How to Make a Lotus Pond

The exotic colors and fragrance of lotus flowers make them a favorite among outdoor water garden enthusiasts. Garden ponds are hardly complete without the lotus' broad leaves and tall flowers gracing the summer landscape. The shower head-shaped lotus seedpods enhance visual interest, too. Add drama to your backyard by making a lotus pond.

Preformed pond unit

Spade

Sand

Lotus rhizome

Medium to large round containers

Clay or pond soil

Rocks or stones

Aquatic plant fertilizer

Determine the ideal location of the pond. Because lotus plants thrive under full sun, the best place for a lotus pond would be one that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunshine everyday.

Install the preformed pond unit. Dig a hole to conform to the size and shape of the pond unit. Layer the bottom of the hole with sand to cushion the preformed pond. Position the pond unit in the hole and fill half the pond with water to compress the sand under the preformed unit. Adjust the pond unit to make sure it is level. Fill the side gaps with sand and tamp it down to remove air pockets. Fill the pond with water.

Prepare the round containers. Place a few rocks or stones in the containers to help weigh them down underwater. Then add clay soil or pond soil over the stones. Although considered an aquatic plant, the lotus requires soil to grow. Add a layer of sand to prevent the soil from dissolving into the water.

Place a lotus rhizome on the sand layer and hold it down with a layer of small stones. Putting the lotus on the sand instead of the soil will ensure that it won't rot; the layer of stones will also protect it from being dug up by any fish you might add to your pond.

Gently lower the container into the pond. The top of the container should be no more than 12 inches and no less than 6 inches below the surface of the water. Prop the containers with bricks or upside down clay pots to achieve the ideal height.

Fertilize with aquatic fertilizer pellets twice a year after the plants have been established for one year.

Instead of using a preformed pond unit, dig a hole in the shape you desire and install a flexible liner to hold the lotus pond.

Lotus comes in a number of varieties. Research which ones you would like to add to your garden pond. They are available at garden centers and plant nurseries as well as online. One of the most popular and easiest to propagate is the American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea).

Lotus plants are known to be invasive. Use large, plastic or ceramic containers to keep the plant's runners in the pot. Round containers are recommended to prevent roots from cramming in corners and breaking through.