As the crisp air of autumn settles in, it's time to turn our attention to preparing your aquatic plants for the winter months ahead. This crucial step in your water gardening journey not only ensures the survival of your beloved plants but also sets the stage for a vibrant resurgence come spring. At Tricker's, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that winter brings, and we're here to guide you with expert advice tailored to your specific plants.
Preparing your lotus plants for winter is essential to ensure their survival until the next growing season. Hardy lotus plants naturally enter a dormant phase during the colder months when temperatures drop, and daylight hours shorten. To protect your lotus, consider various methods based on your climate and available storage options. If you have a garden pond that doesn't freeze completely, you can simply remove any dead leaves and submerge the pot deep enough to prevent the plant from freezing, although many find that they don't need to lower the pot at all.
For those in milder climates, leaving the pot in place while keeping it filled with water can provide adequate insulation. If extreme weather is a concern, relocating the pot to a garage or basement is advisable; just remember to drain the water for easier transport and refill it once inside. Alternatively, you can dig a hole for the pot, cover it with cloth and mulch, and occasionally moisten the mulch to prevent the soil from drying out. As temperatures rise in early spring, you can remove the coverings to allow your lotus to thrive once again.
If you're short on storage space for your potted lotus, you can typically harvest the rhizomes in late fall or early winter and keep them until spring planting. To do this, carefully tip the pot upside down, allowing the contents to fall out while keeping the bottom side facing up. Rinse off the soil with a hose, and you should find several rhizomes that can be cut for future use. Each piece should have at least two growing tips and two swollen sections, so make your cuts in the middle of the third internode. After washing the rhizomes to remove any remaining soil, soak them in a solution of one tablespoon of Clorox mixed with a gallon of water for about an hour. Once soaked, store the tubers in a cool, dark place at temperatures between 40°F and 50°F until spring. You can either place them in a sealed Ziploc bag in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer or wrap them in damp sphagnum moss and keep them in a dark, unheated area, ensuring they remain cool but not frozen. Take care to avoid damaging the growing tips and prevent the rhizomes from drying out completely.
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