Nymphaea lotus is a species of water lily with common names that include Tiger Lotus. One variety of this plant has red leaves, resulting in the name Red Tiger Lotus. Originally from southeast Asia, this popular aquarium plant produces lily pads that float on the water and flowers that grow above the surface of the water. Aquarium owners typically propagate this plant from its bulb. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose the largest available aquarium for the Red Tiger Lotus. This plant can grow quickly and the mature leaves can be up to 8 inches in length. Red Tiger Lotus can easily dominate smaller aquariums.
2. Place rich aquarium soil in the aquarium and fill it with water that has a neutral pH of about 7.0. These are the most favorable conditions for Red Tiger Lotus, although it can tolerate a relatively wide range of conditions.
3. Drop a Red Tiger Lotus bulb in the part of the aquarium where you want it to grow. The bulb will sink to the bottom and sprout roots that eventually bury themselves in the substrate. Do not bury the bulb in the substrate as this can cause it to rot.
4. Apply a liquid iron supplement according to the instructions. Red Tiger Lotus greatly benefits from additional iron in the water.
5. Provide moderate to intense artificial lighting to maximize the growth rate of Red Tiger Lotus. Metal halide lamps work well for this purpose.
6. Prune the Red Tiger Lotus leaves with scissors to control the plant's growth. This plant can produce flowers once the leaves begin growing on the surface, but many aquariums will not have room for the Red Tiger Lotus to bloom. A fully mature plant can fill a tank that has a volume of 60 gallons.
Tags: Tiger Lotus, this plant