Green tiger lotus

About This Plant

While these lovely plants are often sold under the common name, green tiger lotus, they are not a lotus at all, but a small, night blooming water lily. Usually sold as a tuber with a small leaf or two, they should be planted in the substrate, with the leaves facing up and above the substrate. Although small in terms of water lilies, these are not small plants! They will easily take up a lot of real estate in a 4 foot tank! They will try to send up a floating leaf from time to time, and if you want the plant to maintain its beautiful underwater leaves, these should be pinched off before they break the water surface. If you let it get away from you, however, and it is producing lots of floating leaves, all is not lost! Snap off ALL the leaves and “train” it to stay under water again. On the other hand, you might enjoy seeing it flower in your tank. In that case, the water level should be far enough below the cover and/or lights, that the flower bud can develop. It will open at night and close during the day. Keep in mind, however, that floating leaves will shade your other plants. So a Nymphaea lotus that is allowed to grow floating leaves should probably be kept in a tank without any light loving plants below it. Nymphaea lotus 'Green' is a very heavy feeder. It will develop offset plantlets under good conditions with enough food. These can be separated off and used in other tanks. If the tank is not fed well enough, your Nymphaea could starve your other plants. So be sure to feed regularly. This is a plant where a soil based substrate and/or regular addition of good quality, nutritionally complete plant tabs can be a big help. It grows well even without supplemental CO2, but like all plants will show it’s best if CO2 is supplied. Nymphaea lotus 'Green'

About the Nymphaea Genus

Family — Nymphaeaceae

Nymphaea (water lilies) cover the water surface with floating pads and produce iconic open-faced blooms. Most cultivars are hardy in temperate ponds; tropical varieties need warm water year-round.

Quick-Reference Details

Common name

Green tiger lotus

Scientific name

Nymphaea Lotus Green

Family

Nymphaeaceae

Native to

Africa

Difficulty

Advanced

Requirements

Undemanding but a heavy feeder

Lighting

Low-high

Growth rate

Fast

Growth form

Bulb

Placement

Specimen plant

True aquatic

Yes

Available as

Tuber

Aquascaping & Placement

Position to suit your aquascape — most placements work as long as light reaches the leaves. Set the bulb on top of the substrate, not buried, until roots take hold. Expect a dormant period after flowering.

Tank-Mate Compatibility

Compatible with the full range of community-tank species — tetras, rasboras, livebearers, corydoras, and most other peaceful freshwater fish do not damage the foliage.

Common Care Issues

Frequently Asked Questions