New Cloud Brocade Lotus
Plant Description
New Cloud Brocade Lotus has magnificent form and drape on this splendid, graceful, cream-colored lotus with barely a breath of pink on the petal tips . Draping outer petals with shorter inner petals create a stunning bloom. Yellow receptacles and green foliage on New Cloud Brocade Lotus add beauty and grace to this poetic bloom. Grows to 4 feet tall or taller when grown in a wide (24 - 48 inches in diameter) container
Tall/Versicolor/Multi-Petal
Planting Instructions
Plant this tall specimen where it can be showcased! Plant in 24 to 48 inch wide or wider, container using loam soil. Dig a trench in the surface of the soil and place your lotus tuber in the trench, being careful not to damage the growth tips. Make sure the growth tips are pointing up. Cover the tuber with three or four inches of soil, leaving the growth tips exposed. Add 4 to 6 inches of water above the soil and place the container in a sunny location outdoors. Lotus need 8 + hours of sunlight to grow and bloom! In a week or two you should have coin leaves growing 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, it is time to fertilize your lotus.
Fertilizing Instructions
Lotus are very heavy feeders! We recommend Waterlily World Fertilizer Tabs + Humates for ease of use, optimum growth and best bloom. Once a month, simply press 4 to 6 fertilizer tabs in the soil near the roots of your lotus, being careful not to damage the roots. Do this from June through September, the growing/blooming months. Your lotus should grow and bloom the very first year!
PONDMEGASTORE TIP There are several factors that contribute to the size of your lotus. Those factors are:
- Variety of lotus chosen (Exquisite of Bowl, Dwarf, Medium or Tall)
- Container size (Always use the recommended container size to get your lotus to the maximum height and maximum bloom for the variety chosen
- Always give your lotus the maximum amount of sunlight possible (8+ hours is vital) the more sun the better!
- Fertilizer must be used AFTER your lotus sprouts aerial leaves, but your lotus will definitely need more nutrition once it begins to grow!
- Always start your lotus tuber in mid-May, when nighttime temperatures are at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or warmer and daytime temperatures are in the 70's. This allows your lotus to grow and store enough energy to overwinter. Your lotus should bloom the very first year!
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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!
