2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Lobelia crimson grows naturally in North American waters. Sometimes it is called cardinal lobelia. Often this beauty can be found along the shores of forest lakes, swamps and slowly flowing rivers. In our latitudes, it is more suitable for breeding in aquariums, in which this plant has a fairly good growth rate. The decorative properties of blood red lobelia are so high that it can make the design of any aquarium much more interesting. It also looks good in paludariums and in spacious, well-lit greenhouses
Getting to know the plant
Blood-red Lobelia is an aquatic inhabitant of the Bellflower family, endowed with a well-developed root system, including a single lobe formed by thick and short white roots.
Elastic stems of blood-red lobelia are rather long and round, not prone to the formation of lateral branches. Sometimes on them you can observe scars formed by fallen leaves. And on the areas of the stems free from leaves, ciliated water adventitious roots, painted in white, grow.
The tops of simple rounded leaves of a spectacular plant are slightly bent downward. All leaves of a blood red lobelia are colored green. And the lower parts of this water beauty are often violet-reddish - such a color is easy to achieve with the help of favorable conditions of detention and good lighting. Actually, this color was the determining factor in the name of this bizarre plant.
The leaves on the stems of blood-red lobelia are arranged in a spiral, and the length of the leaf petioles is approximately equal to the length of the plates.
Blood-red lobelia blooms regularly, forming at the same time very solid peduncles, the length of which often reaches half a meter. Its inflorescences form elongated brushes, on which many purple flowers are conveniently located. And this luxurious representative of the plant world blooms from July to October.
It is noteworthy that the flowers of blood-red lobelia are considered medicinal - the indigenous people of America once used infusions and decoctions from this plant to heal various ailments. Nevertheless, it is not worth experimenting with this beauty - improper preparation of healing infusions can be fatal.
How to grow
You can grow blood red lobelia both indoors and outdoors. Specimens grown in paludariums or greenhouses are especially attractive. This aquatic inhabitant is distinguished by its ability to withstand quite substantial temperature drops: from 15 to 28 degrees. The soil for its cultivation should be tried to be nutritious and fine-grained.
The light intensity must be high enough to allow the blood-red lobelia to form luxurious lateral shoots, thus transforming into shrubs of amazing beauty. Fluorescent lamps should be installed above the plant from above, supplemented as necessary with conventional lamps ranging from 25 to 40 watts. The daylight hours of this water beauty are on average ten to twelve hours.
Periodically, the stalks of blood red lobelia are shortened so that it does not gain height too quickly. By the way, as a result of such regular shortening, over time, many branches are formed, which significantly increase the decorative qualities of this beauty. And in order to further increase its decorative effect, it is periodically recommended to add liquid mineral fertilizers to the water.
The blood-red lobelia grown in aquariums propagates vegetatively, by dividing side shoots or stalks. Nevertheless, getting a new plant will not be difficult even from an old leaf. This beauty can also multiply by seeds.
And it is recommended to transfer blood-red lobelia seedlings to aquariums only after they get a little stronger in paludariums or greenhouses.
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