How to grow lotus in your terrace or balcony garden: Simple step by step guide for beginners

Growing lotus at home feels like bringing a slice of ancient Asia right to your balcony or pond; those pretty pink blooms bloom in muddy waters but are pure symbols of purity and calm.

Although the lotus originally belongs to warm puddles across India and beyond, its sacred nature has wowed cultures for millennia as a symbol of resilience, dying in winter only to bloom again in the coming spring.

Although growing them can seem difficult, with some careful steps and regular care, lotus can also grow in pots. Perfect for terrace gardens or aquariums, they also purify water!

Here are some simple steps to grow Lotus on a balcony and a terrace, take a look:

Take a big pot around 24" wide, 12" deep, with no drain holes, lotus seeds, clay-rich soil or pond mud, and spread a 3-5" layer on the base, sand, a sharp knife, a small cup, and warm water.

Place in a place that gets sunlight for about 6+ hours and temperatures of 75-87°F are the most important aspects for the right growth.

Lotus seeds have rock-hard coats for dormancy. Begin by filing or nicking one end gently till creamy white shows, but beware, don't cut too deep. Soak in warm water in a sunny windowsill cup. Change water daily if cloudy. Sprouts appear in 3-7 days as green tips.

Once sprouted with at least 4" stems, move them to a shallow bowl with 2" of warm water over 1-2" of soil mix. Let the roots grab the soil; the first leaves will pop up soon. Change water often. When leaves become hand-sized and tubers are strong at around 2-3 weeks, they are ready for the pot. The process is all about patience.

Put 3-5 inches of clay soil and sand mix at the bottom of the pot. Gently push the tuber 2 inches deep into the soil. Add warm water to just cover the leaves slightly. As leaves grow tall, even those sticking above the water, slowly add more water until it's 6-8 inches deep. Top up daily to account for evaporation. Add fertiliser once a month during the growing time.

In the first year, give it lots of sun and warmth, and cover it if needed to stop algae. Trim off dead leaves. Pink, sweet-smelling flowers appear in the second year. For winter, keep the tubers in the pot under water or mud. Split them in the spring to grow more plants. In India, monsoons help them grow big, and enjoy your lotus peace.