how to grow lotus in only water containers

Question

It has been a pleasure to have such a means of asking my queries here to you all.
It is my second time after querying and getting a fast response for growing grass on a balcony 🙂

This time, I want to grow lotus plants in only water containers with no soil/clay/mud, as I live in a flat and have only a balcony.

I need help from you on the below points:

1. Is it possible to grow lotus (probably Nelumbo nucifera, pink) in a container with only water? I have just been growing (15 days old now) my baby lotus from seed, and so far it has got its first cute leaf and three shoots total. The baby lotus is floating in water under its seed in an approx. 4-5 liter bucket.

2. It is winter currently in India. What care should I be giving it? I am just giving it fresh warm water and sunlight every day as I kept into balcony. Do I need to give it any fertilizer or any special food? Any organic items that can be used to fertilize the baby lotus?

3. What care should be taken for winter, summer and monsoon seasons?

4. How much time should my baby lotus be taking to flower, and what care should be taken for pre-flowering and post-flowering? :”)

Thank you a ton in advance! 🙂

Best Regards,
Dhruvaa.

Answer 1

Hi Downtoearthdigs

Thank you a ton!!
I sensed, 2 days back, my baby lotus's roots emerged and may be started floating on water & hence, got dark & dried and its 3rd leaf too got soggy due to sunlight or may be i had thought that boiled potatoes' water might give nutrients to it. :(

I visited nursery yesterday & got gardening mix(soil) including red soil, organic matters & added nutrients

do you suggest this type of soil is fine & cure back my baby lotus plant?

I have applied a layer of gardening mix soil around my seed & placed in 2-3inch soil bed into a strawberry plastic box with covering around seed & kept it perpendicular to its soil bed (as I wanted seed to let its tiny shoots grow enough).
And then placed this pot bet under bucket full of warm water.
Do you think this will be proper?

How often should I replace soil/water? (I have no fishes)

And we have around 12 degree centigrade temperature here in winter times now. should I bring bucket inside everynight?

Thank you in advanced for helping me a ton! :)

Thanks & Regards,
Dhruva

Answer 2

We love to help gardeners and glad that you enjoy our site and service.

The Lotus plants will need to be potted in order to anchor them.
The pots themselves are then dropped into a water container and in most cases a pond system.

Here are some links that will help you.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/water-plants/wgen/hydrophytes-information.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/water-plants/water-lily/growing-water-lilies.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/water-plants/water-lily/wintering-water-lilies.htm