When adding plants to a freshwater aquarium, color and shape are important factors to consider when trying to achieve the most pleasing look. One plant that is both beautiful and relatively simple to maintain is Tiger Lotus or Nymphaea zenkeri. With its broad, wavy-edged leaves and variegated color pattern, it can bring a new and stunning aesthetic to your aquarium.
Tiger lotus is a bulb plant that has two types of leaves. The first type consists of completely submersed heart-shaped leaves that grow near the bulb, while the second type has floating leaves on long, thin stems resembling lily pads resting at the surface of the water.
How Do You Plant a Tiger Lotus Bulb?
To plant a tiger lotus, remove the bulb from its pot and gently rinse off any debris that may be on it. The lotus will grow large, so plant it in the midground or background of your fish tank. Push one-third of the bulb into the substrate so that its shoots or leaves are completely above ground. Do not bury the entire bulb or it will rot; wait for it to become waterlogged enough to sink. As its roots grow into the substrate, they will firmly anchor the bulb in place.
How Do You Grow a Tiger Lotus?
When your tiger lotus becomes well-established, it'll grow big leaves quickly, so make sure you feed it comprehensive fertilizers like Easy Green and Easy Root Tabs. To bring out the redness in the plant, provide medium to high lighting with some extra iron fertilizer.
How Do You Prune an Aquarium Lotus?
To trim the lotus plant, simply clip the lily pad at the base of its stem, closest to the bulb. You can also keep the plant from growing too tall by continuously pruning a few of its floating leaves, which allows it to grow out bushier rather than taller.
