Kayaking through the native Nelumbo Lutea was incredible and by far the coolest experience of our 2011 adventures. More on that in an upcoming post. Here is a video of Mr. Mel Yoshimura who brought his pickled lotus root, or lotus root salad to the Sarasota Lotus Festival in July.

Enjoy.

Day 17, Three of the new Chinese Lotus, ‘Drunken Concubine out of Bath’ (left), ‘Red Lantern’ (right), and ‘Dasa Jin’ (back). Each is growing faster as return to warm days in the 80s and lows in the mid to upper 50s.

Our lotus tubers ship with excellent growing tips. Only Lotus and water hawthorne are shipped as tubers. Our waterlilies and marginals arrive as adult sized plants usually with buds.

Lotus can be blooming in just 6 weeks from planting in warm weather. Plant shallow and wait to fertilize until you have a leaf standing above water. This is a tea-cup lotus in a 7 inch pot. The photos are taken during only 6 days from left to right. Medium and Large lotus need much larger containers.

Above is a larger 16 inch

Here you can see a tea cup lotus (front right), a small lotus (left), and a medium lotus (back). Each will need a little water each day in the summer as they will be heavy drinkers.  They will also love miracle grow once they have standing leaves.

This summer we will be documenting, Dasa Jin (large versicolor), Red Lantern (small / tea cup), Red Bowl, Loyalty Son, and Drunken Concubine out of Bath.

From Expert Growers Laura Bancroft, Bill Bancroft, and Dr. Ken Tilt:

“Put several inches of good topsoil – just plain dirt – into the pot. This topsoil can be purchased in bags at a garden center or dug from your pond bottom or yard. Do not use potting soil; it is too light and will float and foam when water is added and the lotus rhizomes tend to float when planted in it. Add enough water to raise the water level to about 2-3” above the soil. Place the tuber into the mud with the growing tips pointed up. Chinese growers leave the ‘tail’, the cut end, of the lotus root above water for a few days. Try not to cover the growing tips completely with soil. In a few days the true roots, small hair-like projections, will grow and anchor the tuber into the soil. Place the pot in a warm, sunny area. Be sure to replace the water as it evaporates.

The growing tips will soon give way to the first small leaves, called coin leaves. These leaves will float on the surface of the water as they begin the process of photosynthesis to help provide energy for the plant to grow. Within a few days the first aerial leaf will emerge from the water. At this time you can begin to raise the level of the water in the pot. When the weather outside has warmed up and chances of freezing have passed your lotus can be placed on your patio or put into your pond, preferably in full sun. Remember to plant the smaller varieties of lotus in shallower water than large varieties.

*Planting Lotus in Containers
Any water-tight rounded container with no holes is acceptable for growing lotus. The size of the pot is determined by the type of lotus you are growing with larger varieties requiring larger pots. The mature size of a lotus will be affected by the size of the pot in which it grows. Using a bigger pot allows more room for rhizome production, thus resulting in more and larger leaves and flowers. Larger pots will encourage the lotus to grow to the larger extreme for their variety. Planting the same lotus in a healthy pond environment will allow it to reach its full potential resulting in a plant much larger than if it had been planted in a small pot. Lotus classified as Exquisites of Bowl Lotus are prized for their ability to grow in the smallest pots, producing miniature lotus that can be brought inside easily for a day or two when they are in bloom.”
*Suggested pot sizes are:
Tea Cup or Exquisite of Bowl lotus: pot less than 11″ in diameter
Small or Bowl lotus – pot 12-15″ in diameter
Dwarf lotus – 16-20″ in diameter
Medium lotus – 18-30″ in diameter
Large lotus – 24-48″ in diameter

The reason they are called Tea Cup lotus is that some varieties are small enough to do well in a container the size of a cup. Don’t Believe me? See N. Nopchai Chansilpa’s photo, Mangkala-patum, a bowl lotus growing in coffee cup!

Mangala-patum,a bowl lotus growing in a coffee cup!

Mangkala-Patum is not yet available in the United States, however two new selections from China are available. Glowing Clouds in Evening, a Small Tea-Cup lotus with often multiple blooms, Laura describes this as of the most beautiful pink lotus, ‘Glowing Clouds in Evening’ has a perfect cup-shaped blooms. The color is a brilliantly clear pink on the first day flower. Do not plant under more than about 4″ of water as this is a small lotus. ‘Ye Xia’ Chinese lotus.Glowing Clouds is pictured below with Golden Horse with Jade Belt on the right side with many flowers. Golden Horse with Jade belt, yet another Chinese import, look for multiple blossoms on this small tea-cup lotus throughout the summer.  This white flower can have either bright green petaloids or a green receptacle in a large double flower on a small plant. The newly opened bud has a greenish tint to the petals. ‘Yutang Jin Ma’ Chinese lotus import. Likes shallow water no more than about 4 inches over the roots. Does well in bowls or pots. Fertilize only after standing leaves. These lotus and many dozen more can be found at http://www.PondMegastore.com from February-July or until supply has run out. Glowing Clouds… (Left), Golden Horse… (right)

Glowing Clouds... (Left), Golden Horse... (right)

The first is Colorful Brodcade,  is a beautiful oriental versicolor lotus with dancing petals that swirl around a bright green center. The first day flower has petals that are cream at the base to pink on the outer edge. The flower changes to a rich creamy white and the inner petals are arrayed around the center in a particularly fancy pattern. 

Colorful Broadcade

 This is a small “exquisite bowl / teacup” lotus and should be in a very shallow container in the pond or up on your sun porch or patio. An 8-12″ round shallow container deep enough not to dry out.

Second we have Dasa Jin, A larger variety with massive creamy white flowers with a jagged picotee of purple along the outer edge of the petals. The inner petals are tipped with green. Even the bud carries a splash of purple making this a favorite new Lotus. One of the most striking pond plants held tall in the water garden or patio container, plant in a large shallow container 16″ or more across.

Dasa jin (large versicolor)

Third a wonderful heavy bloomer, Li-Ya small Chinese lotus. Enjoy many multiple blooms on this pond plant! Li-Ya Chinese Elegance is a light lotus with floating outer petals that begin to drape after the flower fully opens. Opening very light pink to white, A well named Chinese Lotus! Plant in a shallow container 12″ or more across in water gardens, pond, or patio tub. Lower to a few inches below the water surface and only fertilize after standing leaves. Hardy to zone 3. 
 All three available at http://www.PondMegastore.com in the Lotus section.

Li-Ya Lotus

This year I will try and use the tripod more often to better stay in focus and less shaky. Plans are to travel to 12 locations in 2011 on three different trips. Not even half of the video from 2010 has been added at this time. In HD it takes much of the day to upload just a few minutes of footage.

The 100th video we uploaded is per request from our friend Karen who wanted to see some shots of lotus growing in containers and in water gardens. The first shot is just a bee doing some work inside a lotus bud. Enjoy and we have more information coming as soon as we finish more spring preparations. Laura should soon be sending information on even more Chinese Lotus selections that will be available in February. (http://www.PondMegastore.com)

First unlike anything seen today in the United States, Singapore has finished a world arts center & museum designed in the shape of a giant lotus flower. Sitting along the water front just as a true lotus would the center will hold 21 galleries on exhibit. (image 1 and 2) Part of the Marian Bay Sands which is a hotel and casino in Singapore. The Art-Science Museum resort cost 5.5 Billion US dollars and includes and incredible sky park.

The opening will be in February. A google search Paula pointed out shows some remarkable images of this very large new property and is one of the most impressive structures I have ever seen.

The second is a Lotus Tower in Sri Lanka, India. At a cost of $103 million dollars a communications company will be building this tower beginning in about a month and broadcast media from this new building.

(Photo 3) This structure will be 350 meters tall and the top will house casinos and nightclubs.

The tower is expected to be the 5th largest in the world and a ride to the top will only take about 30 seconds.

Luckily he told me there was nothing to worry about when I asked if the lotus would overtake the pond. RoundUp, which is a common weed killer found in any big box store and hardware store in the country carries most of the year can be applied to kill lotus without harming other aquatic life.

Lotus are connected through long rhizome like tubers often many many yards long. A siple spritz should kill most of the plant connected by the root. It may take more than one application on long growing areas but the method is quick and simple he explains.

After the lotus is browned you can clean up the area or reintroduce perhaps a new color to the area. POND PLANTS such as Lotus are available seasonally at http://www.PondMegastore.com .

Apricot Pink is a wonderful bloomer and can bloom from 6 weeks after planting until frost. Lotus are easy to overwinter in most of the united states. Leave them where they grow shallowly in the pond and only trim foliage back to just above the waterline. The stems are hollow and the tuber (roots) like to be able to breath. In spring before its warm enough to start foliage you can harvest the new tubers and replant them or let them grow a few seasons without replanting.

Lotus should have a wide shallow container with some good substrate. Fertilize only after there is an arial leaf and repeat until August.

Apricot pink can be purchased seasonally online and shipped almost anywhere in the USA from Feb-June or July.
See Lotus at PondMegastore.com

Learn more about Warner and he Auburn lotus in Issues 2 & 3 of the IWGS journal this year.

Tim Davis has recently published the 2nd quarter IWGS Journal for 2010 and a few of my photos from my southern trip were used. I hope to visit Auburn and Ten Mile Creek again. Everyone including Warner, Bills, Laura, and Steve let me in on some great lotus learning and shared so many new varieties with me. Thank you to all four of you for taking the time to show me around the great Lotus that are now in a few parts of Alabama.

Pictured below are Warner Obando (top), Laura Bancroft (bottom left), and Bill Bancroft (bottom right). I am not sure which tea-cup lotus Warner was beside but Laura is standing next to “Sparks” and Bill is in a pond with “Pink Lips” developed by Daike Tian, Ph. D.  from Auburn University.

The Lotus Issue (part 2) will continue in Sept/Oct as a continuation issue.

Turn on your volume

Enjoy in High Definition

Lotus Elite Red and others for sale at

www.PondMegastore.com February-July 1st

Here are some lotus available now. Notice the growing tips on the tubers have many more starts than most growers. (Over 60 named varieties available today!)

https://www.pondmegastore.com/shop/home.php?cat=251 

20 varieties are available to nurseries only in pots (45 per pallet, just about blooming size, contact us for details.

customerservice@pondmegastore.com  see current selection below

Part 2

Buy Fresh Lotus Root (tubers) see this quick sample

For a really good time, if you are into cooking and like the food network. The 100th episode of the JAPANESE verisonof Iron Chef is dedicated to Lotus cooking. I love Iron Chef America but the Japanese version is a little hard with the music and dubbing. The funniest thing about this is a few seconds into part 2 the iron chef states he has never cooked lotus before. The secret ingredient must be used in every dish. Perhaps Japan is a less common Asian favorite of Lotus.

Part 1    Note its about 7 minutes when they unveil the Lotus so you can fast forward.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

“About the Lotus“, co-author Paula Biles has added me to her list of people she shares current events from around the world involving the Lotus. Since the news may involve more than one story I decided to gather the happenings over the last few weeks and share them under this new headline.  

If you have read the book or have followed this blog you are aware that the lotus has scientific and cultural significance well beyond its decorative use.  A food for millenia and scientific goldmine only add to the interest of humans in the lotus plant.  

 Lotus hit and miss in recent headlines…..

• Drink up on Vietnamese tea culture
• K2 Fake-Pot Controversy Continues 
• Sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf? It has been added to the glycemic index catalog
• GE Looks At Lotus Leaves To Make Water Bounce
• Cellulite Treatments- Truth In Aging for Nelumbo (Lotus) ingredient
• DeBeers Jewelry: Enchanted Lotus Collection 

 Note from Zac:  Around early July this summer I hope to bring you a very interactive online look at Lotus in America. That is all I am going to share for now but it will be something worth checking back to see as this is where it will be posted and shared first.

.

2010 Eastern China Lotus Exploration

& Water Garden Tour

With Grant Mitchell and Warner Orozco-Obando

July 15-30 and Aug 3-17th 2010

Please contact if interested!   

Day 1 : Arrive Guanzhou Bai Yun Airport transport to hotel   

Day 2 : Day excursion to Lotus Mountain gardens. This garden is about 100 acres and includes many different parts. It overlooks the Pearl River estuary and is built around a 2,000 year old red sandstone quarry. This stone was only for use on the Emperors projects. In the old quarry there are high cliffs and ponds filled with lotus and waterlilies. On the top of the mountain is an old fort which controlled river traffic and a Buddhist complex with pagoda, huge traditional buildings and the biggest gilded bronze Guanyin in the world. There is also a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant.   

Photos Courtesy of Grant Mitchell

Day 3 : Visit several gardens and parks in Guangzhou. There are several different parks and gardens to visit with water-plants, orchids and other trees and flowers. [Soft sleeper class is a wide berth with 2 upper and 2 lower bunks with a door. The cabin is air-conditioned and there is a western style toilet and washrooms at the end of the carriage. Soft sleeper class is close to the dining car]  

Day 4 : Arrive in Fuyang. Afternoon visit to small lotus lake. 

Day 5 : Visit an incredible private lotus garden with over 1500 varieties of lotus. Mostly medium sized lotus grown in pots. There are many unique lotus in this private collection and can only be visited on this tour. Afternoon train to Hefei. 

Day 6: Visit Hefei lotus park. Check out the large lotus collection in this park setting. Afternoon bus to Pukou. 

Photos Courtesy of Grant Mitchell

Day 7 : Tour of the famous Yileen Water-garden. This well known water garden of several acres is incredible. There are hundreds of varieties of lotus as well as waterlilies and other aquatic plants. Yileen is responsible for the creation of many wonderful new hybrids and is a regular prize winner at the annual China Lotus Association convention 

Day 8: Bus to Hangzhou. Afternoon boat trip on the iconic West Lake. West Lake has been a famous beauty spot for hundreds of years. There is a classical Chinese saying…up above you have Heaven and below you have Suzhou and Hangzhou ! Every year the area around the lotus lined West Lake becomes more and more beautiful due to ongoing landscaping by the local government. 

Day 9 : Visit the scenic sites of West Lake and Hangzhou Botanical Garden. There are many different parts of the West Lake area with many separate parks joined by a variety of bridges. There are towers, causeways and pagodas along the way. In the evenings locals gather at the lakeside and play traditional instruments and sing and dance as they have done for centuries. Evening spectacular buffet dinner and variety show. 

Day 10 : Stroll around Lotus Swaying in the Breeze Park and the ancient Lin Ying Buddhist temple. Qu Yuan Feng He park was originally a brewery but has a history of several hundred years a park. There are bonsai and several small lakes with different varieties of lotus, waterlily and other waterplants with various bridges and lakeside pavilions, gardens and metasequoia forest. 

Photo Courtesy Grant Mitchell

Lin Ying temple complex is set in a lush forest not far from the lake.It also has a long history and is one of the most famous temples in China. Night sleeper train to Unesco World Heritage Mountain Park 

Day 11 : Rest in hotel then ride the cable car to the spectacular Heaven’s Gate mountain and Daoist temple and climb the stairs to Heaven’s Gate. This cable car ride travels several miles across the farmlands and foothills before a dramatic ascension to the mountain top. The views are incredible and the mountains are covered in a variety of trees, shrubs and other local flora. Another short trip brings you to a large Daoist temple and the walk back is on a pathway winding around the side of the mountain. On the return journey, a side trip in a bus takes you up a zig zag road to the base of Heaven’s Gate. A walk up the stairs takes you to a huge spectacular opening in the mountain. 

Photos Courtesy Grant Mitchell

Day 14 : Arrive in Guangzhou then a short bus trip to three Waters. Afternoon visit to Three Waters park with a huge brass reclining Buddha, Tibetan temple and Daoist temple complex.

Day 15: Wake up in the Ever-profit Lotus Hotel. Spend the day in the amazing, Lotus World, the biggest water garden in the universe ! Absolutely stounding! Farewell dinner in the evening.

Day 16: Depart from Guangzhou Bai Yun Airport. 

 TOUR INCLUDES: local transportation, entrances to the parks and locations, accommodation and all the meals. Total cost: $3,500 American dollars

(airfare it is NOT included). Maximum of 9 people. For small groups that can not make it during this time, we can customized the dates.

Contact Us for Information on Joining the exploration July 15-31 2010, or Warner Orozco-Obando Auburn Lotus Research Project Department of Horticulture Auburn University.

UPDATE Jan 17th 2010. More new Photos added.

Again, 

TOUR INCLUDES: local transportation, entrances to the parks and locations, accommodation and all the meals. Total cost: $3,500 American dollars

(airfare it is NOT included). Maximum of 9 people. For small groups that can not make it during this time, we can customized the dates.

Contact Us for Information on Joining the exploration July 15-31 2010, or Warner Orozco-Obando Auburn Lotus Research Project Department of Horticulture Auburn University.