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Pond Plants - Lobellia Cardinalis

UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
in Garden design
I have just taken delivey of three of these plants from RHS. Two are drooping very badly but I expect they will recover.

They are in 2L aquatic pots but it says  "they will preform (?) better if planted out sooner rather than later."

I take that to mean not leave them in the pond but to plant in soil. How soon is soon ? Tomorrow ?

Do I plant them in a mix of garden compost and soil with as much compost and grit as comes out of the existing pots  ?

Also are they likely to flower this year  ? 

Thanks


Posts

  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Are you putting them in the pond or around the pond? If in the pond you need aquatic compost (available from Homebase et al). If you use garden compost it will add far too many nutrients to the pond and you will have a sea of algae etc. If they have arrived in pots then get them in the pond asap, you can then decide where to plant them later/plant into larger pots. 
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    It should tell you on the information how deep they need to be.
  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    They are in the pond but as it says in the quote "they will preform (?) better if planted out sooner rather than later."   So I assume they should be taken out of the pond and planted in soil as soon as possible.

    Does that mean taken out of the pond and aquatic pots  and planted in garden compost in the soil would be better for them ?
  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    I’d plant them in your pond because slugs just love them. They do need access to some soil which is not completely submerged. They prefer ‘wet feet’ than to be completely submerged. One of those plants that will do well on the upper shelf of your pond. I have them growing in a ceramic pot which I lined with an empty plastic (slightly perforated) compost bag to stop it drying out.
  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    I have done exactly as you suggest and they look very healthy in the pond.  So why do the nurseries and others keep advising that they should be planted out of the pond as soon as possible ?

    Considering the damage from slugs etc I have read about it seems the pond is the better bet. Am I missing something ?

     
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