Nelumbo nucifera

Flower Color: Red
Plant Height: Tall, 48” and taller
Flower Type: Multi-petal, more than 50 petals
Pot Size: 18” and wider, 10”-18” deep

Bud is almost black red!

Insular Dark Dye has a deep, dark maroon flower. The bud is fat and round and opens layer by layer to form a nice long-lasting flower. The dark red color is accented by a golden receptacle surrounded by red stamen. Enlarge the picture and check out the unusual formation of the stamen. 

How do I fertilize lotus? When do I begin to fertilize lotus?

Wait until the lotus plant has several floating leaves or begins to put up aerial leaves before adding fertilizer. Choose a good fertilizer such as Pondtabbs or Landon’s Aquatic Fertilizer and follow the instructions carefully. The amount of fertilizer to use is usually based on the size of the pot and the amount of soil in the pot. For example, most of the small tablets are added at a ratio of 1-2 tablets per gallon of soil in the pot. Once the lotus has started to grow vigorously tablets can be added every 2-3 weeks. Stop fertilizing in late summer to allow the lotus to use up all the fertilizer in the pot before going dormant. This encourages the lotus to form better rhizomes.