Germination temperature
At least 25 °C (77 °F) in water.
Visit deodar-seeds.in Water plant growing guide
Sacred lotus seed has a stone-hard coat: file through it, keep it in warm water at about 25 °C and it can sprout within a week. Seedlings then move to a large tub of heavy loam in full sun under shallow, gradually deepening water.
At least 25 °C (77 °F) in water.
Pot of loam about 5 cm (2 in) under water once sprouted.
About 6 days after scarifying at 25 °C (77 °F).
Full sun: 6 hours or more of direct sunlight.
Scarification is essential; then soak in warm water.
Sprout in water, grow on in small pots, move to a large tub.
Lotus seeds are long-lived and stay viable after storage; in a Korean trial, storage for up to 24 months did not affect germination. Choose plump, dark seeds and sow in spring or early summer when you can keep the water warm.
Essential. Hold the seed firmly and rub one spot of the hard coat on a metal file, sandpaper or a rough concrete surface until a pale cream layer just shows. In the Korean trial, unscarified seed did not germinate at all within 15 days, while seed scarified at the base germinated 100% within 6 days. Do not file into the kernel deeply.
Not needed. Lotus seed needs warmth, not cold.
After scarifying, drop the seeds into a glass of warm water, about 25 °C (77 °F). They swell within a day or two. Change the water daily to keep it clean, and remove any seed that turns soft or cloudy.
RHS recommends a minimum of 25 °C (77 °F); 25 °C also gave the best result in the Korean trial. In cooler rooms use a warm windowsill or a heated propagator under the water container.
When the green shoot is a few centimetres long, press the seed gently into the surface of a small pot of loam, or wrap a little loam around it so it does not float up, and cover the pot with about 5 cm (2 in) of water.
Heavy garden loam or clay soil. Avoid light potting compost, peat and perlite: they float out of the pot and muddy the water.
Seeds and seedlings are always under water. Top up with clean water as it evaporates.
Bright light from the start. Seedlings grown in dim light stretch and weaken.
The coat splits and a shoot appears within about a week of scarifying at 25 °C (77 °F); unscarified seed did not germinate at all within 15 days in the same trial.
When the first floating leaves appear, move each seedling to a larger container of heavy loam enriched with well-rotted compost or manure. Handle carefully: the young rhizome and roots snap easily.
Increase the water depth and container size step by step as leaves grow. Standard plants end up under 40-60 cm (16-24 in) of water; small cultivars under 15-22 cm (6-9 in).
Keep the tub in full sun in a sheltered place out of wind. Expect leaves in the first season; plants take about 2-5 years to mature and flower well.
Cause: the hard coat was not breached. Fix: file again until the pale layer shows, then return the seed to warm water.
Cause: filed too deep or stale water. Fix: discard rotting seeds and change the water every day.
Cause: light compost or too little weight. Fix: use heavy loam and push a small stone onto the soil surface beside the shoot.
Cause: aphids or red spider mite, mostly in hot, dry, sheltered spots or under glass. Fix: hose aphids off, raise humidity and remove badly affected leaves.
Cause: the root zone froze or the container dried out. Fix: in cold climates sink the container below the ice or move it to a frost-free place with the rhizomes just moist.
In a natural pond lotus can spread aggressively and take over shallow water. A large, wide tub or a container sunk in the pond keeps it in check; check local rules before planting in open water.
Lotus needs full sun and warmth. In frost-free tropical climates it grows outdoors in tanks and ponds; in cold climates it is grown outside in summer only, at a minimum of about 5-10 °C (41-50 °F).
When leaves die back in autumn, remove fading foliage. Keep the rhizomes from freezing: deeper water over the crowns, or a frost-free shed with the soil kept just moist.
Older plants can be divided in spring: lay rhizome pieces horizontally just below the soil surface and keep them barely submerged until growth starts.
File, soak and sprout lotus seeds in warm water for your own pond or patio tub.
Yes. The coat is so hard that unscarified seed may not take up water for a very long time. File one spot until a pale layer shows, then soak in warm water.
Yes. A large, watertight tub in full sun works well; small cultivars need only 15-22 cm (6-9 in) of water over the soil.
Lotus raised from seed usually needs 2-5 years to mature. Warmth, full sun and a large container shorten the wait.