a piece of cloth. Tie it properly with a rubber band. A balanced fertilizer is recommended for the best-looking foliage and flower production. Now gently push down the bag or the piece of the cloth filled with fertilizer into the soil of your potted lotus plant. Add fertilizer once every 3-4 weeks, stopping in mid-August. Check the water level of your lotus plant every 3-4 days and add water as it evaporates.