How to Grow Lotus Plants

Overview

Lotus plants add interest to water gardens and ponds in the landscape because of their large floating leaves and large, multi-petaled blooms in shades of white, pink and lavender. Lotus require minimal sunlight to thrive, making them suitable for ponds located in shaded areas. Lotus grow from a root section called a rhizome, which has buds or growing tips along one side. Lotus can be planted directly in the pond bottom if it has a soil bottom, but planting in containers makes it easier to move and care for the plants.

Step 1

Fill a 32-quart pond basket with a garden soil or other heavy soil sold for planting submerged pond plants. Pond baskets are specially made plant pots that have openings throughout the sides and bottom.

Step 2

Place the lotus rhizome on top of the soil in the basket so that the buds or growing tips are facing up. Cover with 1 inch of soil and then cover with an additional 1 inch of gravel. The gravel helps hold the soil in the basket.

Step 3

Set the basket in the water so it is 4 inches beneath the water surface. Place in shallower areas of the pond or place rocks or bricks under the basket to elevate to the proper height in deeper areas.

Step 4

Fertilize at the time of planting with 4 oz. of 5-10-5 fertilizer per cubic foot of soil in the basket. Use fertilizer tablets made for pond plants. Push the recommended number of tablets into the soil so they are at least 1 inch beneath the soil surface. Fertilize a second time at midsummer.