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| Amaryllis |
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Amaryllis
belladonna is a very colorful and showy flower and hence the flower
is symbolically used to represent the meanings - splendid beauty or pride . |
|
Amaryllis
belladonna is a very colorful and showy flower and hence theflower is
symbolically used to represent the meanings - "splendid beauty"
or "pride". |
| |
Amaryllis
 Amaryllis
is a monotypic (consisting of only one species) genus of flowering
plants containing the Belladonna Lily, popularly known as the Amaryllis
belladonna lily. Amaryllis is native of South and Central America
and the Caribbean. The Hippeastrum genus of flowering bulbed plants
is erroneously named as the Amaryllis or Christmas Amaryllis.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Genus
Amaryllis
Species
belladonna
Ornamental plants of Amaryllidaceae family are mistakenly called
lilies. Amaryllidaceae species can be distinguished from members
of the lily family (Liliaceae) by the anatomical placement of the
ovary. Amaryllidaceae species are considered more advanced in evolution
than the lilies. Sometimes the amaryllis family is included in the
Liliaceae. Amaryllis
is cultivated for its beautiful and colorful flowers. The Amaryllis
flower stem is erect, 5-60 cm tall, 1-3 cm in diameter, and hollow.
The Amaryllis stem bears 2-5 large flowers at the apex, each flower
10-20 cm broad, with six brightly coloured tepals (three outer sepals,
three inner petals, with similar appearance to each other). A stunning
amaryllis flower with dark red markings, or different colors appear
on the stalks. Common size bulbs often produce two 20-22 inches
stems. Huge amarylllis flowers up to 6 inches across will also appear.
Facts
About Amaryllis
- Amaryllis
is a perennial flowering plant.
- Amaryllis
bulbs are 3-11 cm in diameter, and produce 3-7 long-lasting
leaves of 10-60 cm long and 1-5 cm broad.
- Amaryllis
have narrow, flat leaves and with lily-like flowers borne on
separate, leafless stalks.
- Amaryllis
are widely distributed throughout the world, especially in flatlands
of the tropics and subtropics.
- The Amaryllis
hybrids are known as Hippeastrum.
|
Anthuriums
are one of the most popular tropicals with a long vase life of
about six weeks and even more depending on the variety and season. |
Anthuriums
Anthuriums are one of the most popular tropicals with a long vase
life of about six weeks and even more depending on the variety and
season.
 Anthuriums are herbaceous epiphytes, native to tropical America.
Anthurium is a genus of more than 800 species found in the New World
tropics from Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay. The Anthurium
is also known as Painted Tongue, Flamingo Flower (Flamingo Lily)
or Tail Flower. Anthuriums are grown for their brightly colored
flower spathes and their ornamental leaves.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Alismatales
Family
Araceae
Genus
Anthurium
The red, heart-shaped
flower of Anthuriums is really a spathe, or waxy, modified leaf
flaring out from the base of a fleshy spike (spadix) where the tiny
real flowers grow. The anthurium flowers appear as a roughness on
the spadix as compared to a smooth spadix. Most common colors of
anthuriums are red and shades of red.
Facts About Anthuriums
- In Greek,
the name Anthurium means tail flower.
- Anthurium
plant stem lengths may grow to a height of 15-20 inches depending
on the size of the spathe, i.e.,the bigger the spathe, the longer
the stem.
- The anthurium
leaves are usually simple, large, attractively coloured and borne
on long stalks.
- The anthurium
flowering stalk is slender, ending in a fleshy column crowded
with many unisexual flowers.
- There are
present leafy bracts which may be white, yellow, red, pink, orange
or green.
- Anthuriums
are the popular foliage plants.
- Anthuriums
are grown for their attractive flowering bracts which are popular
with the cut flower trade.
- There are
3 broad categories in spathes. They are standard, obake and tulip.
Standard is by far the most common shape.
- Anthuriums,
come in a wide variety, including: Flowering, Velvet Leafed, Pendulous
or Hanging basket types, Palmate leafed.
- All parts
of the anthurium plant, are poisonous. If ingested, may cause
mild stomach disorders.
- The anthurium
plant sap can cause skin irritation.
- The inflorescence
of anthuriums are popular as they have a long shelf life.
- Titan arum
(Amorphophallus titanum), the plant with the largest inflorescence
in the world, is an unusual plant in the family Araceae, which
has the largest inflorescence among flowering plants.
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Expert Shop recommends the following popular products for everyone
on your shopping list. Shop now and enjoy Free Shipping (value
of $9.95 or more).
Growing
Anthuriums
Anthuriums can
be grown by 4 methods. They are by Vegetative reproducation, Seeds,
Tissue culture, and Fertilization.
- Anthuriums
grow on a wide range of soil types ranging from sandy loams to
heavy clays.
- Anthuriums
need a highly organic soil with good water retention capability
and good drainage.
- A well-drained
soil is important to prevent rotting of stems and roots.
- Anthuriums
should be planted in raised beds of 1.3 to 2 metres wide and 20
cm deep.
- Anthuriums
should not be planted more than 5 cm deep, as deep planting results
in rotting of stems and roots.
- Stake the
anthurium after planting for support.
- Water the
anthuriums immediately after planting.
- A layer of
coconut husks, semi-rotted wood, or sugar cane baggasse may be
used.
- Mulching
is needed for the anthuriums plants.
- Anthurium
plant roots grow into the mulch and spread.
Anthuriums plant care
- Remove dead
& unsightly foliage and faded or brown flowers.
- Use a peat
moss base.
- Anthuriums
need a high light, but not direct sunlight.
- Water your
anthurium thoroughly, but allow it to dry slightly between waterings.
- Do not over-water
the anthuriums as it may cause root damage and yellowing of the
leaves.
- Fertilize
anthurium plant about every other month.
- Avoid draughts,
and strong temperature fluctuations.
- In winter
anthurium plants need a 6 weeks of rest period at a 15°C
with little water. This allows the plant to flower profusely again
in the following season.
|
Birds
of Paradise are one of the most colorful flowers in the world. The
name Bird of
Paradise comes from the spectacular flower shape which
resembles a birds beak and head plumage. |
Birds
of Paradise
 Birds
of Paradise, also known as Crane flowers are one of the most beautiful
Exotic Flowers. Birds of Paradise are native to South Africa. Birds
of Paradise bloom from September through May.
The flowers of the Birds of Paradise resemble a brightly colored
bird in flight and so the name Birds of Paradise.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Family
Strelitziaceae
Genus
Strelitzia
The unusually beautiful shape and brilliant colors of Birds of Paradise
have made these flowers not just a designer's favorite, but also
a popular symbol of paradise.
The popular Birds-of-Paradise plant bears a unique flower that resembles
a brightly colored bird in flight, giving it the common name, Bird
of Paradise. The Birds-of-Paradise flowers make the plant an exceptionally
attractive landscape plant.
 The
Birds of Paradise foliage resembles small banana leaves with long
petioles. Leaves on the Birds of Paradise plant are arranged strictly
in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage, thick,
waxy, and glossy green, making it a very attractive ornamental.
Leaf blades are 6 inches wide and 18 inches long. The Birds of Paradise
plant usually reaches a height of 4 feet.
Birds of Paradise flowers are produced in a horizontal inflorescence
emerging from a stout spathe. Birds of Paradise flower inflorescence
is borne atop long scapes, or pedicels, that grow to 5 feet or more
in height. The flower on the Birds of Paradise plant is the most
unusual part.
A series of highly colored bracts, or modified leaves, are formed
into green, red, and or purplish canoe-like structures. Bracts vary
between 4-8 inches long, depending upon the age and size of the
Birds of Paradise plant.
Each Birds of Paradise flower is made up of three upright orange
sepals and three highly modified vivid blue petals. Two of the petals
are joined together in a structure resembling an arrowhead with
the third petal forming a nectary at the base of the flower.
Each bract contains 2 or more protruding Birds of Paradise florets
of bright yellow or orange elongated petals and a bright blue tongue.
The female part of the Birds of Paradise flower is the long extension
of the blue tongue, which is extended well away from the stamens.
Pollination in Birds of Paradise
When a pollinator, usually a sunbird, lands on the arrowhead in
search of nectar, the anthers are levered clear of the Birds of
Paradise flower and deposit pollen on the breast of the bird. When
the bird flies to another plant, this pollen is transferred to the
stigma of the new flower.
Then the resulting fruit is a leathery capsule containing numerous
small seeds, each with an orange aril (an outgrowth from the seed
similar to the red sheath around yew seeds) and an oil body, possibly
to attract birds.
Facts About Birds of Paradise
• Birds of Paradise are the mid-sized staples of tropical
bouquets.
• Birds of Paradise need to be bound together, or supported
in some way in larger vases and may bruise smaller flowers.
• Birds of Paradise are often thought of as the symbol of
tropical flowers.
• Birds of Paradise are a medium-sized exotic blooms that
instantly evoke palm trees, but do not last longer than a week.
• The name Birds of Paradise comes from the spectacular flower
shape, which resembles a birds beak and head plumage.
• Because of the banana shaped leaves and other plant characteristics
Birds of Paradise was classified in the banana family Musaceae.
Some More Popular Species of Birds of Paradise.
• Strelitzia alba/syn. S. augusta - White Birds of Paradise
• Strelitzia caudata/Swaziland Strelitzia - African desert
banana
• Strelitzia nicolai - White, or Giant Birds of Paradise;
Wild banana
• Strelitzia reginae/S. parvifolia - Strelitzia, Birds of
Paradise, or Crane lily.
Growing Birds of Paradise
• The soil around Birds of Paradise plant needs to be kept
moist all spring and summer but should be allowed to dry out slightly
between watering in the fall and winter.
• Try to avoid temperatures below 50 degrees. Birds of Paradise
need indoor temperatures.
• Feed your Birds of Paradise every other week during spring
and summer with a liquid such as Schultz's Instant Plant Food or
a water-soluble fertilizer such as Bachman's Excel-Gro, and a quality
peat-based potting soil.
• Cut back to once a month in fall and winter.
• A quality peat-based potting soil such as Bachman's Exceloam
is perfect for the Birds of Paradise plant.
• When Birds of Paradise plants are young and actively growing,
repot them every spring so that they have plenty of room.
• As the Birds of Paradise mature (and have bloomed for a
year or two), they can be carefully divided. Remember that this
will keep the plant from blooming again for several years! Birds
of Paradise are also propagated from seed.
Birds
of Paradise Plant Care
• The Bird of Paradise does require a good amount of sunlight.
• Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing
season to establish a deep, extensive root system for the Birds
of Paradise.
• Watering can be reduced after establishment.
• Feed Birds of Paradise plants with a general purpose fertilizer
before new growth begins in spring.
• Floral preservative for Birds of Paradise is recommended
and is available commercially.
|
| Calla
Lilies are very popular for wedding bouquets as they signify magnificence
and beauty. |
Calla
Lily
 Calla
Lily Calla lilies are one of the most beautiful flowers with a unique
form of the flower, coming in a wide array of clors. Callas are
also known by such other common names viz., arum lily, trumpet lily,
Pig lily. Calla lilies are native to South Africa, which are easy
to grow bulb or rhizome plants.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Alismatales
Family
Araceae
Genus
Zantedeschia
Calla lilies are excellent houseplants, best for beds, borders,
bouquets and flower arrangements. Calla lilies are falsely called
as lilies, but are not true lilies.
Calla lilies have long-petioled, basal leaves arising from a thick
rhizome. The inflorescence, on a leafless flower stalk, consists
of a spathe and spadix. The spathe, a large, flaring, trumpet-shaped
bract, surrounds the spadix which is covered with tiny flowers.
Facts About Calla lilies
• Calla lily is a perennial bulb.
• Calla lilies grow to a height of 1 1/2 to 4 feet.
• The Calla lily leaves are 1 1/2' long, rich green.
• Blooming time of Calla lilies is late spring.
• The word Calla comes from the Greek term for beautiful.
• The Calla lily roots are the most dangerous part of the
plant.
Growing Calla lilies
• Plant Calla Lilies deeply for their good size.
• Plant them at 4 inches deep, spacing each bulb 12 inches
apart.
• Start bulbs indoors in late winter and transplant them in
the spring when danger of frost has passed.
• Apply a bulb fertilizer every month during the active growing
season.
• Most Calla Lilies need a rest period after flowering.
• Let the leaves die back and let plants rest for 2 to 3 months.
• Then again resume watering to encourage new growth.
Calla lilies care
• In cooler areas, take the rhizomes after first frost, clean
the bulbs, if there is soil.
• Dry them in the direct sun for a few days.
• Store in a dry location that remains between 50 and 60 degrees
F.
• Plant the calla lily bulbs in spring after the soil has
warmed and all danger of frost has passed.
• Fertilize monthly, and keep well watered.
|
Ecuadorian
Roses
Quick
Care for your flowers
Upon receiving your flower shipment, open the box as soon as possible
and place your new flowers in a cool place. Your flowers will respond
best to temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees F. If you should
find your flowers slightly wilted around the outer petals, it is
simply due to a lack of water while in transit to your home. Following
are some proper care instructions that will help you get the most
out of your newly purchased roses.
Preparation
Choose an appropriate clean vase and fill it with fresh, room temperature
water. Add the included cut-flower food to the water. All various
exotic flowers shipped from Beautiful Orchids include a packet of
cut-flower food. Remove any foliage that will be below the level
of water in your vase. This will help discourage bacteria growth
and increase the life expectancy or your flowers.
Submersion
Fill a sink or bowl with water, the container should be large enough
to thoroughly wet the stems while keeping you dry. Fully submerge
the stem ends underwater and cut them at a 45-degree angle using a
sharp knife, pruner or scissors. Flower stems can be cut to varying
lengths, depending on the type and height of the vase in which you
have chosen to showcase them. Cutting your flowers' stems at a 45-degree
angle will ensure that they have plenty of surface area to absorb
water and that they don't sit flat on the bottom of the vase.
Upkeep
Water is just as important to any flowers as it is to you and me,
so be sure to maintain a proper water level in your vase by topping
it off every day. As if sufficient water wasn't enough, they also
require clean water, so be sure to change your flower's water every
2-3 days to ensure maximum beauty and longevity.
|
Gardenias
 Gardenias
are one of the most popular exotic flowers. Gardenias are very
fragrant creamy-white flowers and glossy, dark-green leaves.
Gardenias are waxy, white and very fragrant flowers.
Gardenias
are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa,
southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Gardenia
Gardenias
flowers are solitary or in small clusters, white or pale yellow.
The gardenia flowers are with a tubular-based corolla with
5-12 lobes petals from 5-12 cm diameter.
Gardenias
flowers from about mid-spring to mid-summer, i.e., May through
July. Many of the gardenia species are strongly scented.
Facts
About Gardenias
- Gardenias
are evergreen shrubs and small trees growing to 1-15 m tall.
- The
Gardenia plant leaves are opposite or in whorls of three
or four.
- The
leaves are dark green and glossy 5-50 cm long and 3-25 cm
broad, with a leathery texture.
- The
leaves are simple, entire, hairless, with wavy margin.
- Gardenias
are grown for their beautiful foliage and they make great
cut flowers.
- The
genus Gardenia is named after Alexander Garden, a physician
in Charleston of South Carolina.
- Gardenias
can be used as screens, hedges, borders or ground covers.
- The
most popular cultivated species is the Cape jasmine, native
to China.
- Each
gardenia flower is followed by 6-sided berries of rich orange-red
with long, elegant stems.
- Gardenia
thunbergia produces a woody fruit which has hard, angular
seeds inside.
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to send Christmas flowers and gifts?
The Flower
Expert Shop recommends the following popular products for
everyone on your shopping list. Shop now and enjoy Free
Shipping (value of $9.95 or more).
Growing
Gardenias
- Gardenia
plants need high humidity.
- A loose,
well-drained organic soil is recommended.
- For
best results plant gardenias in full sun, partial shade,
or shifting shade.
- Dig
a hole twice the size of the root ball.
- Thoroughly
mix one part soil and one part planting mix.
- Check
that the top of the original root ball is slightly above
the level of the surrounding soil.
- Take
the soil mixture and make a gentle mound of soil sloping
away from the plant.
- Water
drains away from the trunk.
- Remove
any air pockets, if present.
- Water
the plant with a root stimulator.
Gardenia
Care
- Do not
overwater gardenias.
- Fertilize
with an acid fertilizer.
- Check
for aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips and scales.
- Also
check gardenia plants, as the main problem is bud drop.
|
Lilac
 Aside
from Roses, there is no flower as beautiful and aromatic as
Lilacs. Of the two, Lilacs have a stronger scent that carries
quite a distance. Unfortunately, Lilacs bloom for only a very
brief couple of weeks in the spring. To prolong their presence
in your yard, grow a variety of Lilacs, including, early, mid
and late varieties. With variety and luck, you may be able to
see Lilacs in bloom in your yard for up to six weeks. Weather
will have a lot to do with how long your blooms last. Once the
buds begin to open, pray for a cool dry spell. Once the blooms
are over, you still have a nice shade bush, but you have to
wait for up to fifty more weeks to see them again.
History
Lilacs in the United States date back to the mid 1750's. They
were grown in America's first botanical gardens and were popular
in New England. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
grew them in their gardens. Lilac bushes can live for hundreds
of years, so a bush planted at that time may still be around.
Lilacs originated from Europe and Asia, with the majority
of natural varieties coming from Asia. In Europe, lilacs came
from the Balkans, France and Turkey.
Where is
the Lilac Capital of the World? Many areas grow them and many
have a wide variety in large numbers. But Rochester, N.Y.
undoubtedly is the Lilac Capital of the World. It's love for
Lilacs dates back to 1892 when Highland Park horticulturalist
John Dunbar planted 20 varieties on the sunny southern slopes
of the park. Highland Park in Rochester is the scene of an
annual, two week long Lilac Festival ,with over a half a million
people attending the event each year. This park has over 500
varieties of lilacs and more than 1200 lilac bushes in the
parks' 155 acres.
In addition, many homes and parks in the Rochester area have
one or more lilac bushes. If you take a ride along many of
the Finger Lakes, you will find thousands of them along the
roadside and the sweet smell will come right through your
open window.
Cornwall in Ontario, Canada boasts the "City of Lilacs"
and rivals Rochester,NY in size of their collection.
Rochester, New Hampshire also calls themselves the "Lilac
City". Lilacs are the state flower.
Did You Know? There are over 1,000 varieties of Lilacs. They
come in several colors, with the most popular being the color
lilac and purple. White and pink are also popular. They also
vary widely in size from the small 4 to 8 feet to types those
growing up to 30 feet. So there is a variety perfect for your
needs. |
Lily
of the Valley
 In
the Victorian classic, The Language of Flowers, the Lily of
the Valley is said to symbolize the return of happiness. Named
for its native habitat (the Latin word "convallis"
means enclosed valley), our Lily of the Valley is harvested
along the beautiful coastline of Santa Barbara, California.
Though lily of the valley bears dozens of blossoms, it can only
last for less than a week. With bell-shaped flowers that infuse
the air with fragrance throughout the day, it is the perfect
addition to your bedside table or bathroom counter. Recommended Lily of the Valley Products
The Flower Expert recommends the following popular Lily of
the Valley for gifting online.
Quick Care for your flowers
Upon receiving your flower shipment, open the box as soon
as possible and place your new flowers in a cool place. Your
flowers will respond best to temperatures between 50 and 60
degrees F. If you should find your flowers slightly wilted
around the outer petals, it is simply due to a lack of water
while in transit to your home.
Preparation
Choose an appropriate clean vase and fill it with fresh, room
temperature water. Add the included cut-flower food to the
water. All various exotic flowers shipped from Beautiful Orchids
include a packet of cut-flower food. Remove any foliage that
will be below the level of water in your vase. This will help
discourage bacteria growth and increase the life expectancy
of your loving flowers.
Submersion
Fill a sink or bowl with water, the container should be large
enough to thoroughly wet the stems while keeping you dry.
Fully submerge the stem ends underwater and cut them at a
45-degree angle using a sharp knife, pruner or scissors. Flower
stems can be cut to varying lengths, depending on the type
and height of the vase in which you have chosen to showcase
them. Cutting your flowers' stems at a 45-degree angle will
ensure that they have plenty of surface area to absorb water
and that they don't sit flat on the bottom of the vase. |
Lily
of the Valley
In
the Victorian classic, The Language of Flowers, the Lily of
the Valley is said to symbolize the return of happiness. Named
for its native habitat (the Latin word "convallis"
means enclosed valley), our Lily of the Valley is harvested
along the beautiful coastline of Santa Barbara, California.
Though lily of the valley bears dozens of blossoms, it can only
last for less than a week. With bell-shaped flowers that infuse
the air with fragrance throughout the day, it is the perfect
addition to your bedside table or bathroom counter.
Recommended Lily of the Valley Products
The Flower Expert recommends the following popular Lily of
the Valley for gifting online.
Quick Care for your flowers
Upon receiving your flower shipment, open the box as soon
as possible and place your new flowers in a cool place. Your
flowers will respond best to temperatures between 50 and 60
degrees F. If you should find your flowers slightly wilted
around the outer petals, it is simply due to a lack of water
while in transit to your home.
Preparation
Choose an appropriate clean vase and fill it with fresh, room
temperature water. Add the included cut-flower food to the
water. All various exotic flowers shipped from Beautiful Orchids
include a packet of cut-flower food. Remove any foliage that
will be below the level of water in your vase. This will help
discourage bacteria growth and increase the life expectancy
of your loving flowers.
Submersion
Fill a sink or bowl with water, the container should be large
enough to thoroughly wet the stems while keeping you dry.
Fully submerge the stem ends underwater and cut them at a
45-degree angle using a sharp knife, pruner or scissors. Flower
stems can be cut to varying lengths, depending on the type
and height of the vase in which you have chosen to showcase
them. Cutting your flowers' stems at a 45-degree angle will
ensure that they have plenty of surface area to absorb water
and that they don't sit flat on the bottom of the vase.
Oriental Lily
 Asiatic
and Oriental lilies are grown extensively outdoors for
cut-flower production in the United States and Canada.
All bulbs used for cut-flower production are grown in
The Netherlands, New Zealand, or the Northwestern United
States.
Lily bulbs have a solid basal plate that produces roots
from its bottom and a concentric series of tight-to-loose,
fleshy, overlapping scales of varying width from its
top. Mature bulbs are 4 to 9 inches in circumference.
 Most lilies produce a single unbranched stem bearing
linear leaves in a whorled or random pattern. Some lilies
produce roots along the stem from the top of the bulb
to slightly above the soil surface. These roots assist
in supporting the plant and absorbing water and nutrients.
 Lilies bloom naturally from May to September in zones
9 to 4. Blooming time may be manipulated by staggering
the springtime planting of cold-stored bulbs or by selecting
a mix of both Asiatic and Oriental cultivars.
Lilies may bear a solitary flower or a multiflowered
umbel. Lily flowers appear in wide array of colors ranging
from white to yellow, pink, orange, and red. Many lilies
have flowers with secondary colors or speckled blooms.
The flowers may be borne erect, horizontal, or drooping,
and can be funnel-shaped to bell-shaped.
Lily flowers can be stored for 4 to 6 weeks after harvesting
and have a vase life of 7 to 14 days if harvested at
the right stage and given the proper treatment.
|
Tulips
are very popular to an extent that during the 17th century, most
of Europe, particularly
Holland, was gripped in a craze for Tulips as a result of which
many had to even
sell off their fortunes. It was popularly known as Tulipomania. |
Tulips
 Tulips
are one of the most popularspring flowers of all time, and the third
most popular flowers world-wide next only to the Rose and Chrysanthemum.
Tulips come in an incredible variety of colors, heights, and flower
shapes. Some Tulips are even fragrant.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilliopsida
Order
Liliales
Family
Liliaceae
Genus
Tulipa
The word Tulip is thought to be a corruption of the Turkish word
'tulbend' for turban. The Tulip was introduced by a famous Austrian
biologist Carolus Clusius. Tulips plants belong to the genus Tulipa,
in the lily family, Liliaceae. Tulips bloom on bulbous plants, with
large, showy flowers with six petals. There are around 100 species
of Tulips, which actually came from the Central Asia where they
grew wild. Turkish growers first cultivated tulips as early as 1,000
AD.
Facts about Tulips
• There are now over 3,000 different registered varieties
of cultivated Tulips.
• Every year billions of Tulips are cultivated, a majority
of which are grown and exported from Holland.
• Historically, Europe considered Tulips as the symbol of
the Ottoman Empire.
• Tulips grow wild over a great territory from Asia Minor
through Siberia to China.
• Tulips were first cultivated and hybridized by the Turks
of the Ottoman Empire.
• Tulips symbolise imagination, dreaminess, perfect lover,
and a declaration of love.
• Fresh out of onions? Use your Tulip bulbs instead! Tulip
bulbs are a good replacement for onions in cooking.
Classification of Tulips
The following classification of Tulips is based on the time of bloom.
Tulips can be divided into early, mid, and late season flowering
Tulips.
• Early Flowering Tulips:-These Tulips bloom in March and
early April. Early Flowering Tulips are Species Tulips, Kaufmanniana
(eg., Waterlily), Fosteriana (eg.,Red Emperor), Single Early(eg.,
Apricot Beauty ), Double Early, Greigii Tulips etc.
• Midseason Flowering Tulips:- These bloom in April and early
may. Eg., Triumph, Swan Wings Tulip, Darwin Hybrids, Parrot Tulips.
• Late Flowering Tulips:- These Tulips bloom in May. Eg.,
Single Late, Double Late, Viridiflora Tulips, Lily-Flowered, Fringed
Tulips, Rembrandt Tulips, Multi Flowering Tulips.
How to grow Tulips
Tulips are very easy to grow. Many people design an artistic, colorful
layout for the Tulip blooms.
• Select the location for planting.
• Prepare the soil by working it well, removing rocks, and
weeds.
• Mix in plenty of organic material and fertilizer.
• Special bulb formulas and bone meal work best.
• The Tulips will bloom in almost any soil, with a good drainage.
• When buying Tulip bulbs, select only the finest quality
bulbs. In general the bigger the bulb, the bigger the bloom.
• Follow the directions from the supplier for spacing and
depth. If no directions are included, plant the bulbs 6-8"
apart, and at a depth twice the diameter of the bulb.
• After the Tulips bloom, let the plant continue to grow until
it dies off. During the post bloom period, the plant sends energy
to the bulb to store for use next spring.
• Tulips require a period of cold while they are dormant and
resting between shows.
Care For Tulip Bulbs
Tulips are vivacious perennial plants, i.e, they lose their outer
parts but conserve the underground stems called bulbs.
• For the propagation of new Tulip bulbs one should cut them
and leave the stem and the leaves to dry off.
• Usually this should be done before the Tulips dry off, approximately
some three weeks after blooming.
• After a month and a half of having cut the Tulip flowers,
extract the bulbs and conserve in a cold, dry place.
• A high temperature can ruin the Tulip bulb or result in
poor quality in new plants. (These conditions are applicable to
both types of cultivations, either in soil or in hydroponics).
|
Heliconias
are one of the most colorful and beautiful flowers, the colors of
which are an important
source of attraction for the forest hummingbirds,
pollinating the flowers. |
Heliconia
 Heliconia,
also popularly known as lobster-claw, wild plantain or false bird-of-paradise,
is a beautiful flower with multi-color bracts and varied flower
structure. Heliconias are native to the tropical Americas and the
Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Heliconia, formerly included
in the family Musaceae, is now the only genus under Heliconiaceae.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Family
Heliconiaceae
Genus
Heliconia
Heliconia are grown for their beautiful, brilliant colorful flowering
bracts. Breathtaking and unusual flowerheads (bracts) rise from
clumps of banana like leaves, sometimes very large or slender.
Heliconia flowers are actually highly modified leaves and bracts.
The flowering stems are mostly pendulous. A bract is a leaf structure
at the base of a flower. Heliconia flowers are produced on long,
erect or drooping panicles, and consist of brightly colored waxy
bracts, with small true flowers inside the bracts. Bracts which
can be orange, purple, red, yellow, pink, green or their combinations.
Facts About Heliconia
• Heliconia is named after Mount Helicon, the seat of the
Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology.
• The Heliconia's bracts are so large and colorful that they
almost hide the flowers altogether. This keeps the flower's sweet
nectar from other birds so that only specialized birds can get to
it.
• Heliconia has oblong leaves growing opposite one another
on nonwoody stems, often forming large clumps with age.
• Heliconias are grown as landscape plants.
• Heliconis grow to a height of 3-30 feet in height.
• There are some species of Heliconia which have upright facing
flowers.
• Some heliconia flowers droop down from the main stem and
are called hanging heliconia.
• Some of the commonly grown heliconia species include garden
species include Heliconia Augusta, Heliconia bihai, Heliconia brasiliensis,
Heliconia caribaea, Heliconia latispatha, Heliconia pendula, Heliconia
psittacorum, Heliconia rostrata, Heliconia schiediana, and Heliconia
wagneriana.
Growing Heliconias
• Heliconias should be planted in a draining soil with the
top sticking out of the ground. Heliconias flourish well in loamy
soils rich in humus.
• Heliconias need sunlight, with temperature that does not
go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Plant rhizomes which may or may not have a young shoot.
• Cut back the old shoot to about 6 inches before planting.
• The eyes or buds, present in the heliconia rhizome helps
to grow new shoots in about four weeks, while roots grow from the
rhizome.
• Heliconias need an abundance of water.
• Since Heliconias are heavy feeders, a soluble balanced or
granular time-release fertiliser can be used.
• Heliconia's blooming season is once to several times a year.
Heliconias plant care
• Heliconias need a lot of sun and heat, so put in sun or
brightly lit area or keep them under a sun lamp for extended periods.
• Remove any dead leaves and stems.
• Mulching is necessary as it retains moisture around root
zone, and controls the weeds.
• Place a slow release fertilizer directly into the planting
hole.
• Overwatering may cause the roots to rot.
|
Musas
 Musa,
commonly called as banana, is one of three genera in the family
Musaceae. Musaceae contains bananas and plantains. There are numerous
other vernacular names, given according to geographical region,
for Bananas/Plaintains. These musas are one of the popular exotic
flowers. Edible bananas have originated from Indo-Malaysian region
reaching to northern Australia.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Family
Musaceae
Genus
Musa
The flower stalks of Musas arise from the top of the pseudostem.
Flower stalks of Musas are either erect or pendulous, comprising
of numerous unisexual flowers borne within colorful broad bracts.
The musas species flowers towards the ends of the spikes are male
and those toward the base are female.
There is a no clear distinction between Bananas/Plaintains. In popular
belief, banana usually refers to the soft, sweet dessert bananas
that are usually eaten raw, the bananas from a group of cultivars
with firmer, starchier fruit, generally used in cooking rather than
eaten raw, are called as plantains.
The inflorescence of musas is a large, long-oval, tapering, purple-clad
bud at the terminal spike. As the inflorescence opens there white
flowers in clusters, which are nectar rich, and toothed. Each inflorescence
is covered by a thick, waxy, hoodlike bract, purple outside, deep-red
within. There are 3 types of flowers, female(occupy lower rows),
neutral(above rows), and male flowers(occupy upper rows).
As the young musa fruits develop from the female flowers, they look
like slender green fingers. The bracts are soon shed and the fully
grown fruits in each cluster become a hand of bananas, and the stalk
droops with the weight until the bunch is upside down. The number
of hands varies with the species and variety.
Facts About Musas species
• The name Musas is in honor of Antonio Musa, a physician
during, Octavius Augustus times.
• There are spirally arranged leaves which have huge paddle-shaped
leaf blades.
• The wild types in musas contain many seeds whereas the cultivated
varieties of the common banana are seedless.
• The edible bananas are the hybrids between Musa acuminata
and Musa balbisiana.
• The genus Musas was classified before into five sections:
Ingentimusa, Australimusa, Callimusa, Musa and Rhodochlamys, but
recently have been reduced to three.
Growing Musas species
• Propagation of bananas is done with rhizomes known suckers
or pupor.
• True bananas, require full sun or partial shade.
• Plants can be spaced about 10-25 feet apart.
• regularl watering promotes rapid growth in musas.
• Very small pups are called buttons. Large suckers are large
called as planting material.
• When the plant is 3 feet tall, they can be removed from
clumps with a spade, during warm months.
• Pups should not be taken until a clump has at least three
to four large plants to anchor it.
• Bananas will bloom between one to five years after planting
ased on the cultivar.
Caring for Musas
• Prune the musas such that only one primary stem is allowed
to fruit. Excess shoots should be removed.
• When the main stalk is 6-8 months old, allow one sucker
to develop as a replacement stalk for the following season.
• After the fruit harvest, cut the fruiting stalk to 30 inches
above the ground.
• Remove the stub, the stalk can be cut into small pieces
and used as mulch.
• Banana leaves should be protected from wind so the leaves
don't shred.
|
Calatheas
are the most gorgeous flowers of the Marantaceae family. Besides
the lovely
colorful flowers, the foliage of Calatheas is also very attractive,
coming in varied shapes and patterns. </td>
|
Calatheas
 The
blue and white Calathea flower looks like a small vertical football
of glacial ice. Calatheas are one of the easy to grow tropical flowers.
Calathea flowers are pollinated mainly by bees and other bugs. Hummingbirds
eat the Calthea fruit and disperse the seeds around the forest.
Calathea flowers bracts come in various shapes - from Listening
Beehive shape flower bracts to Rattlesnake Tail shape.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Family
Marantaceae
Genus
Calathea
All Calatheas belong to the maranta family-Marantaceae. Calathea
genus includes about twenty five species. Calathea are native to
tropical Americas. Many Calathea species are popular house plants,
and commonly called Prayer Plants or Zebra Plants. Typically tropical,
Calathea need heat and humidity and shade from direct sunlight.
Each night, Calthea Prayer Plants leaves fold together upwards,
mimicking human hands folded in prayer! Calathea leaves are pleated
ovate and dark green.
Calathea insignis, also called Rattlesnake Plant, has tapering,
narrow, erect foliage, yellow green with lateral ovals, alternately
large and small, with maroon underside. Calathea makoyana, Peacock
plant, comes with oval shaped leaves with opaque, olive green lines
and oval areas alternately short and long, in a translucent field
of yellow green. The underside of the leaf is purple red color.
Calathea roseo-picta grows elliptical leaves, in a dark green upper
surfaceand purple underside, red midrib, and a red zone fading to
pink near the margin. Dark green Calathea louisae leaves are broadly
ovate, with light green splotches along the midrib and have a purple
underside.
Facts About Calatheas
• Calathea is generally believed to have been first introduced
to Hawaii in the early 1970's. Most Calatheas are native to the
dim-lit South American rain forest surfaces.
• The most commonly available Calatheas for indoor gardens
are Calathea insignis - Rattlesnake Plant, Calatheas makoyana -
Peacock Plant, and Calatheas zebrina - Zebra Plant.
• Calathea is usually confused with and closely related to
the species Ctenanthe, Maranta and Stromanthe.
• Calatheas' lovely striped leaves have burgundy undersides,
sold sometimes as Sromanthe amabilis or Ctenanthe amabilis.
• Calatheas are produced by divisions or tip cuttings, with
nodes to form the roots. Mist and reduced light are important during
the early stages of propagation.
• Calatheas are ideal for removing toxins from the air, caused
by cleaning products, modern furnishings that are made of synthetic
materials and so on.
Growing Calatheas
• Keep Calathea in bright indirect light.
• Calatheas actively grow from march to october when the soil
is moist.
• During winter allow the top soil to dry between waterings.
• The ideal temperatures are 60-70 degrees farehheit.
• Feed Calatheas once every two weeks.
• Repot during late spring when the plant becomes crowdy in
its containers.
Calatheas Plant Care
• Calathea do tolerate a wide temperature range and do well
indoors so far as a high degree of humidity is given.
• Calathea show brown edges on the leaves if the air is too
dry.
• Humidifiers or pebble trays can be used to maintain humidity
around Calathea.
• Calthea thrive in water controlled containers.
• Caterpillars, mealybugs, mites, and scales are the major
arthropod pests of Calathea. |
Gingers 
Gingers
are one of the most beautiful and colorful flowers in the world
of flowers. Botanically, Ginger is a rhizome of the perennial herb
which is indigenous to the South west coast of India and the Malabar
coast of the state of Kerala. Gingers, a multifaceted herb,enjoy
a special position in the botanical kingdom with their elegance
in form, texture, sparkling color, and amazing symmetry. The word
ginger conjures up images of an exotic oriental food flavoring;
however, edible ginger - Zingiber officinale, is only one of approximately
1,300 species of the very diverse Zingiberaceae family.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Zingiber
Facts About Gingers
• The English word ginger is derived from Dravidian - akin
to Tamil.
• Ginger has been cultivated for so long that its exact origin
is unclear. Gingers are cultivated for millennia in both China and
India, it reached the West at least two thousand years ago.
• Ginger is grown throughout the tropical areas of the world.
The most expensive and highest quality varieties generally come
from Australia.
• Fingerroot - Boesenbergia rotunda, also known as Chinese
ginger, is a medicinal and culinary herb from China and Southeast
Asia.
Medicinal and Other uses of Gingers
• The aromatic oils of many are used in making condiments,
perfumes, and medicines, especially stimulants and preparations
to ease stomach distress.
• Ginger is used for Colds and coughs, Headaches Colon and
stomach spasms, Morning sickness, Constipation, Nausea, Indigestion,
Sinus congestion, Gas or flatulence.
• Ginger, is crucial in the battle against cardiovascular
health. The volatile oils of the versatile ginger plant are responsible
for its active medicinal properties as well as for its pungent odor
and taste, commonly found in Asian or Indian cooking.
• For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine has valued ginger
as a tonic for digestion.
• Gingerols, the main compound in ginger is valued for its
therapeutic properties.
• Ginger is an aromatic stimulant that improves digestion
and appetite, aids absorption and distribution of nutrients and
medicines into the body, powerful natural anti-emetic for morning,
motion and postanesthesia sickness and reduces the side effects
of drugs.
Growing Gingers
• Make sure you get ginger roots which already have some new
buds cropping out.
• The look like little fresh outcrops.
• The root sticks out of the soil and needs very little water,
or else it will rot.
• You can speed the process up by planting the root to a shallow
depth in a small pot, then covering the pot with a plastic bag and
placing it on a sunny windowsill.
• When you notice the first shoots, remove the plastic bag.
• You can plant in the garden at this point, or leave in a
pot.
• Place it in a location that gets indirect sunlight and give
it water regularly.
• Given proper growing conditions, the stems will reach two
to four feet tall with narrow, glossy green leaves that can get
up to a foot long.
Ginger Care
• Most gingers prefer bright, indirect light or filtered sun.
• During the growing season gingers all need to be kept consistently
moist, but not standing in water.
• Since they are from tropical areas they appreciate tropical
temperatures between 70 degrees and 80 degrees F.
• Most gingers prefer moderate to high humidity.
• Throughout the growing season feed them once a month with
a balanced water soluble fertilizer.
Palms
The individual palm flowers are usually small greenish and insignificant.
Palm flowers are borne on simple or branching spikes, very generally
protected by a spathe or spathes. Palms
|
Did
you know?The largest orchid is generally agreed to be Grammatophyllum
speciosum.
It can weigh up to 2,000 pounds or 900 kilograms and is reputed
to produce up to
10,000 flowers on a mature plant in nature. |
Orchids
 The
Orchids are one of the most exquisite and fascinating flowers in
the world. In fact, so fascinated is the world with the Orchids
that many countries have adopted different varieties of orchids
as their respective National Flowers. Orchids are proliferated across
most countries. The orchid flowers are especially prolific in the
tropics, where the majority of the species grow on the trunks and
branches of trees. In the temperate zones, such as southern Australia,
most Orchids grow on the ground.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Family
Orchidaceae
No flowering plant has captured the attention of humans, or stirred
their passions, in quite the way that Orchids have. In the past,
Orchids have been hunted and collected in almost every part of the
world. Today, millions of people remain devoted to the plant and
its exotically beautiful "faces." The human fascination
with these strangely compelling flowers is often refered to as Obsession
with Orchids.
In 1735, Carl Von Lin (Linnaeus), a Swedish botanist, used the word
Orchidaceae (taken from Orkhis), which led to further discoveries
carried on by Darwin. Orchids belong the the family Orchidaceae.
There are 2 different growth types of Orchids. Generally Orchids
are divided into Monopodial, Sympodial varieties. Monopodial Orchids
have a central stem of growth.
Monopodial Orchids have no pseudobulbs,
but produce new growth from the crown of the plant. Flowers are
produced from the stem between the leaves, usually alternately from
side to side.
Sympodial Orchids possess a rhizome, which sends out a shoot. This
develops into a stem and leaves and eventually produces flowers.
Later, from the base of this growth, a new shoot develops and goes
on. The buds are often protected by a sheath.
Categories in Orchids
Depending on their growth habits, Orchids are generally divided
into three main categories-
• Epiphytic Orchids are grown perched high in the trees clinging
to branches or in the trunk apex of the tree. They derive their
nutrients from the air, rain, and any decaying vegetation, which
the roots can contact. Epiphytic Orchids have specialised aerial
roots, which have a white spongy layer of cells called velamen.
This protects the inner root tissues and absorbs water. These roots
will also often dangle free in the atmosphere.
• Lithophytic Orchids are seen covering the bases and forks
of trees or filling crevices in rocks, and absorb a maximum supply
of nutrients from decaying mosses.
• Terrestrial Orchids are seen under the ground, having a
symbiotic relation with a special fungus, which in turn supports
the orchid with the essential nutrients.
Orchids make up the world's most diverse plant family with the number
of species estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 in over 800
genera.
Orchids are broadly constituted into five
Sub-Families-
1. Cypripedioideae
2. Epidendroideae
3. Neottiodeae
4. Orchidoideae
5. Vandoideae
Facts About Orchids
• Orchids have the largest variety of flowering plants with
an estimated of 20,000 to 30,000 naturally occurring species .
• Orchids are seen growing in all the continents except Antarctica.
• In 1856, the first man made Orchid was cultivated.
• There are 2 species of Orchids growing in Australia and
3 species in the Arctic circle, growing underground plants with
their flowers shooting up above the soil.
• In order to achieve pollination, some Orchids of the genus
Ophrys (called bee Orchids) bear flowers resembling female insects
in appearance and smell. Male insects are attracted to the flowers
and attempt to mate with them, thus pollinating the flowers.
• The bloom time or the life of an Orchid depends upon the
type of Orchid in bloom.
• Phalaenopsis are among the easiest and most rewarding Orchids
to grow.
• The Orchid genus, Vanilla, is commercially important, and
is used as a foodstuff in flavoring as the vanilla essence.
• Orchids are among the most highly prized of ornamental plants.
General Flower Structure of An Orchid
• There are many variations in the structure and the color
of an Orchid flower. Some Orchids have one flower on a stem, and
other Orchids have more than a hundred together on a single spike.
In color variations, African Orchids are white, while Asian orchids
are often multicolored.
• A typical orchid flower is zygomorphic, i.e., bilaterally
symmetric, with exceptions like the genera Mormodes, Ludisia and
Macodes. The Orchid flowers growing on racemes or panicles can be:
basal i.e. produced from the base of the pseudobulb, as in the Cymbidium;
apical i.e., produced from the apex of the orchid, as in Cattleya;
or axillary i.e., coming from a node between the leaf axil and the
plant axis as in Vanda.
• The basic Orchid flower is composed of three sepals in the
outer whorl, and three petals in the inner whorl. The medial petal
is usually modified and enlarged (then called the labellum or lip),
forming a platform for pollinators near the center of the corolla.
Together, except the lip, they are called tepals. Sepals form the
exterior of the bud. They are green in this stage, but sometimes,
if the Orchid blossom is, for example, Purple, the buds can show
a purple tint.
• The reproductive organs of an Orchid are in the center (stamens
and pistil), and have adapted to become a cylindrical structure
called the column or gynandrium. On top of the column lies the stigma,
the vestiges of stamens and the pollinia, a mass of waxy pollen
on filaments. These filaments can be a caudicle (as in Habenaria)
or a stipe (as in Vanda). These filaments hold the pollinia to the
viscidium (sticky pad).
• The pollen are held together by the alkaloid viscine. This
viscidium adheres to the body of a visiting insect. The type of
pollinia is useful in determining the genus. On top of the pollinia
is the anther cap, preventing self-pollination. At the upper edge
of the stigma of single-anthered orchids, in front of the anther
cap, is the rostellum, a slender beaklike extension.
• The Orchid ovary is always inferior (located behind the
flower), three-carpelate and one or three-partitioned, with parietal
placentation with few exceptions. If pollination succeeds, the sepals
and petals fade and wilt but they remain attached to the ovary
.
|
| Lotus
is a sacred flower for Hindus and Budhists. It is symbolically equal
to the Budha for Budhists |
Lotus
Flowers 
The
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) symbolizes purity, beauty, majesty, grace,
fertility, wealth, richness, knowledge and serenity. The Pink Lotus
is the National Flower of India. Nelumbo nucifera is known by a
number of common names, including Sacred lotus, Indian lotus and
Sacred water-lily.
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Proteales
Family
Nelumbonaceae
Genus
Nelumbo
Lotuses are found in white and pink colors in general and they grow
in shallow and murky waters. Lotus flowers enjoy warm sunlight and
are intolerant to cold weather. This is why, the Lotus is not seen
blossoming in the winter. The floating leaves and Lotus flowers
have long stems, which contain air spaces to maintain the buoyancy.
The Lotus is native to Asia and flourishes in a wide range of climates
from India to China.
The Lotus plant is an aquatic perennial, native to southern Asia
and Australia, and most commonly cultivated in water gardens. The
plant has its roots firmly in the mud and sends out long stems to
which their leaves are attached. The leaves are sometimes, and Lotus
flowers always, raised above the water surface. The beautiful and
fragrant Lotus flower opens in the morning and petals fall in the
afternoon.
Facts About Lotus Flowers
• The Lotus is a sacred flower for Buddhists.
• The Lotus flower is quoted exstensively 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.
• 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 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 degree
• At this time, plant your Lotuses in larger containers without
drainage holes.
• Lotuses started from seeds will probably not bloom 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.
• Late in the 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
in 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.
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