My Lotus Again!

[KJLive]

I am back again with more Lotus questions! I am going to take the advice from many of you and change my container size. However, I am going to need to determine if the Lotus survived the horribly cold weather we experienced in central PA this year. The Lotus was in my unheated garage and covered with rugs. How can I determine if the Lotus survived the winter? IF....I determine the Lotus is OK, when should I repot the Lotus and what materials should I use in the container for planting? I saw a Tuff Stuff 15 gallon container. Is 15 gallon large enough? As always, I truly appreciate the folks on this forum that provide great knowledge and insight on a variety of different topics.

 

[mrsclem]

It should be fine. Our 75 gallon tank froze solid and there are leaves coming up. Now is the time to repot it before it starts growing. Gently tip it over and lift out the tubers. Be careful not to damage the growing tips.
Replant in round container with plain unscented non-clumping cat litter.
No fertilizer until you get leaves above the water.
Just started 25 seeds 2 weeks ago. All have sprouted!

 

[KJLive]

It should be fine. Our 75 gallon tank froze solid and there are leaves coming up. Now is the time to repot it before it starts growing. Gently tip it over and lift out the tubers. Be careful not to damage the growing tips.
Replant in round container with plain unscented non-clumping cat litter.
No fertilizer until you get leaves above the water.
Just started 25 seeds 2 weeks ago. All have sprouted!

Thank you so much for the advice. I appreciate it!!!! When can I remove the Lotus from the garage? I assume it is still too cold? Also, how much cat litter vs. water?

 

[mrsclem]

I would do it now. you don't want the lotus to start growing- too much chance of breaking the grow tips. couple of inches of litter, put tuber in with grow tip angled up and top off with litter. Add water to keep 2-3 inches of water over the litter.

 

[addy1]

Mine have leaves hitting the surface.

Feel your tuber it should be firm not squishy.

 

[Hound Heaven]

FWIW, my tub stays out all winter and sometimes has inches of ice. They don't seem to care and come back better each year. About 5 leaves just barely above water today.

 

[KJLive]

Wow! Amazing!

 

[addy1]

Mine love in a 300 gallon tub. They stay out all year. This winter we had about 10 inches on ice on it. All the tubers are growing great.

 

[KJLive]

Mine love in a 300 gallon tub. They stay out all year. This winter we had about 10 inches on ice on it. All the tubers are growing great.

I purchased a larger container and repotted several of the tubers. I bring the container out during the warm weather and return the container to the garage in the evening. I am seeing some nice growth off the tubers!

 

[mrsclem]

Mine in the 75 gallon preform are sending up leaves but still too soon to fertilize.
Started 25 new seeds March 29th. All now have 2nd sprout. As soon as shells fall off and there are roots they will go in pots.

 

[KJLive]

Mine in the 75 gallon preform are sending up leaves but still too soon to fertilize.
Started 25 new seeds March 29th. All now have 2nd sprout. As soon as shells fall off and there are roots they will go in pots.

I live in PA and figured I would only bring it out mid May when it gets warmer. I am really hoping for a flower this year.

 

[sissy]

I was born in PA and my cousin is now trying to sell his house in Berwick PA to move near me in VA . I live in southside VA and we have had a frost the last 2 days and still a warning for tomorrow . Then back up to 80's and 90's again . I have to protect my lilys because they have flower buds on them . The cold hardy banana plants have been thinned out and several nieghbors have come to get some free and I am getting strawberries so had to protect them also . Pic a strawberry yeaserday I have early bearing summer bearing and late bearing plants I grew up on a farm and my late Uncle Ivan owned a huge farm in Benton PA now his son and grandsons run it

 

[Hound Heaven]

My lotus is one of those big ones but I've been considering trying one of the small ones and sticking it on the porch in a decorative pot. Have any of you lotus mavens had experience with them?

 

[addy1]

I had one small one in the big pond in a pot, it escaped, I put it in the lotus tub it got overwhelmed, sort of disappeared.

But it grew well.

 

[KJLive]

I have the Lotus in the garage until May as I mentioned in a previous post. I have about 1.5" of water in the pot until I bring the container out in May when PA weather get warmer. I am beginning to get multiple arial leaves that are about 2" above the water. Should I begin to fertilize now or should I still wait a bit. Thanks to everyone for answering my silly questions!