KEEN to have a water feature in your garden? Consider the exotic lotus or teratai which, because of its sheer delicate beauty, will be the star of your water garden. If you have a small garden, don’t fret. You can still create lovely water gardens when you use large containers like earthen pots.
The lotus has long been regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful flowers. Even a single lotus in full bloom surrounded by its silky green leaves floating gently on the water can be as mesmerising as a ballerina’s graceful dance.
The lotus slowly opens each petal to the sun, basking and commanding the beauty surrounding it. It emerges from the muddy bottom of a container or a pond and yet remains unstained on the surface. There’s a proverb that says, “The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest mud.”
This has evoked various beliefs and philosophies, among which is that its unique state symbolises the human who rises from darkness and adversity (depicted by the muddy pond) into a better world with spiritual enlightenment (portrayed by it growing upward in the direction of light (knowledge and wisdom). The lotus thus denotes purity of mind, serenity and spiritual fulfilment.
Lotus comes in a variety of colours — pink, red, white, yellow and cream. The flowers can grow up to the size of a dessert plate or slightly bigger. They flourish in the sunlight and can brighten your water garden with vibrant colours. They emit exotic fragrances, too.
To reach their fullest potential, lotuses need the sun and heat, at least up to six hours a day. Keep the water warm in natural sunlight. Its enemy is humidity. Under humid conditions, their growth will be stunted and they’ll not bloom well. Coldness will cause the tubers to rot.
A general rule is that larger lotus species need large areas to thrive while smaller species will grow in small areas. They’ll naturally spread according to the size of their containers.
HOW TO PLANT LOTUS TUBER
1. Choose a deep, large pot. Round pots are better than other shapes as there’ll be room for the lotus to grow well, and not get wedged in any corners that may stunt their growth or worse, kill them.
2. Fill the pot with soil, leaving about 10cm remaining at the top. Then cover the soil with about 7 to 8cm of sand. Place the pot in a container. Next, pour water slowly into the container.
3. Now plant your tuber. Set it on the surface of the filled pot by slightly embedding it in the sand. Burying it deep in the sand may cause it to rot so embed it just a little. To weigh the tuber down and prevent it from floating out of the muddy soil, which it needs for early growth, use pebbles. Keep it in this condition till the roots have developed.
4. The lotus will then plant itself. It will first turn downward into the soil and then grow upwards. Just ensure that it gets plenty of sunlight daily. Keep it in a sunny spot. Warm water will help it to grow and leaves will emerge when the tuber has taken root.
5. Once it’s well-rooted, lower the pot into your water garden or pond. Keep the pot at least 15 to 30cm below the water surface to avoid it from tipping over when the lotus plant grows taller.
6. Young leaves will start to sprout and float on the water surface two to three weeks after planting. You may then use aquatic plants fertiliser to have a verdant water garden. Sturdy leafstalks will soon appear several centimetres above the water surface.
7. Flowers will begin to bloom in the next three to four weeks but only when the water temperatures reach above 27 degree Celcius. Usually a lot more flowers will bloom in the second year of its growth.
The exotic natures of the lotus is enhanced by the fact that its petals open up early in the morning, closing by mid-afternoon. At night, they completely close up. The lifespan of the petals is usually three to five days. The petals start falling on the third day, leaving behind the seedpot. It’s this seedpot that later lets more lotuses to grow. And the cycle begins.
MAINTENANCE
Maintaining your water garden of lotuses includes removing the yellowed and yellowing foliage. Remove as well all dead leaves found 2.5cm above water. Turn these dead leaves into compost. Use this natural fertiliser as soon as new flowers begin to show. Fertilise every two to three weeks in the beginning, reducing the frequency as the flowers thrive.
Rework your lotus pot every two to three years. Empty it out, remove the dead tubers, use new soil and start over.