WHITE CRANE LOTUS is a refined lotus with classic shape and simple form. Pure-white petals and golden-yellow receptacles add to the pristine elegance of this small lotus. White Crane Lotus grows to 12 - 14 inches tall when planted in wide, shallow containers (containers should be 14 - 20 inches in diameter). White Crane Lotus looks lovely in ornate containers on your deck or patio.
White/Dwarf/Single
Should be planted in wide container (14 - 20 inches in diameter, or wider) in loam soil (topsoil mix with sand, will hold together if you grab it) with 2 inches of water over lotus tuber. Fill you container 2/3 full with loam soil, dig a trench in the soil and gently place your lotus tuber in the trench. Cover all but the growth tips with an inch or two of soil, leaving the growth tips exposed. Gently add 2 - 3 inches of water above the tuber. Place your container outdoors where it will receive 8 - 12 hours of sunlight each day. In a week or two you should have coin leaves on the surface of the water. A week or two after that you should have aerial leaves growing out of the water. Once you have aerial leaves growing out of the water, it is time to fertilize your lotus. We recommend 1/2 the recommended dosage for your 1st feeding. Fertilize once a month throughout the growing/blooming months, June through September.
Fertilizing Instructions
Place in full sun and fertilize after you have two aerial leaves growing out of the water. We recommend a slow release fertilizer like Waterlily World Fertilizer Tabs + Humates for optimum growth, best bloom and ease of use. Fertilize with 1/2 the recommended dosage the 1st time you fertilize. Fertilize once a month with 2 - 3 fertilizer tabs throughout the growing/blooming season, June through September.
What Is Loam Soil?
Loam soil is a good mixture of Topsoil and Sand
If you are lucky enough to have good topsoil in your backyard, by all means, use your topsoil. All you will have to do is add fertilizer. If you are not so lucky--and your backyard is sand or heavy red or yellow clay, you can mix up a batch of loam soil.
You can create your own loam soil by mixing these two ingredients together
- 2/3 Inorganic Topsoil (Little or no organic material added)
- 1/3 Pool Filter Sand
Mix together thoroughly with a little water. Your soil should clump when squeezed. If your soil is mixed properly, it will not muddy your pond water.
You can purchase inexpensive bags of inexpensive / poor Topsoil at Lowes or Home-Depot. Good soil clumps together as a ball in your hand with only a little moisture.
Don't buy brands like Scott's or Miracle-Gro, as they will contain too much organic matter that can foul your water. Buy an unbranded bag of topsoil instead.
You can purchase Pool Filter Sand at any store that sells pool supplies.
Loam soil is well suited for all aquatic plants (except oxygenators). Oxygenators rarely need to be planted, just anchored in the substrate or in a container filled with sand or 1/8 inch pea gravel.
Sand holds little water but does allow for aeration and drainage.
Some DO's and DON'TS regarding Aquatic Planting Soil
DO NOT use potting soils ( as they are too light and will float right out of the pot). Potting Soil has organic material that will rot and foul your water!
DO NOT add too much composted material (as it is too rich in organic matter and it will ferment underwater and destroy the ecology of your pond).
DO NOT use 100% calcined clay as there is no nutritional value in calcined clay.
DO NOT add rocks, stones or pebbles to the top of your planting container as this will inhibit the growth of your plants. Plants do not grow in rocks and stones in nature!
DO NOT purchase API Aquatic Planting Media or Microbe-lift Aquatic Planting Media as these products are NOT suitable for waterlilies, lotus or most other pond plants. They are suitable for submerged grasses ONLY!
