Plant Description
Red Tower of Qinhuai Lotus was named for the Qinhuai Province in China. This is a magnificent lotus in every way. The petals on the large flowers are saturated with very dark-red color. The green foliage and golden-yellow receptacle add to the beauty of this amazing lotus specimen! The garnet-red blooms are perfectly formed on this tall, brilliant-red, multi-petaled flower. Red Tower Of Qinhuai Lotus is sure to become a customer favorite!
How to plant your lotus
Plant your lotus tuber in a wide (24 - 48 or wider), no-holes container using loam soil. Fill your container 2/3 full with loam soil. Dig a trench across the surface of the soil and place your lotus tuber in the trench, being careful not to break or damage the growth tips. Cover all but the growth tips with an inch or two of soil. Leave the growth tips exposed. Gently add 4 - 6 inches of water above the soil and place your lotus container in full sun (8 - 12 hours of sunlight daily). Do not fertilize until you have aerial leaves growing out of the water.
How to fertilize your lotus
Fertilize your lotus after you have aerial leaves growing out of the container. We recommend Waterlily World Fertilizer Tabs for optimum growth, best bloom and ease of use. The first dose of fertilizer should be 1/2 the recommended dosage. Two weeks after the first dose of fertilizer, you may fertilize with a full dose of the fertilizer and fertilize once a month thereafter throughout the growing/blooming season. You should administer the final dose of fertilizer in early September. This will allow your lotus to go dormant naturally.
Please read the complete instructions on how to grow your lotus in the 'Complete Guide To Growing Your Lotus' booklet included in 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!
