Lobelia Cardinalis

Which I shall forthwith call the "Burley" method

 

Victoria - to divide - I lift the plant (the roots are pretty shallow). And like most other plants I put it on a bench and cut it in two with an old bread knife. Doing it with a spade would have exactly the same effect, but I feel I am more in control with a knife - its good for my street cred. :th_scifD36:

Also some times the plant breaks naturally into two pieces, which means that you don't have to cut and damage it.

From what I read, I understand the principle is that you can divide most perennials this way. Some you can divide over the winter - not because it is a good time, but because they are so tough that they don't care. For most its better to divide when they are actively growing. The reason is that you always damage the plant in the process, and this allows viruses and other pathogens to enter the plant via the cuts. If a plant is actively growing it will heal itself quickly and minimise the potential damage.

Clueless. If you keep loosing them it may be the cold. I have bought a number of different coloured Lobelias in the past. Each time I was told they were perfectly hardy and they all eventually died, until I started to lift them.

There is one however that is very hardy. Lobelia syphilitica. It looks just the same as the others except that it is blue. I never lift that.

 

Hi all, just an update. They are finally on the move

 

i have never lifted my queen victorias had them for years and all very hardy,even the 1 in pond is perfect every year and it can have about 3 foot of ice for a couple of months at a time over it :D