Plant Description
Mangala Patum Lotus -This exquisite hybrid is from hybridizer, Dr. Nopchai Chansilpa, and is one of the very best lotus we sell. Mangala Patum Lotus has excellent qualities and characteristics with delicate pink, semi-double blooms and regal green foliage. This hardy lotus, Mangala Pathum, blooms early and blooms continuously once established, throughout the season, often with multiple blooms! Mangala Pathum Lotus grows to 14 inches tall when planted in wide containers
Exquisite of Bowl-Dwarf/Pink/Semi-Double
Planting Instructions
Plant this beautiful, Exquisite of Bowl hybrid in a wide, no-holes container (11 - 16 inches wide ) using loam soil. Dig a shallow trench in the surface of the soil and gently place your lotus tuber in the trench, being careful not to break or damage the growth tips. Gently cover all but the growth tips with 1/2 inch of soil. Carefully add an inch of water above the soil and place your container in a sunny location outdoors (8 + hours of sunlight daily). Remember to check water levels often and to replace any water that has evaporated. In a week or two you should have coin leaves on the surface of the water--a week after that you should have aerial leaves growing out of the water. Once you have aerial leaves, you may fertilize your lotus. Never fertilize before you have aerial leaves as that may kill your lotus. fertilize The first time you fertilize, only use 1/2 the recommended dosage.
Fertilizing Instructions
Lotus are heavy feeders! You may fertilize your Exquisite of Bowl-Dwarf lotus with Waterlily World Fertilizer Tabs + Humates.Your first dose of fertilizer should only be about 1/2 the recommended dosage which would be 2 fertilizer tabs-- Fertilize once a month throughout the rest of the growing/blooming season, June through August with 5 fertilizer tabs every two weeks. Simply press the tabs into the soil near the roots of your lotus, being careful not to damage the roots. (this fertilizer dose is for lotus in a 16 inch wide pot)
Please read our complete planting guidelines included with every lotus order!
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!
