Nymphaea cerulea — Blue Lotus (Tropical Water Lily, Species)

The Blue Lotus (Nymphaea cerulea), often called the Egyptian Blue Water Lily, is a true tropical species that has flourished naturally for thousands of years along the Nile and throughout parts of Africa. Unlike hardy hybrids, this plant thrives only in warm water but rewards you with sky-blue to violet blooms that are among the most beautiful in the world.

Each flower opens in the morning sun, revealing golden stamens surrounded by shimmering petals and releasing a light, sweet fragrance. In warm ponds or containers, Nymphaea cerulea blooms reliably through the summer, bringing an exotic, sacred aura to your garden.

🌱 Planting & Care Instructions (Tropical Species)

• Type: Tropical water lily species (day-bloomer)

• Spread: 3–6 ft across in warm conditions

• Container: 14–16 inch aquatic fabric pot or the warm, shallow shelf of an earth-bottom pond

• Planting Depth (from soil to water surface): 6–16 inches (shallow placement warms roots and encourages blooming)

• Soil: Heavy loam topsoil or PondGro Aquatic Loam Soil — no bagged compost, peat, or perlite

• Sunlight Needs: Full sun (6 + hours of strong midday light)

• Water Temperature: Requires ≥ 70 °F (21 °C) at root level for growth and flowering

• Overwintering: Not winter-hardy — treat as an annual outside tropical zones or bring indoors before temperatures drop below 65 °F (18 °C)

💧 Fertilizing Schedule (for Tropical Water Lilies)

• When: 1st and 15th of each month, May–September

• Rate: 4 Waterlily World Fertilizer Tablets per feeding, pressed 3–4 inches into the soil near the crown

• Tip: Warm water + steady feeding = continuous flowers and healthy pads

✅ Do’s & ❌ Don’ts for Nymphaea cerulea

Do:
✅ Plant shallowly to warm roots and speed blooming
✅ Keep in full sun and warm water (≥ 72 °F)
✅ Use heavy loam soil in a wide pot for stability
✅ Fertilize twice monthly for consistent flowering

Don’t:
❌ Plant too early in cold water — the plant will go dormant
❌ Cover the crown with stones or gravel — this prevents shoot growth
❌ Use bagged potting mix or compost — they float and rot under water
❌ Allow floating plants to shade the pads — they need direct sunlight

📦 Shipping Information for Nymphaea cerulea

• Shipping Window: May through September (weather permitting)

• Spring Protocol: Ships only when your regional water temperatures are warm enough (about 72°F at planting depth)

• Weekly Schedule: After spring begins, ships weekly through summer (usually until September)

• Method: 2–3 day service (usually UPS; occasionally USPS or FedEx) — sent early each week to avoid weekend delays

• Tracking: An email with tracking details is sent the day your order ships

Arrival & Guarantee:
👉 Shipped as a live pond plant (rhizome with starter growth).
👉 Must be planted immediately in loam soil within a proper aquatic container or pond shelf.
👉 All parts must stay wet during unpacking and planting.
👉 Minor yellowing or bent leaves are normal and replaced quickly by new growth.
👉 For any issues, email photos within 24 hours (unpacked plant + packing slip with initials) to PondQuestions@gmail.com.

📊 Nymphaea cerulea (Blue Lotus) — Specifications

• Species Name: Nymphaea cerulea (Tropical species)

• Common Name: Blue Lotus / Egyptian Blue Water Lily

• Flower Color: Sky-blue to violet-blue with golden centers

• Fragrance: Light, sweet, floral

• Flower Size: 4–6 inches across (day-blooming)

• Pad Color & Size: Green, medium pads

• Spread: 3–6 feet across

• Planting Depth (Soil to Water Surface): 6–16 inches

• Container Size: 14–16 inch aquatic fabric pot (minimum)

• Sunlight Needs: Full sun (6+ hours of direct midday light)

• Fertilizer Schedule: 4 tablets twice monthly (May–September)

• Hardiness: Tropical only — not winter-hardy

• Shipped As: Live pond plant (rhizome with starter growth) — repot immediately; keep all parts wet until planted

💙 Why Choose Nymphaea cerulea (Blue Lotus)

Because few plants capture history, color, and tranquility quite like this one, the Blue Lotus of the Nile symbolizes rebirth and beauty, opening each morning and closing at dusk. Its soothing fragrance and celestial color make it a perfect choice for anyone seeking to bring exotic serenity and natural wonder to their pond or container garden.

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