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cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis. Pots, ponds or gardens ?

UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
in Garden design
Why am I always reading on line that these have to be planted out in garden soil as soon as possible although they are sold in aquatic pots for ponds ?  Seems a bit contradictory. What happens if I leave them in the pond ?

Posts

  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    I think the confusion maybe be the words ‘planted out’. In the case of pond plants it means planted out in the pond as soon as possible. It’s just a general term meaning don’t leave it in a carrier bag in the car boot for several days more than specific advice I think 
  • paul_in_surreypaul_in_surrey Posts: 239
    I grew this last year. I got it with Purple Loosestrife, which as you say were in the pond plant section but identified as marginals, i.e. grown on the shallow edge of the pond. I grew them in a bed and they both did fine (Loosestrife is racing away again this year but I'm not keeping the Cardinal Flower - just because it wasn't such a pollinator magnet), but I made sure to give them a regular thorough watering.

    I think they mainly like to have wet feet (i.e. they're marshy type plants that are happy with their roots being constantly or at least consistently damp). So the most important thing seems to be as Jellyfire says to keep them well watered and don't let them sit too long in the pot to dry out.
    “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - they like a nice damp soil if they're in a garden situation, but also thrive as a marginal pond plant.
    I gave up on them - slug fodder the instant they poked their heads up out the ground...
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    Thanks for all the advice.  I bought three 2l plants so will now keep two in the pond (old bath) and plant one in soil and see how they get on by the end of autumn.   
  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    It is now autumn and I left all three in the pond. They all flowered and have grown to over 1 metre in height. Now for the winter.  The usual conflicting advice. To prune or not prune, to cut back to 50cm, to leave where they are  to bring inside. to cover in bark, to plant in soil.etc.

    I would appreciate any further advice you can give  Thanks  
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Fairygirl said:
    Yes - they like a nice damp soil if they're in a garden situation, but also thrive as a marginal pond plant.
    I gave up on them - slug fodder the instant they poked their heads up out the ground...
    I agree about " slug fodder".6 x  L.C. Queen Victoria gone in no time, but 6 x L.C. Russian Princess, planted on the same day, ignored by them completely. Most odd.
    Devon.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I have found exactly the same Hosta. I have a few of Russian Princess Lobelias and they are always fine, but when I have grown Q.V., it always gets eaten.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    punkdoc said:
    I have found exactly the same Hosta. I have a few of Russian Princess Lobelias and they are always fine, but when I have grown Q.V., it always gets eaten.
    Any ideas why that should be?
    Devon.
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