How to Plant and Grow Lotus

Native to Asia and Australia, the lotus is considered sacred by the Buddhist and Hindu religions. Water gardeners prize it because it's both beautiful and easy to grow. Lotus stalks start in muddy soil and water, and end in sweetly fragrant white-to-pink flowers that can grow as large as 12 inches across. Some lotus varieties require a massive amount of water surface to mature, while others do just fine in small water gardens, so make sure you plant the right one for your landscape needs.

It's important to keep in mind that, while dramatic and beautiful, this plant can quickly become an invasive bully when planted in pond bottoms or allowed to grow into open waters.

Where to Plant Lotus

Lotus grows best in full sun, needing at least 6 to 8 hours of daily light and warm water temperatures (between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit). This is very important, as lotus plants are considered an aquatic feature, so, without warm water and a constant sunny temperature during summer—above 75 degrees for at least 3 months—you may disrupt growth and flower formation. Also note that the flowers are short-lived, appearing for only a few days followed by large ornamental seed pods.

Depending on the type of lotus, you may be able to plant in your own backyard—if you have a manmade or natural pond, if there’s a lake within your property, or even standing bowls or water gardens on your patio. To create an ethereal landscape in the water, you can plant lotus alongside
other aquatic plants such as dwarf water lilies, water chestnuts, aquatic grasses, or duckweed. Water lilies and lotus can indeed be planted together. However, it will need to be in a larger body of water—such as a natural lake or pond—to grow and thrive properly due to its size.

How and When to Plant Lotus

Lotus can be planted—either in large bodies of water or pots outdoors—around mid-June if you live in colder climates and April if you’re located in warmer zones. As a general rule, you’re looking to grow lotus between May and early June where temperatures start to rise consistently, the days go between 75 and 80 degrees, and nights don’t go lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

For small ponds or water gardens, plant the lotus tuber (aka root) in a large round container without drainage holes. Choose a container sized to suit the size of the plant. While still on land, fill the pot halfway with heavy garden soil. Spread a 2- to 3-inch-deep layer of coarse sand over the soil surface. Next, set a lotus tuber crosswise on top of the sand with growing points sticking straight up. Embed the tuber into the sand and weigh it down with stones to keep it from floating. Fill the container with water until it reaches just above the growing tips and wait.

Once the lotus breaks dormancy and starts shooting out leaves, lower the pot into the pond. Place bricks underneath, if needed, to raise it to the right level: 6 to 12 inches below the water surface when sitting on top of the pond's muddy bottom. Eventually, the tuber will send roots into the soil, and stems will emerge.

Lotus Care Tips

Although grand in beauty—and eventually in size—a lotus plant is relatively easy to grow and take care of when you focus on the basics: plenty of full sun; clean, warm water; and seasonal upkeep. Lotus flowers are, perhaps, one of the most awaited gifts from the plant, only lasting from 3 to 5 days from midsummer to early fall.

Light

Lotus plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, daily, to grow and eventually bloom. It’s the kind of plant that thrives better during the summer months due to the high temperatures, however, it does tolerate some shade and can equally bloom if the weather is right (and the water temperature is warm enough as well).

Soil and Water

As an aquatic plant, lotus needs certain water conditions to prosper: ideally, clean and warmed to at least 72 degrees Fahrenheit; far from fountains or water flows to not disturb its growth; and deep enough for the soil to keep the desired water level—preferably at 4 inches above. If you’re using a pot or bowl (either to plant it as is or to be repotted later), go for a large aquatic bowl with no holes, at least 12 inches deep. Lotus prefers a wet environment, so try watering every 9 days (tap water is fine), and never submerge the leaves in the water if you see them on the surface. If potted, you may want to water your lotus every so often if the water level has dropped (up until the top of the bowl).

Although lotus will grow in muddy soil, it can quickly rot if it’s organically too rich or too light—you’d want a soil that won’t float to the top and have a mix of sand and heavy clay-based (alternatively, you can mix it with loam topsoil, loamy soil mixed aged manure; or even river sand). Don’t use potting mix, especially if you’re trying to grow your lotus from seeds or tubers. The key here is to fill up your bowl or pot with soil until it’s about 4 inches deep, and then cover it with water .

Temperature and Humidity

Lotus must keep a warm environment, especially during its first year and first blooming season. For potted lotus, the water temperature needs to be between 73 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit consistently for at least three months in the summertime. Many people utilize a fish tank heater to keep the temperatures warm enough to help the lotus grow and bloom if the weather or climate conditions aren’t ideal.

Lotus plants can safely overwinter in a pond as long as the tubers are planted below the freeze line—in other words, they won't freeze solid when temperatures drop. In colder climates (where the temperature drops below 0 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods) or when the water in the pond is less than six inches deep, move the container to a deeper part of the pond where the tubers will be protected from freezing. Or take the container to a cool, dark space (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) that won't freeze—such as a basement or root cellar. Keep the soil in the container slightly moist so the tubers don't dry out. Place the tubers outside again in the spring only after the last hard freeze has taken place.

As the weather and water warm in late spring, the plants will push up new leaves. If the containers were moved to deeper areas of the pond for winter, raise them to their summer growing position as soon as possible in spring. If the containers were overwintered inside, place them back in the water.

Fertilizer

Overfertilization—or fertilizing too early—can be counterproductive for your lotus plant. To know when it’s a good time, wait until several leaves are already floating on the surface of the water
(which means the tubers have sprouted and the aerial leaves are already starting to develop, so the plant is “mature” enough to take on some fertilizer roughly every 20 days). To do so, you can go for fast or slow-release fertilizing tablets that you can push under the soil—this makes things easier if the lotus is planted in a pond, for example, though it also works for potted lotus. Simply follow the manufacturer's instructions for specific ratios. Spring is the best timeframe to start fertilizing. Cut down the amount by mid-July and stop altogether by mid-August, so the lotus can have time to absorb all the nutrients before the temperatures drop.

Pruning

Lotus will benefit from periodical pruning so it can maintain its health and beauty. Do so in the fall or winter (or, at the very least, once the plant has finished blooming). Make clean cuts using sharp pruning shears to remove yellowing leaves, wilted flowers, dead or dry stems, or any damaged bits. Try to cut at an angle and always above the water level (when pruning, never touch or mess with the roots, soil, or anything that’s below the water surface). Once you have done so, you can encourage growth by simply watering regularly and, if potted, by keeping an ongoing warm setting for your lotus.

Potting and Repotting Lotus

Spring is the best time to repot lotus, which should be done every few years as soon as leaf spikes emerge in spring. Working carefully so as not to damage growing points, remove the tubers from the soil. Discard the soil and any dead tubers. Replant with fresh soil and submerge the pot again.

As a general rule, repot it in a larger, deeper bowl (say, if you started with a 12x24 pot, double it), with no holes in the base, and go for organically low, heavy-based clay, and/or aquatic-focused soil. Once you have created the right soil condition (between 3 and 9 inches deep) and covered it with water (4 to 8 inches above the soil), do not submerge the standing lotus leaves.

Pest and Problems

Lotus plants are no less susceptible to pests and diseases than any other non-aquatic plants. Lotus may be attacked by spider mites, snails, slugs, fungus gnats, leafhoppers, scale insects, and Japanese beetles. To treat them, start by removing debris, and snip off any dead or yellowy leaves. Hand-pick and move away slugs, snails, and Japanese beetles, and spray around a mixture of water and a drop of dishwashing soap; alternatively, use a commercial antifungal solution if mold or gnats are present.

Some people keep fish in ponds as a way to “clean” the water and prevent pests. Guppies may be an option as they breed fast (so you'd only need a handful to start with) and eat algae, mosquito larvae, and other worms. However, they prefer tropical, warm climates, ideally where temperatures don't drop below 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in cold zones, it's best to take the guppies inside. Koi and goldfish are also a good choice, but they require extra effort and while they can survive wintertime, the pond needs to be deep enough (at least 3 to 5 feet) so it doesn't freeze at the bottom. Whatever you do, keep in mind fish are additional maintenance to your lotus plant pond, so make sure they have the best living conditions.

How to Propagate Lotus

Propagate lotus plants through root division. In the spring, when shoots begin to form above the soil of the plant, dig up the rhizome and, using a sharp, clean knife, cut the rhizome into sections, each with a growing shoot. Bury each section into a new pot filled with fresh soil and resubmerge into water.

If you want to naturalize lotus plants in a larger pond, anchor the tubers directly in the muddy bottom near the edge of the pond where they can easily spread. Keep in mind that lotus tubers multiply with gusto when planted directly in the mud of a natural pond. In a few short years, the plants may blanket the water surface or deeply root along the pond bottom, resulting in an unhealthy environment for any aquatic life. To manage and minimize unwanted propagation, keep on top of the seasonal pruning and trimming.

Types of Lotus

'Baby Doll' lotus

Nelumbo 'Baby Doll' offers white blooms on a dwarf plant sized just right for container water gardens. Zones 3-10

'Double Rose' lotus

This gorgeous variety unfurls fully double, rich rose flowers. The plants grow 6 feet tall and wide. Zones 4-11

'Momo Botan' lotus

Nelumbo 'Momo Botan' bears huge magenta flowers that stay open for days and appear in summer and fall. It grows 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Zones 4-11

'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum' lotus

This variety offers attractive blooms that start out pink with a touch of yellow and change to yellow with a pink blush. The plants grow 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Zones 4-11

Sacred lotus

Nelumbo nucifera features broad white petals tipped in rose pink that radiate around a central crown of golden seedpod fringed in gold stamens. The plant grows 5 feet wide. Zones 4-10

Lotus Companion Plants

Lotus may be the star of its own pond or bowl, but several companion plants can grow alongside it without disturbing its leaves or blooms. Always look for aquatic marginal plants that will grow around the pond's edges, preferably potted in their bowls (even if you choose them for a large body of water, like a lake).

Water Clover

A fast-growing aquatic fern, water clovers—visually similar to a lucky four-leaf clover—is useful when
enhancing a lotus plant pond, as it creates wetland groundcovers for fish as well as helps reduce unwanted algae. Its blue and green colors will also provide variety and texture to any pond, and though it prefers warm climates—from 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit—it does tolerate shade and humidity really well. Best for zones 8 to 11.

Dwarf Papyrus

This aquatic perennial offers texture and unique form to any water garden. It will complement the lotus plant given its rounded fluffy top with yellowish florets. It grows up to 18 inches and can be invasive in warm climates. It’s recommended to pot your dwarf papyrus before placing it along the edges of your pond or lake. Dwarf papyrus thrives in full or partial sun. Move it to overwinter indoors if you live above zone 8. Best for zones 8 to 12.

Watercress

Watercress is considered a semi-aquatic plant as it can grow either in soil (where cold, clear water flows easily) or along the edges of a pond or any large body of water. It’s a cool-season plant, so they thrive better in partial sun or anywhere that’s slightly shaded in the middle of summer. Watercress is well known for its nutrient-dense benefits, but you need to make sure you’re preparing the right condition for your watercress if you’re planning on consuming it. Best for zones 5 to 9.