In its native Africa, the tiger lotus grows in the wild. In this country there is a comparatively small space in the aquarium available to it. Nevertheless, we can easily propagate the tiger lotus even under these conditions.
How to propagate the tiger lotus?
There are several methods available to propagate the tiger lotus: self-propagation through runners, separating the tuber from the plant, propagation through daughter plants or obtaining seeds. Optimal conditions and good care are crucial.
Relying on self-propagation
If you want to cover a larger area in the tank with the tiger lotus, a specimen placed in it should be given ideal living conditions and good care:
- Water temperature around 23 °C
- CO2 10-40 mg/l
- pH value 6-7
- good lighting
- Fertilization as needed (the red tiger lotus needs more nutrients)
Soon after planting, the tiger lotus will develop luxuriantly, spreading with runners and thus promoting its own reproduction.
Separate the tuber from the plant
The tiger lotus has a tuber and roots at the same time. Resourceful aquarists carefully remove the tuber from the rest of the plant. The plant can continue to exist even without a tuber, while new growth soon follows from the “naked” bulb. The plant doubling has already worked. However, do not try to divide the tuber, this may cause the plant to die.
Propagation through daughter plants
Shoots grow from the tuber of the mother plant, which over time develop into independent plants. These eventually form their own tubers. Separate these young plants from the mother plant so that you can plant them elsewhere in the tank. The daughter plants are identical to the mother plant and are ideal for rejuvenation.
The red tiger lotus in particular can produce plenty of runners if it receives plenty of light and plenty of fertilizer. This means it can be easily propagated via runners.
Propagation via seeds
Getting seeds is not difficult. Let floating leaves grow on a tiger lotus and wait for the flowers to bloom on the surface of the water. Since the tiger lotus is a night bloomer, you have to take action at night:
- only act on the second night
- Massage the flower lightly
- this is how pollination occurs (self-persistent)
After the fruit releases the seeds, they float in the water, where they germinate after about eight days.
Tip
If you want to prevent uncontrolled propagation, you should harvest the seeds yourself and only add some of them to the water.
