Who do you prefer to order your lotus tubers from? I go to a large pond about an hour from where we live in the country to photograph their lotus in bloom, I'd driven by there once years ago and left a note on the door, they were kind enough to return my call and answer. Gorgeous flowers and I love the dried pods. Duckweed for mosquito control, genius! I've never eaten lotus tubers, how do you prepare them? So cool!
Hello Todd, i keep hearing to use clay soil but im not quite sure i have any readily available. What is your suggestion, what soil, or soil combination/soil amendments work for you?
I typically use a product called earthgro topsoil and it works great, but I can't find it where I live now. Someone told me pool filter sand and composted cow manure works but I've not tried it
Hi Todd, it’s my first year planting space edible lotus. I’m glad I find your video. I’m also growing them in a container, but not sure if the depth of soil and water are correct. What’s the depth of your soil and water? How much would you harvest in order to save enough tuber for next year?
Save at least two tubers and a depth of 1-2 foot of soil is good, larger the container the bigger the harvest, I'm moving mine to a 110 gallon tub soon as they go dormant.
Hi Todd, I ordered my seeds online about 3 years ago . I get a lot of pads and some aerial but that’s as far as it gets. I’ve never gotten a flower and wonder if you have any suggestions? Also is there any specific fertilizer you can recommend ?
Well shit.... I bought mine online... They're giving me plenty of leafs I guess you call them? My kids call them lilly pads 🤣🤷 but I've only had them for going on 2 months and I live in West Texas so it's hot desert type of weather, because of that I keep them indoors but in the window so they get plenty of sun, but I'm worried the glass acts as a magnifying glass and will burn them because a few of the ones closest to the window end up turning a dark brown them it sinks to the bottom of my bucket.... These flowers hold a special deep meaning to one and I've NEVER seen one in person so this is my first time doing so, I want to know what they smell like, what they feel like, I have to get this before I die which may be coming sooner than expected... Where do I get seeds that are guaranteed to bloom? And how do I have them bloom in the dry, West Texas heat and wind?? I'm patient so IDC how long they take
They're hardy, you can grow them outdoors in Texas as long as they don't freeze solid in winter. They need at least 4-6 hours sun to bloom. Fertilize every 21 days with 10 10 10 or miracle grow works too just use 1/2 strength. The more full sun the better they grow and bloom... The blooms smell like root beer to me.
Well getting arial leaves is a good sign a lotus is mature enough to bloom, but still could take another season to actually bloom sometimes. I start some yellow ones from seed this year knowing they're not going to bloom until next summer. It's really about just being patient. And you also have to remember that some lotus varieties are just not as heavy bloomers as other varieties as well. One thing you can do is feed them more, but a plant isn't going to bloom until it's ready. Thanks for watching!
never tastes lotus and I don't have the space to grow them my small pond would be full if I plant it there lol. but now I want lots of lotus. pretty flowers and greenery and eatable to. wow. nice explanation tod. 🖒 kind regards rose 🌹
Rozanna van der Veen - Honders Yes they are invasive and will take over a small pond if not kept in a container, most Asian markets will have lotus root. We braise it with pork and make soup alot.
Todd's Tropicals I would not mind getting a recipe for that. would you mind if you can spare the time email me that. tjem next time I'm in the city I'll get some lotus roots and make a copyrighted todd meal.
ohh it is difficult , i can understand. I am thinking of keeping the plants in just water pond for few weeks may be or until after they develop tubers and then i am thinking of moving them again in soil+water mixture when they are stronger. do you think that will work?
Hi when you mean a large enough container, do you mean the container which holds the soil or the surface area for pond size for leaves to photosynthesis. I hope I asked my question right. Also does water depth matter when planting lotus? Thank you
Hi Todd, I was informed Lotus naturally repel mosquito and larvae. I listened to them although a little sceptical lol. I grew a Lotus in one pot as an experiment and left an empty pot next it as a control. Albeit amazed I soon saw the control was overrun with mosquito larvae and the lotus pot had not a single larvae in it. What are your thoughts Todd?
My thoughts are without treatment lotus tubs are mosquito factories and I use the mosquito dunks in mine, some tadpoles will eat the larvae also www.homedepot.com/p/Summit-12-in-Mosquito-Dunks-6-Pack-110-12/100334779
I go for the dunks as well, but mosquitoes tend to go for warmer, more open water where they have options. It could be that the shade/cool generated by just one lotus plant is enough to make *some* difference. Also, they locate stagnant water to breed in by seeing the reflective surface of still water, so putting a 'lid' of foliage on it or adding some water flow to break up that reflection, are minor deterrents.
Thank you for this. I was wondering why mine didnt flower. Planted them back in May so it's only been a few months. I ordered my seeds from Amazon and I looked up on youtube to put the seed in water for a few days to let it sprout before planting. My lily pads keep dying though. And my water keeps turning green and bubbly. Do I need to get an algae eater in my pot? I know the water is stagnant so....
Mr you grow your lotus in a container looks great I live in Texas don’t have clays nothing but sand in winter in did freeze will kill its or not .i love plants can you tell how to grow in Asia market will sale the tube same time
The Asian market lotus won't grow, they cut all viable growing tips and I think they're irradiated also and that stops them from growing. But all lotus are edible so I just make sure to buy types with bigger tubers from the nursery like Mrs Perry D Slocum lotus is one that has a good size tuber and we eat it and it has nice flowers too.
Honestly, my only goals are the visual structure of the foliage and the additional cover for my livestock, and I don't mind mine not blooming. Not really that into the flowers...
Hello Todd! I was searching online for how to winter my lotuses and your video popped up. Very informative. Two questions ; 1st, I live in Georgia, zone 8 and the water will definitely freeze. How do I winter them, bring them indoors? 2nd, I went by advice and have put zebra danios in the pot to keep the mosquitoes at bay. It worked wonderfully however, I didn’t even consider that they would breed like rabbits..😳 I now need to empty the pot and net the “several “ fish out, how do I preserve the plants and replant them?
As long as the tubers of the lotus don't freeze your good and they'll survive, perhaps move them to a garage with some sort of heat to keep temps above freezing. I'd wait till spring just before the lotus wake up and become actively growing, wash all the mud from the tubers and replant them the way you originally did, maybe share some if you've extras. Just be careful as to not damage or break the growing tips on the tubers. I hope that helps, I also use mosquito dunks available at big box stores for mosquitos... Fish breed like rats.
Yes, I can definitely move them to the garage where they will be protected but, I will still need to get them out to get all the fish out. What is the safest way to remove them temporarily?
Hmm very interesting, did you say you have to replant each year? Is there a certain type of soil after they get big. How would you keep them in winter?
Okay, from experience here, get a way bigger container for the space lotus... Seriously, and at least 12+ inches of soil.. For the bowl lotus about 6-8 inches deep of soil is fine.
I brought the seeds directly from Bangkok when visiting. They grew beautifully, but now they have kind of an algae (thick slimy stuff) that has stifled the plant. Any recommendations will be much appreciated.
Renita Ferreira Maybe try to replant them is all I could say to do or pull algae out and see if they respond. I get that also, its called blanket moss.
MrzRedbadger Yes, I sure do, no seeds usually for lotus I do sell tubers in spring, and tropical waterlilys, and next year I may have some frankincense & myrrh trees for sale also
Okay , Todd... Now I need to grow Lotus! lol! seriously though, I love this! Question... I am in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Can I do this here? I wish I could grow vandas up here without a green house. Watched your Motes haul today. Nice plants! Trying to figure out how to convert my back porch into a grow area I can keep warmer than my house in the winter!
which fertilizer is used by you for the lots of blossoms I like your channel very much please recommend me what I should use ? and from where I have to buy seeds of lotus
Shivang Garg I use 10 20 10 water soluble fertilizer if just for flowers any type is fine, for food I use organic. The brand I used was Scott's I think. If I buy lotus i buy the tuber not seed, too many bad seed dealers out there. Aliexpress has seed.
hey, i am thinking of buying some portable water heater, like a coil with electric input to warm the water as the temperature in the pond is not that good...do u think its a good idea
I guess you could, I've heard of some people who do with smaller pond set ups. But being in Florida I've never had to do that so I'm not the best person to ask really. I think it would really depends on the size of the pond if it would be practical to do.
I plan to grow my lotus in a pond which has a lot of flow. I notice everyone grows them in buckets with almost no flow of water. Will that be a problem? do you change teh water every day to keep the quality of water clear? Thank you. Mehran in San Diego
Mehran Gerami Fresh water, I think is very important, and with growing in tubs I think a good flush is important....good call! Water quality is important with all plants!
Hi there. I ordered 3 different types of lotus tubers last year and put it in a good size pot. The large lotus has a few flowers, the medium size one has kites of leaves but no flower and the miniature one died. My lotus is now dormant i think (there’s no more leaves for a couple months now). I wanted to transfer the big one to a bigger pot but not sure when i can do that. Would you show me when and how to do that? Thank you!
I will be replanting mine around the middle to end of February first of March. I only have three now myself, and may go down to two, they're a lot of work and I am getting old.
I live in Europe... Do you have any recommendations to buy seeds somewhere? I can't find them in local market at all... So if you have good results with some online seeds I would be very interested!! Thanks in advance :)
here are a couple sellers i can vouch for: www.ebay.com/itm/Nelumbo-Nucifera-6-Seeds-Sacred-Lotus-Flower/184034736819?hash=item2ad9533ab3:g:Z4gAAOSwnO1dzAiN www.ebay.com/itm/Nelumbo-nucifera-The-Sacred-Lotus-5-Large-Fresh-Seeds/311826705731?hash=item489a51ed43:g:B~MAAOSwv0dcRW37 probably not varieties bred for blooming, but whatever
I looked through your videos but didn't see a video on how to set them up initially. Do you have one on what I need to put in the pot/water to get them started?
Mr Todd, I would love to buy some water lily and water lotus tubers, I live in Northern California, can you direct me to proper place or online? Many thanks
There's a bunch out there, Ten Mile creek for lotus, pond megastore is good Bergen watergarden... Just Google waterlilys or lotus for sale they'll pop up..
ik this video is super old but i trust your channel, and i started lotus from seed i got secondhand, no idea what kind it is but mystery is fun, good to know ill have to wait a few years for it to bloom haha maybe ill grow some blue lotus tubers online, thanks for this video it was very helpful
Whatever the recommended fertilizer is I guess,I've never used fish I just put duck weed or a water fern and it forms a thick mat and mosquito larvae can't push their breathing apparatus through it.
There is a lotus grower named Tanavy Khuon on RU-vid who has mosquito fish in all of her lotus containers and she uses both miracle grow and osmocote in her videos. If those don't feel safe to you, koi pond suppliers sell fertilizer tablets that are safely used in ponds with expensive koi. Just go to one of the lotus retailer/koi pond plant websites and see what fertilizers they offer for sale. Those will be fish safe if used properly. The important thing in regards to fish safety appears to be to force the fertilizer into the root zone so that it is concentrated in the soil rather than the water. Because lotuses are heavy feeders, this has to be repeated every few weeks during the growing season.
I planted my seeds in the mud a few days after they started to sprout but kept it in the water is that too early to plant the seed or do you have to wait till there’s actually white roots coming from it?
Summary 1. Seed not from unknow online source 2. big container 3. fertilize for 21 days for bloom * no blooming the first year 4. mosquito control 5. repot every year 6. tuber editable
1. If you want a specific vareity get tubers because like many seeded plants only vegatative (root) cuttings are the actual variety while seed will be an unknown variant.
Thank you for putting this out. So many of us already ordered and received lotus seeds online. At least we know now what to expect. I’m patient enough to wait for them to flower. I’m going to keep my mini pond pot on a plant heating pad and a plant light for the winter. The leaves are beautiful too. Your knowledge will be so helpful. There is a huge pond near where I live so I’m going to get some duckweed n other aquatic plants to keep in mine. Thank you! 🙏🏽 I subbed to your channel. Do you sell lotus seeds? I would purchase some!
Thanks for this wealth of information. I'm growing my first lotus this year, Nymphaea Colorado. It was doing fantastic until the neighborhood raccoons decided they had an appetite for lotus tuber. What do you do to prevent pests?
See, I used to have fish in there. The raccoons chewed on them and put them back dead. They keep coming back, and now that there are no fish, they attempt to dig up the tuber, and shred any and all growth it had. So what you're saying is, all you have to do is not have fish...?
Jessika Brust Yeah that's an issue there, maybe theres an animal repellent available? Here they don't bother to much anymore since I told the neighbor to quit feeding them and my dog Elvis they're afraid of him so racoons stay away pretty much now.
@jessika, Nymphaea Colorado, is not lotus. It is a water lilly. If you are growing it in a container, you can plant them in a deeper container, where it is difficult for raccoons to dig it out. Water lilies can grow upto at the depth of 6 feet and with full sunlight.
Two ways early on in growth I make a weak solution and just pour in and later on when around five standing leaves form I either just dump full strength right in (1 tbsp) every 21 days or make a paper packet and push into the soil.
Yeah you want to flush with fresh water till clear, if it keeps coming back check the soil (smell it) if it smells bad you may need to replant into new soil.
Hi I've been growing my Nelumbo nucifera for about 4 years now. Got a bud from the seed but the flower withered when I for some silly reason placed it into a larger container but ever since it has not produced a single bud and the growth seems kind of weak. Not sure if its because I am not fertilizing it enough or it gets to cold here for that Verity. This year though I will be trying some Nelumbo Lutea and see if I have better luck with this verity.
Nick S. Yeah some varieties are more free flowering than others. Lutea should bloom like crazy. I'm down sizing mine. Maybe even getting rid of some. Too much work😉👍
The addition of dragonfly larvae to your water gardens will do a lot to keep the mosquitoes from flourishing. In their nymph stage (which can last up to 4 years), they are voracious eaters of mosquito larvae. I had them in my patio pond last year, and no mosquitoes to be found. And there is a huge pond less than 1/10th of a mile from my house. So mosquito dunk, duckweed, and dragonfly larvae, are all great ways to combat mosquitoes naturally. As are fish, if your water feature is suitable for them. Mine is only 30 gallons, and I live in Florida. Fish would boil in there.🙁
Hi Trudy, I have fish currently in my chilly bin outside because I haven't been able to build my new pond since we moved to the new house. But I live in a region of the world where in summer we get to anywhere between 47 and 53 degrees celsius. I can assure you any fish in your pond would be fine. Just add some clay to the inside of the pond to regulate the temperature for your little fishes. That said with a chilly bin being adequate I would imagine a large clay pot would also do the job lol. 😆👍
It depends on what the creatures are, if they're mosquito larvae BT dunks or biscuits also called mosquito dunks will work, just Google them. If they're something else and not harming the plant I wouldn't worry about them.
Todd's Tropicals they look like white dots, no tails swimming around in the water.... they look like some kind of mites maybe? Will the BT dunks kill them?
@@toddstropicals oh ok . and was there any difference between the two soil? eg, may be one soil was just supermarket garden soil and other one was clay soil etc..or did u use same soil
Hi i am from india, i bought seeds feom amazon, i produced roots and shoots by keeping them in water. After roots, i repotted them in a water tub with 2 inch deep pot with soil and mannure. Am i doing right other than buying them on line. What extra i can do. I can wait for a year to bloom them. Do i need extra(more) soil
Depends on the size of the lotus and type, for smaller size and tropical types less soil is okay but for large tuber types like edible cultivars need deeper soil... Hope that helps, and good luck growing lotus, they're pretty easy.
the second pond starting to smell funny and getting rise in soil. seems like it is following 1st pond. i am suspecting it has to do with the soil because this soil is typical soil that i found in supermarket and has decomposed organic matter in it. the first pond's 2 plants died and now second pond seems like on the same journey..I do not know what to do. I have taken out 2 plants out of the pond and kept in just water in a fresh pond without water for the time being. as the leaves start to turn black
Most here in the states use 10 10 10 or a special aquatic plant fertilser tablets. But just any water soluble fertilser made in a little paper pack will work.
If one lives in a part of the world that has some silly rules about how to get tubers in to the country where you live, seeds is then the only option you'v got. Could you then suggest where to get seeds from?
Kenneth Stensrud I would try ebay maybe, you might get lucky and find a reputable dealer, other than that I have no idea, unless you can source them local through botanical suppliers in your country. Sorry I can't be of more help. Some countries laws are silly.
Thank you for the reply Mr.Todd .Enjoy watching your videos . as you mentioned the bowl lotus tubers are not plump enough to eat, please give some recommendations on which lotus to grow for tubers. Thanks.
Hi I have a question I plant my lotus second year still not blooming all they do it leaf and I buy seed online amazon.so like you it a big mistake. Thank you so can you give more information about how to plant lotus.
Hello I talked to the botanical garden people in my city, so as i understand from them is that the roots and the seed are dying because they are not getting enough oxygen and they are rotting and making bubbles and the bad smell. I am trying to follow the botanical garden suggetions so that there is enough water circulation and enough oxygen but this batch may no survive so I have started today with new seeds. Hope all goes well with this one.
Hi there i did as u said (flushed water and refilled with new water) and one of the pond was smelling funny and in that pond i had 2 seeds of lotus with some leaves and both seeds were soft and kind of rotten so i had to throw those. Now i have this big pond with 4 seeds left. I hope they do not turn the way other pond did.
guppyfanatic I'd go for anything thats organic, and read the labels to see if its harmful usually nitrate build up is fish toxic. Actually the fish poop would be fertilizer. So maybe let the fish do the work for you.☺
Great video..my seeds just sprouted. Dnt know wheather the leafs gonna pop up properly.. Anyway nice info..one question.. Can we grow it from the root? If so i could borrow it from my my friend's garden.
Thank you for this informational video Todd! I started my first lotus plant from a tuber. I can see it’s growth already. Started on April 28th here in California. Can’t wait to see it bloom. I love the flowers but also love eating the roots. You can make curried lotus root and potatoes.😊 Also, we can make wick from the stem of the flowers to burn oil lamps. I would love to see your blooms. Thanks again. 😊
That's awesome, I am more or less getting out of growing them due to health issues. It's hard for me to take care of the large ones. So I just have the mini lotus now and waterlily.
Ok! I’ve been fertilizing every month… But now the question is am I fertilizing enough? These are plants that I have had. This is my second year opening them. One has five Aerial leaves and I’ve been putting pond tabs every month for the last three months and still no flower
Too late I bought mine on line! Bummer, guess I’ll just wait and see. I live in Florida 🌴☀️growing on my Liana. I’m keeping you channel 👍+ 🔔 August 31, 2024
I just harvested seeds from my lotus, so we'll see what they do too! Sometimes they bloom the next year and sometimes they don't. I typically eat the ones that aren't good bloomers.
@@toddstropicals I had no idea we can eat these. I need more info on this. What and how do I eat these lotus 🪷 plants? I actually ordered mine 🪷 through TEMU which most stuff comes from China, but also Taiwan , or Philippines. Thank you for replying 👍
Where you live I don't know, do an online search and see, there may be sellers in India or in other parts of Asia/China. Or you might be able to start from seed also. Thanks for watching and I wish you luck in finding and growing. Ten mile creek nursery here does ship international but I think it's costly to do so.
Sima Rajbanshi Thats good, go ahead and fertilize at 1/2 strength and increase full after 5 or 6 leaves are standing. And full sun is important for blooms too.
salman masood Actually reach into the soil and get a handful smell it and see if it has a rotten smell or a good smell, if the soil smells bad replant in new soil, if it doesn't smell bad cut back on fertilizer, sometimes too much fertilizer will cause this issue also or has in mine. Good luck and happy growing!
Newly subscribed. Interested in this as we have a small (1/2 acre) pond that I think they would be awesome to shade my fish. Thanks for the info. Enjoyed it!
My Happy Place I think they'd be fine in shallow areas of the pond in round or oval tubs with no holes, square tubs or ones with holes in the bottom would allow the runners to escape. I've seen runner jump out of square containers at Epcot center out by Orlando Fl.
andrei malonzo They should, and do sprout quite readily or did for me, the germination rate for mine wasnt all to good only 4 of 20 seed sprouted and grew, but with no bloom and 2 years of growth we decided to eat them.
Hello I have planted lotus seed a month ago and just 10 days ago I put them in soil. Now the soil is swelling and bubbles are coming...why is that ?? And is it harmful for lotus and what should I do .. please help. Thanks
If the air from the bubbles smells bad it's something rotten in soil, if no bad smell then its just air and it's okay. If it's bad smelling change the soil.
Hi there thank you so much for replying so fast... I just checked and it does not smell bad at all. But I noticed one of the leaf has a small dark colour at the edge of the leaf. Since the soil is swelling and bubbling there is no clear water below leaves. I mean I had soil layer and above it water few cm when I started but now everything is mudy and there is no clear water. Do you think it's good
Thanks for replying...this is my first time growing lotus and I am nervous..I have used the normal soil that I use for all plants because I couldn't find soil made for lotus plant. I asked in different stores but they don't have it. Also I am growing it indoor and I live in Sweden . I bought seeds online and it's been exactly month that I started with seeds. I do not have any aerial leaves yet. For the moment everything seems to be ok with the plants. Now bubbles are not coming up much. But soil and water is still mixed together so there is no clear water. If there is any suggestions or advice you have, I will appreciate.
Well with seeds you just have to play the waiting game with them, sometimes they're easy and grow well other times not. Either way time will tell and they have to mature and form tubers before they bloom.
Andy Malonzo I've never had them on lotus before, but I'd use what I do on my other plants. Tea made of dried hot chili and add some dish soap to it and spray on the mites.
