The tiger lotus is one of the most attractive solitary plants in freshwater aquaristics. With good care, such a plant easily becomes the focal point of a classic South American or Asian tank.
Meneerke bloem, Nymphaea lotus3, CC BY-SA 3.0
key data
Attitude:
simply
Breed:
stolon, daughter tuber
Size:
up to 50 cm
Temperature:
22°C – 28°C
pH:
5.5 – 7.5
GH:
below 15 °dH
CH:
below 15 °dH
Look
The tiger lotus is a species of plant in the water lily family. Under water, it forms large leaves that are stacked on long stalks in several levels. The leaf base is deeply incised. The leaves are curled up pushed from the center of the plant and uncurl once the stem reaches its final length. With enough space, the plant can reach a diameter of 30 cm, with individual leaves quite 10 cm long.
The form of the tiger lotus cultivated in aquaristics is actually the submerged juvenile form. Like most water lily plants, the tiger lotus tends to have floating leaves when fully grown. Once it has developed these, submerged leaves no longer grow back, which is why floating leaves in the aquarium should be consistently removed.
distribution
The tiger lotus originally came from Africa, but has now been carried to many parts of the world by humans. In tropical waters of Southeast Asia, for example, it is already widespread with a stable population.
Although the tiger lotus is a suitable pond plant with its attractive floating leaves and flowers, it only survives in tropical areas such as Florida or South America. Unfortunately for European ponds it lacks the ability to survive the winter cold. However, there are reports of isolated thermal waters in Romania and Hungary, where the tiger lotus is also native to Europe all year round.
husbandry conditions
The tiger lotus is one of the few red aquarium plants that can survive even with low light intensity. Nevertheless, it also unfolds best in stronger lighting. A large, free area is suitable for this, ideally in the middle of the aquarium. Furnishings such as roots or stones can be used to prevent other plants from spreading in order to provide enough space.
The tiger lotus is also quite frugal when it comes to water parameters. Nevertheless, the temperature should be between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius and the water should be in the soft and acidic range. Then the tiger lotus actually came to prevent growth. Rather, it tends to take over aquariums almost entirely.
Fertilization is best done via the roots using fertilizer balls that are pressed into the substrate near the tuber. Dead leaves should be removed as regularly as floating leaves. This can be recognized by the fact that a stalk moves purposefully to the water surface and the leaf remains tightly curled. If you fail to do so, the tiger lotus quickly gives up its underwater leaves. Successful flowering is not possible in a covered aquarium. Propagation is therefore by daughter tubers or offshoots.
Since the young plants are very fragile, it is often only sold with a few leaves or even only as a tuber. With a little patience, however, they will sprout without any problems.
particularities
The tiger lotus occurs in two color morphs. The red has leaves mottled in various shades of red. The green, on the other hand, has small red spots on a rich green background. The floating leaves are green in both variants.