Growing Cardinal Flower (Lobelia Cardinalis) In The Aquarium

This is a semi-aquatic species which comes from North and Central Americas and northern parts of South America. Its natural habitats are wetlands, swamps, floodplains.

Emerged form of this plant is different than completely submerged form of the plant. Completely submerged plant develops only submerged leaves. These leaves are pale green, lanceolate or ovate with pointed tips and dentate margins. They are developed on elastic leaf stems. Central vein is clearly visible and it is light. The species has extensive root system. It can grow above the water surface. Then its leaves are elongated and darker, they can be purple. The plant blooms above the water surface. The species develops beautiful red-scarlet flowers.

This is undemanding plant.

It should be planted in the foreground or middle of the aquarium in groups of several pieces at distance of 2 cm between seedlings. We can also form terraces with this species. It grows horizontally and it forms dense groups and beautiful lawns when we systematic cut its tops.

This is spermatophyte species but in aquarium we reproduce it vegetatively – by seedlings from cut stems. We cut plant between its nodes.