A lotus flower not only floats gracefully on the water in the pond. If the pot size and water level are right, it will also develop splendidly as a houseplant. And in a bright and warm place she even shows us her flowers!
How do I care for a lotus flower as a houseplant?
A lotus flower as a houseplant requires a round pot with at least 50 cm in diameter and 60 cm deep, clay-rich soil, special mineral fertilizer and 15 cm of lukewarm water. The plant prefers bright, sunny locations at 21 - 25 °C and regular fertilization during the growing season.
How to get a lotus flower
You can buy rhizomes of the lotus flower in stores from March to mid-May and plant them in the pot at home. An existing lotus flower can also be propagated by division in spring. Seeds, on the other hand, can be used indoors all year round.
How to plant
The pot must be round, at least 50 cm in diameter and at least 60 cm deep. The soil can come from the garden or from the store shelf. A higher clay content is good because it provides better support. However, compost and other organic additions are not desirable as they can lead to rot.
- Fill pot 1/3 with soil
- mix in special mineral fertilizer
- fill another third with soil without fertilizing!
- Add water until the soil becomes mushy
- Draw a furrow and place the rhizome in it
- Do not cover shoots with soil
- fill with approx. 15 cm of lukewarm water
Location in the room
The lotus flower in a pot also likes bright and sunny places as a houseplant. During the growing season, temperatures between 21 and 25 °C are ideal. The thermometer should not rise above 30 °C.
Supportive Care
The lotus flower doesn't need to be watered because it's literally standing in water. Make sure that the water level does not fall below 25 cm. Only dwarf varieties get by with less water. If the water is no longer clear, it should also be replaced.
Fertilized during the growing season with a special fertilizer for water lilies (€8.00 on Amazon), under no circumstances with an organic fertilizer. This would lead to rot. Regarding dosage and frequency, the manufacturer's instructions must be observed.
Pruning is not part of the care, just remove withered leaves.
Tip
If you want a replenishment of flowers, you must cut off spent specimens as soon as possible so that no seeds form. Even if they look attractive, their formation takes a lot of energy.
Take a break
Overwinter a houseplant from November 8-10 °C cool and dark so that it gets the rest it needs. Beforehand, all parts of the plant above the water surface are cut off. Maintain the water level during this time.
