# How to Grow Tiger Lotus
The tiger lotus or Nymphaea lotus (zenkeri) is a type of water lily that grows in aquariums. It is visually interesting because of its bright red/rust and green color. The native African tiger lotus grows more than 24 inches tall and twice as wide. In your fish tank, the plant will dominate. The leaves are large and heart-shaped, with dark spotting and speckling. Some of the leaves grow underwater and others reach for the water surface. The tiger lotus also develops a pretty white bloom with a yellow center, similar to that of hardy water lilies.
Things You'll Need
- Soil
- Planting containers
- Pea gravel
- Water
- Bricks or pots
- Fertilizer
Instructions
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1
Plant tiger lotus in a pond that gets moderate to intense light. The plant needs a nutrient-rich substrate and good lighting to develop into a stout plant.
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2
Fill the planting container two-thirds with damp soil. Handle the tiger lotus rhizome gently because it is brittle and can become damaged. Place it at the center of the pot.
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3
Cover the lotus rhizome with about 2 to 4 inches of soil. Keep the tip of the rhizome above the soil.
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4
Pot tiger lotus plants if you're able to buy them as developed specimens. Fill the pot with some soil, center the plant, and cover the roots with soil.
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5
Cover the soil with 1/2 to 3/4 inch of pea gravel. It will keep the soil from traveling into the water and clouding it. Add water to the pot carefully to settle the soil. Place the container into the pond.
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Put the container at a depth of 4 to 6 inches under water. Lotus can handle lower water temperatures of 50 F. Use bricks or upside-down pots as props to get the container at the correct depth.
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Fertilize tiger lotus with food with a ratio such as 5-10-5, 12-8-8 or 10-6-4. Apply 4 oz. per 1 cubic foot of soil. Mix it into the soil. Make applications once a month until August. Use tablet fertilizers for an easier method. Push them right into the soil.
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