Nelumbo Nucifera - Sacred Lotus, 5 seeds
The Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is known for its extremely resilient seeds: under favourable conditions they remain viable for a long time, with the best-known example being a lotus seed that successfully germinated after an estimated 1,300 years. That resilience comes from the very hard, watertight seed coat, which in nature stops the seed from absorbing water and sprouting too early.
For the same reason, a lotus seed doesn't germinate on its own once you drop it in water: the hard shell first needs to be broken through, a process called scarification. Without that step, the seed can sit untouched in water for months or even years.
Scarification and germination
Using a metal file or coarse sandpaper, carefully file open one small spot on the side of the seed until you see the cream-coloured interior. Work slowly and avoid damaging the pointed tip of the seed. Then place the filed seed in a bowl of warm water (around 24 to 29°C) and change the water daily. Within a few days the seed will swell, and germination usually follows within 1 to 2 weeks. The seed carries enough stored nutrients to feed the seedling for about a month, so it's best to pot on the sprout fairly soon.
Planting and care
Place the sprouted seed in a pot with heavy, nutrient-rich soil (at least 10 cm across) and submerge the pot in water, with the tip of the sprout just above the soil surface. Gradually raise the water level as the plant grows. Lotus grows best in a sunny spot at a minimum temperature of around 25°C; expect leaf growth within a few weeks, with flowering typically only in the second growing season.
Storage
Store unused seeds dry and dark; thanks to the hard shell, they stay viable for a long time even without special precautions.
Alongside the Sacred Lotus, Dutch-Smart also carries the White Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and other exotic seeds from the same range.
