About Lotus, and its care.

Facts about Lotus Flowers:

• The Lotus is a sacred flower for Buddhists.
• The Lotus flower is quoted extensively in Puranic and Vedic literature.
• The Lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism - an eight petalled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas symbolizes cosmic harmony, a thousand petalled Lotus, spiritual illumination. A bud symbolizes potential. The well-known Buddhist mantra, "Om mane padme," refers to the jewel in the lotus, enlightenment.
• In Egyptian mythology, the Lotus is associated with the sun, because it bloomed by day and closed by night. The Lotus is even believed to have given birth to the sun.
• The roots of the Lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface. The Lotus flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water.
• The Lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible. In Asia, the petals are sometimes used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food.
• Various parts of the sacred Lotus are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine.
• The Lotus fruits are a conical pod with seeds contained in holes in the pod. Nucifera means having hard fruit. When the seeds are ripe, they become loose in the pod. The pod then tips down towards the water, releasing the seeds.
• When the Lotus flower's petals fall, they are replaced by a flat-topped seed pod divided into compartments, resembling a wasp's hive. The tender seeds are munched happily in north-east India.
• The Lotus stem is eaten almost in all parts of India, and pickled too.
• Nelumbium luteum is the American Lotus, with pale, small flowers.
• The Indian or Chinese Lotus, nelumbium nelumbo, usually has pink flowers although white, rose and double varieties are available.

Growing a Lotus:

• Place the seeds into a glass of non-chlorinated, warm water.
• The seeds that float should be thrown away since they are probably not fertile and will only cloud up the water. Change the water every day while you are waiting for them to sprout.
• Once you see the Lotus roots emerge, pot them in 4-inch pots filled with good garden loam; a depression should be made and one seed should be set in each pot. Cover the root gently with soil or gravel.
• If you waited too long and the Lotus leaves started to grow, keep them free of soil as you cover the root.
• The seed should be set in warm water up to 2 inches deep; no more than that.
• Give the Lotus as much light as possible until the water in your garden warms up to at least 60 degrees F.
• At this time, plant your Lotuses in larger containers without drainage holes.
• Lotuses started from seeds will probably not bloom in the first year.

Lotus Plant Care:

• The Lotus plant should be fertilized sparingly for the first year.
• Too much fertilizer may cause the Lotus foliage to burn.
• A Lotus plant that is established can be fed every 3 or 4 weeks during the growing season.
• Care must be taken when inserting fertilizer tabs, because the growing tip and new growth can be damaged.
• It is important to protect the Lotus roots from freezing.
• Lotus can winter over in the pond if the pond depth is below the freeze line for your area.
• In late fall, the yellowed foliage should be cut off and the plant lowered to the deepest part of the pond.
• Or you may lift the tubers after the plant has died back during the fall.
• If you lift the tubers, store them in a cool, frost-free location until late spring.
• To help prevent mildew and rotting, store them in living sphagnum moss.

Maintenance of Plants

In my earlier post I have been talking of how to place, where to place and whom to place in your house.  In this post I would be briefing on maintenance of plants.

As we all know, that there are variety of plants available for indoor gardening; some require less attention than others. Hence make your schedule and commitment level before selecting plants for indoor garden.

Recommended Indoor Plants:

Low maintenance plants are the favorite of indoor gardening in this high paced modern world. Where both time and look of a house can be well balanced. Here is a list of well tested and tried indoor warriors.

My Low Maintenance Survivors: I call these plants true survivor - Pothos, Spider Plant,Snake Plant, Bromeliad.

Bromeliad

Pothos

Snake Plant

Spider Plant

 Moderate Care Plants: people who have some feeling for their plants, and for them they are more than only a home decor.  - Dragon Tree, Sword Fern, Jade Plant

Dragon Tree

Jade Plant

Sword Fern

 Highly cared Plants: If you have love for plants, then these are for you and me.....I take care of them like my babies, - Bonsai, Orchids, Arfican Voilets.

African Voilets

Orchids

Bonsai

Take Good Care of your plants:

Plants need constant care, consistent watering, feeding schedule, consistent light and temperature. Another thing you can take care for your plants is; by giving them a stable environment.  Removing dead leaves and flowers, wiping plants leaves from dust will keep them happy and healthy. 

Art of watering: 

Plants would die if they are over or under water. Now the question is HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? Every Plant differ from each other therefore how much water is required depends upon the type of pot and humidity at home. Although plastic pot can retain more humidity than ceramic. 

If you are not confident about the moisture retain in the pot, purchase a humidifier or a moisture meter, stuck in soil.

Feeding:

The way you feed your infants, you have to feed your plants also. Since indoor plants can only feed from their soil in pot, so it is crucial that regular fertilizing in necessary to maintain health of your plants. Over feeding your plants can make your plant sick, I would recommend to purchase a multi purpose fertilizer.

Repotting: 

If the root of the plant are growing out from the drainage hole or getting coiled around the edge, then its the time to re-pot your plant.

Finally I am proud to say; Indoor gardening is a love affair with my plants, where i cannot live without them. It is an art for you interior designing project, or it can be integral part of purification system of you home. Every garden lover can have there own reason, but there is always a reason to have a houseplant in your house.................. Love green.....

S