Bulb detached from Red Tiger Lotus

[uklau]

Hi Happy New Year to everyone at AQ.

During WC I gently touched the bulb & it was detached from the parent plant .

It is now floating on the surface. What should I do with this bulb?

[bossteck]

Hi,

Happy New Year to everyone too.
Lau, when you say it was detached from the parent, does this mean that the parent plant also has a bulb, or what is left are just the leaves? From what I I know, lotus needs the tuber (bulb) to survive.. I would keep it floated till some roots and new leaf develop.

[uklau]

Thanks, Eric. That was the only bulb attached on the parent plant, which now left the plant with no bulb/tuber (I may use the wrong term). I think the plant is able to survive without the bulb because I have few baby plants, which are all growing well without the bulb. I guess only mature/adult plant, which makes sufficient "food" will have the bulb.

I'll leave the bulb floating & see if it produces a new baby plant. Will post the update.

[vinz]

The tuber is a food storage device. So without it, as long as photosynthesise or absorb enough nutrients, it'll survive. If I'm not wrong, the plant will grow a new tuber if it can produce excess food.

Actually, how can you tell that the main plant has no more tuber? Did you dig it up?

[uklau]

Vincent, it's my assumption that there is no tuber under the gravel. When I bought it, the LFS owner told me not to burry the tuber under the gravel as it would cause the tuber to rot. That's why I assume that there is no tuber under the gravel. BTW, I saw a new small tuber on the gravel today.

One strange thing is that why other younger plants never have a tuber? Only the parent plant has the tuber. I guess only matured plant can produce tuber... like us. The older we grow the more fat on the waist.

[vinz]

The tubers will continue to grow into the gravel. The reason not to bury the whole tuber is that new leaves do not have to fight their way through the gravel. You will notice the child plants do not stick their tuber out of the gravel.

But yes, while planting new tubers, you should allow the growing tip to be exposed.

[uklau]

Thanks for pointing out the facts about this plant, Vincent .

[vera]

Hi uklau,

When you say tuber, do you mean black ball like attached to the plant?

[uklau]

You are right, Vera.

BTW, it is still floating around. When i squeeze it, it is still hard (at least not rotting).

[uklau]

Just an update. After 4 months floating around, no new shoot but the tuber is rotting. In fact, I've tried pushing half of the tuber in the gravel for about 3 weeks but nothing happend. Such a waste that I've to throw it away.

Anyone can advise if how I can avoid the tuber from rotting in future? Thanks.

[benny]

Hmm.. I think asking the folks from Teo's Plant Farm might help. I remember them experimenting with the various types of lotus last year or the year before.

Cheers,