Once the buds form on lotus, they briefly open early in the day to let
pollinators come and go, then close for the rest of the day, thats in
a comfy temperature range of 70°f and 90°f in North Carolina. After
two days of that kerplunk, the petals drop off. Try peaking at the
lotus early in the day, perhaps?

http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.html
http://community.webshots.com/user/adavisus
(photo albums of aquatic plants and descriptions)

(Jerrispond) wrote in message ...
get large and develop petals but before it actually opens, the petalsfall
off. We have three buds and this has happened on two of them.The third one is
still too small yet. We live in NW Indiana (zone 5)

Maybe not enough sun, or not warm enough...You are on the very edge of a lotus
growing zone...they like it hot and sunny. Jerri

http://www.fringeweb.com/Ponds/JerrisPond