Wilted Lotus

Dormancy

• While many types of plants lose their leaves over winter, the lotus turn yellow and looks wilted during the dormant season. This is a natural occurrence and no reason for alarm. During this phase, the exposed area of the plant remains yellow and wilted until the new leaf buds begin appearing in the spring. Depending on climate, and the water and soil temperature, this period lasts from five to eight months.

Lighting Considerations

• Lotus plants require adequate light to grow healthy, green stalks and vibrant blossoms. They need at least six hours of sunlight to survive, and full sun exposure to bloom. Transplant wilted lotus plants growing in shaded areas near large shrubs or under overhead canopies, moving them into submerged areas with adequate light. Place them at a level in the water that provides between 4 and 10 inches of water over the underground roots.

Nutrients

• Lotus plants receive nutrients from the soil beneath the water. Like other flowering plants and perennials, regular fertilization helps guard against nutritional deficiencies in the soil. Getting the nutrients into the soil near the roots involves more than just scattering plant food over the water's surface. Fertilizers designed specifically for aquatic plants generally come in solid tablets or capsules you push into the soil near the plants' submerged roots.

Crowding

• Overcrowding leads to substandard growth and wilting. These plants spread by forming new underground tubers. As with lilies and iris, dividing the underground root systems ensures adequate space for proper growth and helps eliminate crowding. The best time to dig and divide lotus tubers is during the dormant season.