Nelumbo Nucifera YELLOW

Nelumbo Nucifera YELLOW - Yellow Sacred Lotus, Nelumbo Nucifera 'Yellow', Sacred Lotus, Indian Lotus.

Nelumbo is a genus of aquatic flowering perennials in the Nelumbonaceae family, comprising only two modern species, the most famous of which is Nelumbo nucifera. The genus is widely distributed in stagnant and slow-flowing water bodies of Asia, Australia, and parts of North America, where the plant has become a cultural symbol and an object of veneration.

Lotuses are perennial herbaceous plants with a long, fleshy, knotty rhizome rooted in the silty bottom. Large peltate leaves, 30-60 cm (12-24 in) in diameter, on long petioles 1-2 m (3.3-6.6 ft) in length rise high above the water surface. The green leaf blades are covered with a glaucous waxy coating, giving them water-repellent properties.

Flowers on long peduncles 1-2 m (3.3-6.6 ft) tall are solitary, fragrant, with numerous petals, often pink, white, or cream in color, reaching 20-35 cm (8-14 in) in diameter. It blooms profusely. The edible fruit is an aggregate of nutlets immersed in an enlarged receptacle.

Lotus seeds possess phenomenal viability - cases of germination of seeds whose age exceeded 1000 years have been recorded.

Nelumbo nucifera is a spectacular plant with a vigorous rhizome, developing in stagnant and slow-flowing water bodies. The flowers are large, up to 25 cm (10 in) in diameter, with delicate pink or cream-colored petals. The leaves are peltate and water-repellent.

Seeds require mandatory scarification before sowing, as their dense coat is practically impermeable to moisture. For this, the outer coat is carefully filed or sanded with sandpaper, taking care not to damage the interior of the seed. After scarification, seeds are soaked in clean room-temperature water for 12 hours, then removed and sun-dried for the following half-day. This soak-and-dry cycle is repeated daily for 10-14 days.

At the final processing stage, seeds are placed in warm water (from 28 °C / 82 °F) with the addition of growth stimulants such as SUPERthrive, Epin, HB-101, or Zircon. After preparation, seeds are sown into individual containers up to 10 cm (4 in) deep, filled with moist coarse peat with an upper layer of sand creating additional drainage. The sowings are gently buried and placed in a warm, well-lit location with a temperature of 22-28 °C (72-82 °F).

The first sprouts can appear in 2-4 weeks, but some seeds can "go dormant" and germinate only after several months or even up to 2-3 years. Sprouted seedlings quickly gain mass, and during growth it is recommended to regularly remove lower aging leaves to stimulate new shoot development. At the early stages, young plants are particularly sensitive to temperature drops and lack of light, so maintaining stable growing conditions is crucial.

Special notes: Full sunlight and warmth are vital for lavish flowering. Young plants may not bloom in the first year. It does not tolerate cold water or drafts.

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Thanks to its high adaptability to diverse conditions, Lotus can be grown as an indoor crop provided the necessary warmth, solar illumination, and aquatic rest are provided. For blooming, it requires warm and sunny conditions.

It favors sunny locations and warm water (above 20 °C / 68 °F). It requires fertile, heavy soil at the bottom, regular fertilizing with aquatic plant fertilizers, and periodic removal of dead foliage. The optimal planting depth is 40-70 cm (16-28 in).

It overwinters in a deep pond or in a cool, non-freezing room at temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F).