Boosting aquatic plant growth in pots naturally

I have water lilies and a lotus growing very…very slowly in pots. They look like they need some help. I have not used any fertilizer yet even though I keep seeing recommendations to do so online. I’ve been hesitant because 1) I was hoping I could avoid it 2) all the aquatic fertilizers I see online seem to be meant for ornamentals only. I may want to  harvest flower pedals for teas, tinctures, etc.

Any tips for boosting the growth and overall health of these plants? I see some people using ordinary(land plants) fertilizer and others saying it won’t stay in the soil….or something like that.

Here’s some more info on my plants if anyone wants it: https://permies.com/t/217550/Tips-aquatic-plant

Hi Kevin, I am wondering how slow are your water lilies and lotus? Are they slow to germinate or slow to grow leaves afterwards? Typically, lotus seed is nicked in the flat end and soaked in tap water. Change water daily and it will germinate in 3-5 days at room temperature. Let grow to 2-3 leaves (2 weeks after soaking) before transplanting in pot. Naturally mud from pond or garden soil are all good for growing lotus. If the garden soil is hard and clumpy, soak in water and stir until the texture is smooth. Organic fertilizer like chicken manure can be added to the bottom of the pot. Tuck the seedlings in the mud and make sure the floating leaves are not submerged. Provide at least 6 hours of sunlight a day and the lotus will grow vigorously, even flowering in the first year.

You may need some mosquito eaters, like guppies or goldfish (but the goldfish will stir the soil). They also help plants grow. Or sometimes "help" them float...

I planted from seed. They have been slow to grow beyond tiny sprouts sticking up from the soil. I’m not sure some are even alive anymore. They have been covered with a thin layer of water(this was advised on one of the instructions). So I guess it’s too late for chicken manure, no?

My lotus seeds are different. Not the typical big ones I see the videos where people take off the end, as you mentioned. These seeds are tiny. I don’t know if that means I still should have shaved off the tip or not. I didn’t, but germination hasn’t been the issue.

I did consider scooping some pond water and mud from a local pond. Should I try that? I mixed topsoil with sand, covered it with a half inch of water, and planted seeds. I think it was 2/3 topsoil, 1/3 sand.

I see the Egyptian blue water lily seems to be growing now. Not sure what happened. I did add that probiotic BT stuff for mosquito larvae about a week or two ago.

Maybe I’m just being impatient because I’m used to quick growing runner beans and peas. Either way, I’d still like to do something to help these plants out.

The small lotus seeds are probably the miniature bowl lotus. Usually lotus seeds are germinated in plain water so it's easy to track the progress. They will grow a couple leaves before the roots emerge. At this stage, the seedling is running out of stored nutrients and needed to grow in mud. If your water lily or lotus had no problem germinating but stunt after a few leaves, likely their roots are not growing well. I am iffy about the bagged "top soil" sold in the store, many just don't look like real soil. There are pond plant soils for sale or you can just make your own.
You don't have to worry about fertilizing when the plants are young. When they are blooming, a few pellets of rose fertilizer inserted in the mud will work.

My suggests if you must grow them in soil use compost tea to do the fertilizing.  

There are many recipes on the forum:

https://permies.com/t/211238/composting/easiest-compost-tea-liquid-fertilizer

https://permies.com/t/181240/compost-tea-high-tech

https://permies.com/t/185538/composting/Liquid-fertilizer-Compost-Compost-tea

I would also like to suggest that you experiment with growing a few of the plants in just water.

Anne, I assume you mean to start them in water and then transplant to soil, or is this some hydroponic type of suggestion? I could start over and germinate them in water if you all think that’s best.

The lotus and white lily seem like they aren’t growing at all. Some of them have died and are floating. So I have little concern about a restart.

Two blue water lilies are growing a noticeable amount now, but the third sprout has died and was floating today. I think I’d like to see what these two do and not do a restart on the blue waterlily pot for now.

Can I add compost tea to soil which is submerged in water? I thought I read somewhere against doing that, but I’m not sure I’m remembering what I read accurately. It wasn’t that they said it was harmful, just that it wouldn’t work well.

May, it’s a pink(sacred) lotus. How do you make the aquatic plant soil? Is it too late to start, or is it simply a matter combining ingredients?

No, I am suggesting an experiment in growing the plants in only water.  Similar to my experiment here:

https://permies.com/t/210600/Talking-growing-house-plants-water

If you have extra seeds, try starting them in water when you prepare your soil.
Pond mud is great if you can dig up some, if not, just use any garden soil. Soak it in water abd crush any big clots, stir around and remove any floaty stuff. Let the muddy water settle and repeat until the top water looks clear and the buttom mud has a smooth texture. Aftee the seedling is planted, topped with a layer of sand or gravel. The seedlings will root readily in it.

I grow two kinds of lotus from tubers and use large containers. Due to the amiunt of soil they take, I didn't use the more fertile garden soil but dug up regular soil in a corner of the yard and layered with compost and chicken manure. Tubers are more forgiving and have no problem growing in this less ideal condition.

Anne Miller wrote:No, I am suggesting an experiment in growing the plants in only water.  Similar to my experiment here:

https://permies.com/t/210600/Talking-growing-house-plants-water

I think I’ll donate a seed of each to this experiment specifically, and one or two of pink lotus and white water lily to May’s suggestion.

I’ve never germinated seeds before, and these ones are tiny. How do I not lose them changing the water everyday? I assume that’s what need to do.