Lobelia cardinalis TROPICA 1-2-GROW!

Lobelia cardinalis grows wild in Northern America. In the nursery this plant is cultivated in marshy conditions, forming dark-green leaves which are purple underneath. In aquariums the leaves turn a beautiful shade of light-green, with stems 10-30 cm tall and 5-10 cm wide. It needs intensive light to thrive. Widely used in Dutch aquariums in so-called “plant streets”. In open aquariums it grows above the water surface, where it forms very beautiful scarlet flowers and the leaves regain their colour. Can be used in garden ponds.

Plant info

Type:

Stem

Origin:

North America

Country or continent where a plant is the most common. Cultivars arise or are bred in cultivation.

Growth rate:

Medium

Growth rate of the plant compared to other aquatic plants.

Height:

20 – 30+

Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.

Light demand:

Low

The average or medium light demand of an aquarium plant is 0,5 W/L.

CO2 :

Low

A medium need in CO2 is 6-14 mg/L. A high demand in CO2 is approx. 15-25 mg/L.

1-2-GROW!
Small plants with great success. 1•2•Grow! Are very young plants cultivated and delivered directly from our laboratory. The plants are guaranteed to be free from snails, algae and pesticides and therefore are totally harmless for sensitive shrimp and fish. The range offers unique plants!
Success with your aquarium depends largely on the proper plant choice. In a 1•2•Grow! cup you buy a myriad of plants which can be divided into small portions and cover a larger area. Plants are compact from the start so you will experience a dense and beautiful growth, if you give them the right fertiliser and CO2 from the start! The range is perfect for small and medium sized aquariums, and your patience will be rewarded…
The range offers several mosses and specialties such as Rotala macrandra, Rotala ‘Bonsai’ and mini versions of traditional varieties such as Alternanthera and Eleocharis.

Carefully take the plant out of the cup and rinse off the growing media under the tap.

Split the plant in 6-8 portions using your fingers or sharp scissors (for small foreground plants).

Plant portions into the substrate using tweezers. Then watch them grow!

Growing Lobelia cardinalis in Singapore Aquariums

Lobelia cardinalis is a compact, light-loving stem plant we recommend for mid-ground accents and Dutch-style “plant streets”. Its bright green upper leaves and purple undersides hold colour best under strong lighting, so in a typical SG setup you will want a decent LED over the tank rather than a low-output clip light. Given enough intensity, it stays short and bushy, which suits the shallower HDB and condo tanks many of us keep at home.

It is reasonably undemanding once settled. Our warm 27-29C water suits it, and added CO2 plus a nutrient-rich substrate noticeably tightens its growth. Because the plant grows slowly and stays low, it is forgiving for newer hobbyists who do not yet want a tank full of fast stems that need weekly cutting. Trim the tops and replant the cuttings to thicken a group over time.

You will find more options in our foreground plants category. For deeper care notes see our Lobelia cardinalis care guide, and if you are arranging it in rows, our Dutch-style aquascape walkthrough is a useful read.