Lotus Flowers in the Garden

In short: Lotus (Nelumbo) needs water above 20 °C, ideally around 25 °C, plenty of light and a substrate at least 30 cm below the surface. Seeds must be scarified and then soaked for 24 hours before sowing. Lotus does not tolerate frost – overwinter it in water that stays above 10 °C.

Lotuses (lat. Nelumbo) belong to the lotus family of plants (lat. Nelumbonaceae). There are only two species of true lotus - Indian lotus (lat. Nelumbo nucifera) and American lotus (lat. Nelumbo lutea). Indian lotus is also known by the synonymous name sacred lotus. The original homeland of the Indian lotus is India, from where it spread to the area from the southern Volga region through Iran and South Asia to Japan and northeastern Australia. In the 18th century, it was also imported to Europe, where it began to be cultivated in botanical gardens and later by small-scale growers.

Today you can grow it yourself thanks to our e-shop. The homeland of the American lotus is the eastern United States, Central America and the Caribbean. Its flowers are yellow. Some species of water lilies (lat. Nymphaea) are often mistakenly considered lotuses, particularly white Egyptian lotus (Nymphaea lotus) referred to as Egyptian lotus, blue water lily (Nymphaea caerulea) called blue lotus, and white lotus commonly known as white water lily (Nymphaea alba). While these water lily species are visually quite similar to lotuses, genetically these two plant types are very different.

Lotuses are aquatic plants growing from a fleshy, tuberous thickened rhizome. The leaves grow on long, softly spiny petioles that have a shield-shaped, funnel-shaped blade up to 50 cm large, emerald green in color. Water droplets remain on its surface. The flowers grow on long stalks above the leaves. They can be up to 20 cm in diameter. Their color is pink or white, and they have a pleasant fragrance. Lotus flowers resemble the water lily, which is more familiar in our region, but unlike it, instead of a single ovary, they have a cone-shaped spongy receptacle in which individual ovaries are arranged in concentric circles in depressions. The ovaries develop into oval indehiscent fruits, similar to nuts.

Lotus as a symbol of beauty and purity

The lotus flower plays a significant role in many religions, considered a sacred flower and a symbol of beauty and purity. It was revered by the ancient Egyptians and is still honored today by Indians and Buddhists. Egyptian myths consider the lotus to be the first being on Earth. According to them, it arose from primordial waters and light. The lotus was considered a symbol of the Sun in Egypt. The Egyptian Book of the Dead even states that the lotus is one of the forms into which the deceased can be transformed. Depictions of lotus flowers can be found in ancient Egyptian temples and tombs. In India, the lotus played an even more important role than in Egypt. According to Indian mythology, the entire Earth floats on a large lotus flower.

Indian gods are often depicted on the lotus flower. It is said that the lotus flower grew from the navel of the god Vishnu, and the god Brahma is also often depicted sitting on a lotus flower. In India, the lotus flower has also become part of architecture through the lotus column. This is a column that ends with a capital in the form of a lotus flower. Even today, buildings inspired by the shape of the lotus flower are still being built in India. Here, the lotus continues to be considered a symbol of beauty and purity. The lotus also plays an important role in Buddhist myths. According to them, the lotus was the first flower to appear in the world. In Buddhism, the lotus symbolizes the path of life that must be traveled to reach enlightenment. The symbolism is simple - the lotus grows from mud, must pass through murky water, and finally appears pure and radiant on the water surface, just as believers who eventually reach enlightenment through various obstacles. The lotus is even associated with Buddha himself, who used to sit on a lotus throne.

Growing Lotus

Lotus is not too demanding to grow, but it requires cultivation in water warmer than 20 °C, ideally around 25 °C and plenty of light. Lotus grows from a muddy or gravelly substrate placed several tens of centimeters (min. 30 cm) below the water surface. Only the leaves and flowers eventually peek out above the water surface. Lotuses do not tolerate frost, so if you grow them in an outdoor pond, you must move them to a winter location in time. During the season, you can fertilize lotuses with, for example, Nympha-flor fertilizer, and they will reward you with more abundant growth. Growing in a greenhouse or conservatory is more suitable for flower development, where the water temperature fluctuates less and reaches higher values. In winter, the water temperature can be slightly lower, but it should not drop below 10 °C.

First scarify lotus seeds before sowing...

Lotus seeds are special in that they retain their germination ability for several hundred years. They have a very hard shell that protects them. For this reason, the seeds must be scarified (damaged) before sowing so that water can reach the seed embryo itself. Soak the scarified seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water at a temperature of at least 20 °C, preferably 25 - 27 °C. The seeds should swell (double in size). If this does not happen, you have not scarified the seed enough and you must repeat the process. Properly swollen seeds will begin to germinate very soon, and within a week you should have a small plant with its first leaves. After the first leaves have formed, it is advisable to plant it in a muddy substrate or gravel and place the young lotus plant in a pond. The higher the temperature in the pond, the better and faster the lotus will grow.

What is lotus used for?

Both the nuts (seeds) and rhizomes are commonly consumed foods in India and China. The rhizomes, due to their high starch content, are used to prepare various easily digestible dishes and are ground into flour for bread making. The nuts taste similar to walnuts and can be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted. Consuming the rhizome is healthy as it contains asparagine, which helps eliminate excess fluids from the lungs and respiratory tract, and nelumbin, which stimulates the movement of body fluids and mucus. Lotus rhizome is also a significant source of vitamin C. It supports the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and can increase overall human vitality.

Textile companies draw inspiration from the lotus flower...

Lotus flowers cannot be stained by liquid impurities because the surface of the petals is covered with tiny crystals that help liquid substances run off the flower. This property has attracted textile companies, who are therefore trying to develop fabrics with the same properties that cannot be stained by spills.