How I Grow Lotus In A Barrel...For Lorenzo

[Jerry]

Thanks Joyce for "Following" me here.? it is my good luck.
I bought a neat looking pot today for lotus.? I will post a photo soon.
I think it's about 3 gallons. Can I use any lotus, or would a small variety be best?? I think I just answered my own question.

[tranquility]

Sounds like you do enjoy them...Great job on your winnings and hope you do as well with showing your koi.....
Lawanna

[frloplady]

Mini Lops, Mini Rex, a couple of satins, Silver Fox, 1 standard rex and a couple of New Zealands.  Just had 4 litters in the last 2 days and 2 more does that should have kids by morning.

I have been showing them since 1989.  I was #1 in the state club sweepstakes a couple of years ago.  Usually I'm still in the top 5 every year.   I will continue to show as long as it's fun..and it's still fun!!

Can't wait to make a few shows with my koi this year.  I have 2 shows "scheduled" at least in my mind.  I just like the competition 

[tranquility]

LOL..Mary what other breeds beside French lop do you breed....I got out of them right before I started ponding...We used to show them too.....I enjoyed it ...but, hated going out feeding and watering in sleet, snow and the rain...I wasn't fortunate enough to have them in a barn.....We sold all of them but, our original ones and  they died long ago.....I miss them at times...but, reality sets in and I remember what pains they could be.....at one time we had about a dozen tame rabbits that ran loose in the neighborhood...all the neighbors would feed them and a couple of them fought over them because they wanted to lay claim to the same rabbit....it was funny......I didn't have the heart to kill culls so we let them loose...at that time we had no dogs around and the neighborhood cats didn't bother them either.
Lawanna

[frloplady]

Can scoop rabbit from under the cage and into the garden..but we have just a bit of it so it goes into a pile first.  Have a small spreader that hooks behind the tractor that we use in spring to put it out in the garden.  Now wish I had a bigger spreader..it's a BIG pile of manure. 

Lawanna I think I have you beat... I usually have over 200 in the barn =:>

Mary

[tranquility]

Bonnie,
Nope it is a cool manure....and great for any plant....At one time we had 150 rabbits and people would come and shovel it by the truck load for their gardens....great stuff....and it don't stink like cow manure either....their pee is totally different though...it will take strip paint and bleach out clothes  some strong stuff.....
Lawanna

[Bonnie]

DD has a dwarf bunny so I might just have to try this but I definately will keep it out of my pond.
I was always afraid it might be too strong and burn the plant.

[Swimming Jewel]

Sushi, as long as it doesn't get bone dry it'll be OK.?
Mine are in my unheated garage (which doesn't freeze) in their barrels, with 1-2" of water over the soil.

[sushi]

I hope I didn't make a lotus mistake    Joyce sent me one last year and it did well, but no bloom.  At the end of the season I put it in the basement.  Are you supposed to keep water over it in the basement or let it dry out? I hope it's not dead.  It's damp, but not swimming.  When is it OK to put back outside?  I'm dying for one of those beautiful blooms 

[tranquility]

when we raised rabbits I planted my lilies in plain 100% rabbit manure...turned the water green but, My lilies were huge and gorgeous...so if they are in barrel..go for it...you will be amazed
Lawanna

[Swimming Jewel]

Mikey, when I was at the NY Botanical Gardens I saw some horribly mislabeled plants.

Jessica, I have not been able to find my most favorite brand of composted cow manure for over 2 years, since the Mad Cow disease scare.
Tried a few other brands, but they were not as good.

You are welcome melsva! Good luck with your lotus!

Thanks Kaz, actually our drive winds around the front of our house, and you can see it in the pix.
The main road is way out front, past a side walk.

frloplady, I have heard rabbit poop is THE BEST for all gardens, and makes an EXCELLENT mulch. I have been sorely tempted to get a couple rabbits because out in the big old barn behind our house is a BIG rabbit hutch, really nice and 'Victorian' style, not too old. Would easily hold a few rabbits. Doesn't look too used, except for some pigeon poop on the top from the rafters.
Please try some mixed in with your lotus and water lily soil to see what happens. I would LOVE you to tell me how it works later this year.

ThanksTinkster! Plain old compost will work too.

[tinkster]

I certainly hope you dont stop sharing your advice!  I for one would rather NOT have to learn the hard way and just  read your tips and have a perfectly good FIRST year with my very FIRST lotus ...  I also think its good in other ways..... when I first joined all the pond forums reading around early last year I almost ditched my idea of a new bigger pond because I found all these have to do this and have to do that and I couldnd DO this or That.. it wasnt a option.... then I found AWG which already backed up what I knew from my little pond and now I have a big one .... .. so you guys with the info keep sharing please.. ya never know who might read it and how it might help.

I am not sure where I am going to find Cow manure although I have tons of horse but not sure how "decayed" it is.. me and my dad forked it from a barn last year and it was steaming... think the pile was close to combustion.  anybody know a good time to let the stuff age?

tink

[frloplady]

Can I use composted rabbit instead of cow??    It isn't a hot manure like steer manure or chicken..and I have LOTS of it around here

I'm going to try this...I have taken over the title of lotus killer, but I think I was overfertizing too!!

[kaz]

Joyce... you have a very pretty frontage (house/road).

[melsva]

Lotus looks amazing....
I`ll try to grow it in a barrel too this year.
I`ve ordered  Momo Botan and First lady from Poland already and can`t wait till spring. 
Thanks Swimming Jewel for an experience!