Momo Botan Minima Lotus has exquisite flowers and rich coloration on this Exquisite of Bowl lotus. Momo Botan Minima was one of the first lotus brought to America from Asia. There are several varieties that we sell that are much better bloomers. (Red Silk and Siam Ruby are preferable over Momo Botan Minima) Momo Botan Minima Lotus grows to 13 inches tall when planted in wide, shallow containers.
Exquisite of Bowl/Red/Multi-Petal
Plant in wide container (11 - 16 inches in diameter, or wider). Plant your lotus outdoors in the month of May when nights are consistently 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and the days are 60 or above. Fill your container 2/3 full with loam soil, dig a trench in the surface of the soil and gently place your lotus tuber in the trench. Cover all but the growth tips with soil, leaving the growth tips exposed. Gently add two inches of water above the soil and place your container in full sun (8+ Hours of sunlight per 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.
When to Fertilize
Once you have aerial leaves, you may fertilizer your lotus with one or two fertilizer tabs per month throughout the growing/blooming season. Simply press the fertilizer tabs into the soil near the roots of your lotus, taking care not to damage the roots. Your lotus should grow and bloom the very first year! PLEASE NOTE, you may fertilize your lotus only AFTER it has aerial leaves.
DO NOT fertilize before that, or you may kill your lotus. This variety of lotus prefers shallow water--keep your eye on the water level above your lotus and gently replace any water that evaporates throughout the summer.
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!
