Any experience with Lobelia cardinalis?
- Thread starter beviking
- Start date
I have had very little luck with this plant. Don't know why. But when I supply everything that a plant is supposed to need, and don't get the growth or response I want, I move on.
Let us know how you do with it and what environment you grew it in if you're successful. Good luck.
Len
Let us know how you do with it and what environment you grew it in if you're successful. Good luck.
Len
Probably because it's mainly terrestrial. I've got a different Lobelia specia which is doing well in hanging baskets outside, I thought about trying them in one of my tanks but I haven't gotton around to it.
http://images.google.com/images?q=Lobelia cardinalis&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
http://images.google.com/images?q=Lobelia cardinalis&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
Yes, yes!
I have had tremendous success with lobelia, I have 200+ individual plant stems growing now (which all started a year ago with two full plants and 3 leaf-less cuttings).
Lobelia grows under just about any amount of light. I have it growing well in ranges of 1.2WPG (at which the plants doubled in height in 2.5 months and has 3-4 leaf nodes per inch) up to 4.5WPG (which was punishing, but they grew, amazingly enough! Very tall, very fast).
Nutrients are the key. Suprisingly, the stems that are doing the best are growing in straight Flourite (o'course) and are getting a more-than-average amount of Plantex (iron and traces). You *can* grow them in regular substrate, but they will still require the dreaded "Flourish tabs."
I don't think I have a picture online of my lobelia farm, but try to imagine a 2 foot by 2 foot field of lobelia about 5" high. My only complaint is that under higher lights, the lower leaves tend to degrade more quickly than desired. The 15 lobelia stems that are at 1.2WPG have never needed trimming and have never grown algae (but then again, I have almost 25 Amanos in 32 gallons of water, so that prolly helps.)
GL! I heartily recommend these plants!
I have had tremendous success with lobelia, I have 200+ individual plant stems growing now (which all started a year ago with two full plants and 3 leaf-less cuttings).
Lobelia grows under just about any amount of light. I have it growing well in ranges of 1.2WPG (at which the plants doubled in height in 2.5 months and has 3-4 leaf nodes per inch) up to 4.5WPG (which was punishing, but they grew, amazingly enough! Very tall, very fast).
Nutrients are the key. Suprisingly, the stems that are doing the best are growing in straight Flourite (o'course) and are getting a more-than-average amount of Plantex (iron and traces). You *can* grow them in regular substrate, but they will still require the dreaded "Flourish tabs."
I don't think I have a picture online of my lobelia farm, but try to imagine a 2 foot by 2 foot field of lobelia about 5" high. My only complaint is that under higher lights, the lower leaves tend to degrade more quickly than desired. The 15 lobelia stems that are at 1.2WPG have never needed trimming and have never grown algae (but then again, I have almost 25 Amanos in 32 gallons of water, so that prolly helps.)
GL! I heartily recommend these plants!
That's helpful! I'm surprised (given Timmains comments) you weren't able to grow it well Len. That's the way it is though, some plants do great in some tanks, not so well in others.
Most sites list Lobelia cardinalis as a Marginal plant. Stating it can grow submerged and/or emerged. Saw it in photos of tanks on the net. Beautiful!
Timmain, I assume you think it would do well in Onyx sand, CO2 injection, close to 3wpg? Just not sure if aesthetically it would look well with A.nana in the same tank...?
Most sites list Lobelia cardinalis as a Marginal plant. Stating it can grow submerged and/or emerged. Saw it in photos of tanks on the net. Beautiful!
Timmain, I assume you think it would do well in Onyx sand, CO2 injection, close to 3wpg? Just not sure if aesthetically it would look well with A.nana in the same tank...?
I don't think it would have a problem in those conditions, but it's going to be more bush-like at lower light densities. It will have the same leaf shape as nana, but will you be able to get the nana to grow at 3WPG?
Oh yeah! Haven't had a prob growing Anubia (at least nana anyway). It grows much quicker than I thought it would given all I read before having any. Quicker than I thought is still slow, about a new leaf every two weeks +/-. Now I just have to get a couple Lobelia and I'll see how it goes. Thanks again!
Bill
Bill