How do I break the lotus flower seed shell to help grow the flower?
i can't find anything to cut through the shell. Any suggestions?
Answer
Lotus seed shells are extremely hard -- so hard that some have remained dormant for hundreds of years! There are some good demonstrations on YouTube to help you. Try Googling How to scarify a lotus seed or how to germinate lotus seeds
You'll need to file, sand, or nick the seeds so water can easily penetrate. Carefully go through the outer layer to the cream-colored inside. You only have to break open the end of the of the shell, as shown in these videos
How to Grow Lotus From Seed YouTube Video
In this demonstration, the gardener uses sand paper to break the shell
Starting Water Lotus From Seed
Here, the gardener uses a sharp knife
Water Lotus - Scarifying Seeds
And here, the gardener uses a more elaborate drill to break the shell
This is an overview of the whole process of preparing the seeds and planting them: