Cardinal Flower problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lary1047
14 years ago
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countrycarolyn
14 years agoechinaceamaniac
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Substitute for Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)?
Comments (14)Mine are definitely coming back from the original plants. However, they make "offshoots" or "offsets" in the fall, and that is what actually overwinters. There is a great explanation about Lobelia cardinalis and the way it winters over in William Cullinas book on Wildflowers. It is one of my favorite books and will type an excerpt: "Lobelias are not true perennials, because the flowering stem and its associated roots die after setting seed. They are perennial in effect only because new offsets grow from the axils of the lowermost leaves and quickly put down their own abundant white roots. It is especially important, then that these new offsets be coddled a little in the fall. Think of them as seedlings that must be kept free of debris and competition so that they will have a chance to establish roots before winter. With a little attention, the plants will come back indefinitely." That is why I dead head these plants, including removing the seed pods as they are forming and even before a stalk has finished blooming. I want them to establish healthy offsets for the winter....See Moregrowing cardinal flowers (lobelia)
Comments (38)I pray it's not voles that I have. I think i was mice because I found a little nest and the roots were exposed enough (I dug it up kinda sloppily) so that after eatting the rosette of foliage the mouse could suck up the roots like little tasty strands of spagetti. The garage can warm up on a decent winter day.... the furnace and water heater are in a side room that vents to the garage so that adds to the warmth. It probably stays in the 40's. Ok the fig tree I keep in there is starting to sprout now too. I wonder if I can put it somewhere colder.... I already put all the potted bulbs outside, I gave up on winter. Terrene: open up one of their tunnels, put peanut butter on a trap and cover it with a board or something... if you can catch a few dozen it might make a difference. (from someone who was shocked one spring to find a mature cherry tree dying because it's roots were completely girdled and stripped)...See Moreanother cardinal flower question
Comments (14)Oubliette, I also have tried several attempts at growing this hummer magnet. Down here in the deep south, there is some kind of moth or skipper that lays eggs on this particular plant. At this time of year the eggs have hatched and the fast growing worms or caterpillars have reached a size that the plant is devoured almost overnight. They are unnoticable and small at first as their color is almost the same as the plant. They grow fast and quickly make a salad out of all of your plants. I don't know if this is the cause of your problem but I would suggest a close examination of your plants as soon as possible. I have never had any cardinal flowers to get large enough to bloom as they were eaten before it could happen. Insecticides are not what I wanted to feed my hummers and the worms were too numerous to pick off....See MoreCardinal flower problems!!
Comments (3)I've always had problems with this plant, but only when growing from seed. It would wither and die on me, never succeeding. I finally purchased a plant, and all is well. I have mine in full sun and water it daily. I rarely fertilize; maybe once or twice during the growing season with Miracle-Gro; that's it. Sorry I can't help :(...See Moresheltieche
14 years agomwieder
14 years agongam
14 years agogazania_gw
14 years agolaceyvail 6A, WV
14 years agogazania_gw
14 years agoKayleigh Toichstone
3 years agoprairiemoon2 z6b MA
3 years ago
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