Nymphaea lotus

Nymphaea lotus is a tropical waterlily that is widespread in Africa. Forms with splendid red-brown spotted and striped underwater leaves, also known as Nymphaea zenkeri, have long been introduced from West Africa and are the most popular aquarium water lilies in the aquarium hobby as ‘tiger lotus’. The leaves and roots sprout from a tuberous rhizome. Although the tiger lotus also forms floating leaves typical of water lilies, it can be kept submerged in the aquarium. It quickly grows into a solitary plant up to approx. 50 cm high and wide and therefore needs plenty of space.
There are forms with different basic colouring of the underwater leaves. More red-leaved plants are differentiated from green tiger lotus as red tiger lotus. However, many tiger lotus plants in the trade are intermediate forms with different reddish to rather green tones and cannot be clearly assigned to one of the two ‘varieties’. The red colouring is also influenced by the light intensity.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer our Nymphaea lotus plants selected by colour form. They show different shades of red and green.
Nymphaea lotus is a night-blooming waterlily species and can also flower in the aquarium, especially if the plant has developed floating leaves. The beautiful white, fragrant flowers rise above the water level and are open in the evening until the morning.

The Tiger lotus has no special demands, but should be planted in a free, well-lit place. Nutrient-rich substrate is very beneficial for its growth, but vigorously growing plants tend to develop long-stalked floating leaves, blocking out the light. To prevent this, long stalked leaves should be removed as soon as possible. However, if the plant is allowed to grow with floating leaves, one can expect ist flowers. Temperatures between 22 and 28 °C are optimal.
It may happen sometimes that the plant sheds all leaves. One or several tubers remain in the substrate. When they are solid tot he touch, they are still alive and may sprout again after some time.
Tiger lotus is often sold as a leafless or just sprouting tuber. They are only placed deep enough in the substrate for the bud or sprout to protrude slightly from the soil. When sprouting, a short shoot appears with a rooted leaf rosette developing at the top. This young plantlet breaks off from the mother tuber easily but is already viable and can grow independently. It develops a tuber for itself during growth. The old mother tuber may produce further shoots when it is still alive.

We offer Nymphaea lotus as potted plant with leaves and as tuber. The delivered tuber may be totally leafless or more or less sprouted. For transport reasons, we deliver the tuber in a pot with rockwool.