Common Name
Dwarf Cardinal flower
Description
This dwarf form of the long known Cardinal flower is cultivated since 2004, also as Lobelia cardinalis "Kleine Form" ("Small form") and "Nana". It can be variously used in the foreground and midground, also in nano tanks.
During the warmer time of the year it can also be used outdoors as emersed plant where its striking red flowers may appear.
Lobelia cardinalis 'small form' is a very interesting cultivar of the larger-growing standard form of L. cardinalis. It can be discerned from the latter by its rounder, coin-shaped leaves and the far smaller overall stature. Up to now, only Oriental Aquaria in Singapore is selling the true cultivar of this attractive small plant. Lobelia cardinalis 'small form' is rather undemanding. Besides sufficient light (0.5 watts per liter) it only needs CO2 injection for optimal growth regarding size, colour and growth rate. A good supply of micro- and macronutrients should be assured, too (NO3 10-20 mg/L, PO4 1-2 mg/L). A good nutrient supply, the addition of CO2 and sufficient light result in a very bushy habit and nice green colour. Then the plant produces many daughter plants, too, which can be cut off and re-planted, and the roots on the nodes are covered up by the dense foliage and many lateral shoots. Under insufficient light and when nutrients are scarce, this plant tends to grow out long, which does not look very nice. It doesn't produce as many lateral shoots either, which greatly hinders propagation. Its unique appearance and growth habit makes it an ideal middleground plant. It can even be used as easy-to-care-for foreground plant in large aquaria. Lobelia cardinalis 'small form' is often used in Dutch-style tanks to create diagonal, uprising streets, which loosen up the otherwise pretty static layouts. Its slow vertical growth predestines it for low-maintenance tanks.
Source
Flowgrow
Characteristic
Considerably smaller than normal Lobelia cardinalis
Roundish leaves
Also suited for nano tanks
Forms a compact group
Synonyms
Lobelia cardinalis 'Mini', Lobelia cardinalis 'Nana'
Complete Botanical Name
Lobélia cardinális L.
Family
Campanulaceae
Genus
Lobelia
Category
Middle Ground
Difficulty
easy
Growth
slow
Carbon Dioxide
need
pH Value
6-7
Temperature Tolerance
4-30℃
Carbonate Hardness
2-14 dKH
General Hardness
0-30 °dGH
Propagation
Cuttings
Can Grow Emersed?
yes
