Moonlight Over Qinhuai Lotus Plant Description

Moonlight Over Qinhuai Lotus is the most interesting lotus available on the market today! The flowers on this unique lotus are large and the color on this lotus are amazing in shades of light -pink to dark-pink with a hint of gold throughout the blooms. Moonlight Over Qinhuai Lotus is truly in a class by itself!  Moonlight Over Qinhuai Lotus is a tall, versicolor lotus with multi-petal flowers and it is a phenomenal beauty! Tall/Versicolor/Multi-Petal

How to plant your Moonlight Over Qinhuai Lotus

Plant in a wide container (24 - 48 inches wide or wider) using loam soil. Fill your lotus container 2/3 full of loam soil.  Dig a trench in the surface of the soil and place your lotus tuber in the trench. Cover with 1 - 2 inches of loam soil and add 5 - 6 inches of water above the soil. Place the container outdoors where it will receive 8 - 12 hours of sunlight daily.

How to fertilize your lotus

Do not fertilize your lotus until you have aerial leaves growing out of the water, once you have aerial leaves on your lotus you may use a slow release fertilizer like Waterlily World Fertilizer Tabs. Simply press the fertilizer tabs into the soil near the roots of your lotus, taking care not to damage the roots.

What Is Loam Soil?

Loam soil is a good mixture of Topsoil and Sand

If you are lucky enough to have good topsoil in your backyard, by all means, use your topsoil. All you will have to do is add fertilizer. If you are not so lucky--and your backyard is sand or heavy red or yellow clay, you can mix up a batch of loam soil.

 You can create your own loam soil by mixing these two ingredients together

• 2/3  Inorganic Topsoil (Little or no organic material added)
• 1/3  Pool Filter Sand

 Mix together thoroughly with a little water. Your soil should clump when squeezed. If your soil is mixed properly, it will not muddy your pond water.

You can purchase inexpensive bags of inexpensive / poor Topsoil at Lowes or Home-Depot. Good soil clumps together as a ball in your hand with only a little moisture. 

Don't buy brands like Scott's or Miracle-Gro, as they will contain too much organic matter that can foul your water. Buy an unbranded bag of topsoil instead.

You can purchase Pool Filter Sand at any store that sells pool supplies.

Loam soil is well suited for all aquatic plants (except oxygenators). Oxygenators rarely need to be planted, just anchored in the substrate or in a container filled with sand or 1/8  inch pea gravel.

Sand holds little water but does allow for aeration and drainage.

Some DO's and DON'TS regarding Aquatic Planting Soil  

DO NOT use potting soils ( as they are too light and will float right out of the pot). Potting Soil has organic material that will rot and foul your water!

DO NOT add too much composted material (as it is too rich in organic matter and it will ferment underwater and destroy the ecology of your pond).

DO NOT use 100% calcined clay as there is no nutritional value in calcined clay.

DO NOT add rocks, stones or pebbles to the top of your planting container as this will inhibit the growth of your plants. Plants do not grow in rocks and stones in nature!

DO NOT purchase API Aquatic Planting Media or Microbe-lift Aquatic Planting Media as these products are NOT suitable for waterlilies, lotus or most other pond plants. They are suitable for submerged grasses ONLY!

Please read the complete 'Lotus Planting Guide' included in your purchase!