Dense Dew Lotus
Plant Description
Dense Dew Lotus blooms have dreamy, creamy-white, curled petals with rich, golden receptacles and softly kissed, pink petal tips. A gentle fringe of yellow stamens adorn the lyrical blooms on this cup shaped, poetic lotus. Attractive green foliage is the perfect complement for the Dense Dew Lotus. Dense Dew Lotus grows 10 - 24 inches tall, depending on container size.
Exquisite of Bowl-Dwarf/White/Semi-Double
Planting Instructions
Plant this lotus tuber in a wide (10 - 16 inch or wider) container using loam soil. Dig a shallow trench across the top of the soil and gently place the lotus tuber in the trench, being careful not to damage the growth tips. Cover the tuber with an inch or two of soil while leaving the growth tips exposed. Add two inches of water above the soil (this lotus is partial to shallow water) and place in a sunny location outdoors (8+ hours of sunlight daily). In a week or two you will have coin leaves growing on the surface of the water. In another week or so, you should have aerial leaves growing out of the water.
Fertilizing Instructions
Once you have aerial leaves growing out of the water, you may fertilize your lotus. Gently push three fertilizer tabs around the roots of your lotus, being careful not to damage the roots. Do this during the growing/blooming months (June through September). We recommend Waterlily World Fertilizer Tabs for ease of use, optimum growth and best bloom! You should have blooms the very first year!
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!
