The Flowers Of Life

The Flowers Of Life

Cultivating Life: Lotus flowers add new dimension to aquatic garden In Buddhism the lotus represents purity of body, speech and mind, floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire -- pretty heady stuff for a plant that prefers to grow in the thick mud of shallow ponds, lakes and drainage ditches throughout India and other parts of Asia. This perennial aquatic known for its magnificent, spice-scented flowers has a North American cousin that is hardy as far north as Canada. The two plants are so closely related that hybridizers have been producing exquisite crosses between the two for many years.

Lotuses come in three sizes: large, semi-dwarf and dwarf. They are vigorous growers, and the large varieties require a lot of space. For patios, smaller spaces and backyard water features, dwarf varieties are the way to go. Richard Koogle of Lilypons Water Gardens in Adamstown, Md., showed me how to create a water container featuring a dwarf lotus. Although he had several potted lotuses, he explained that they are available from mail-order sources as dormant tubers in the early spring. First, choose a container that can hold water. The lotus plant will remain in a 6-inch pot that is placed in the container of water, so the container must be deep enough to let the lotus pot sit 4 to 5 inches below the surface of the water.

Lotuses love warm water to get growing in the spring, but as the summer progresses they prefer to sit in water that does not get hot. Koogle recommended using bricks in the spring to raise the plant's pot closer to the surface where the water is warm. Then remove bricks as the season progresses and the plant starts growing. After the lotus is positioned in the container, add one or two other aquatic plants for interest. Aquatic marginal plants (plants that naturally grow at the sides of ponds) are perfect companion plants for lotus in a container. We chose a water chestnut and a corkscrew rush, also in pots. We positioned them in the container alongside the dwarf lotus and propped up with bricks as well.