Lobelia cardinalis – TC Cup
Produced by: Sreepadma Aquatic Plants
🌱 Scientific Overview
Lobelia cardinalis is a popular aquatic stem plant known for its broad, rounded leaves and vibrant coloration. In submerged aquarium conditions, the plant displays bright green upper leaf surfaces with reddish to purple tones on the undersides, creating a strong and elegant visual contrast within planted aquariums.
The plant belongs to the Campanulaceae family and is widely used in aquascaping for its bold leaf shape and ability to add structure and color balance.
🧪 Tissue Culture Technology – TC Cup
This plant is produced using Tissue Culture (TC Cup) technology by Sreepadma Aquatic Plants, ensuring:
- A completely sterile and pest-free plant
- Free from snails, algae, and chemical residues
- Safe for shrimp, fish, and sensitive aquatic species
- Healthy, clean plantlets in each cup
- Good adaptation after planting
🌍 Natural Habitat
Lobelia cardinalis originates from North America, where it naturally grows along riverbanks, wetlands, and shallow freshwater environments with high moisture levels.
🎨 Appearance and Form
- Leaf Color: Bright green with reddish-purple undersides
- Leaf Shape: Broad, rounded to oval leaves
- Growth Pattern: Stem plant
- Expected Height: Approximately 15–30 cm
📍 Ideal Placement in the Aquarium
- Placement: Midground to background
- Suitable for medium to large aquariums
- Adds strong structure and contrast
- Commonly used in nature-style and classic aquascapes
💡 Lighting Requirements
- Lighting: Medium to high
- Strong lighting enhances red coloration on leaf undersides
- Lower light results in greener appearance
🌬️ Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
- Recommended
- Improves growth speed and leaf coloration
- Can grow without CO₂ at a slower rate
🌿 Suitable Substrate
- Prefers nutrient-rich aquarium soil
- Active substrates support strong root development
- Root fertilization enhances overall growth
🧂 Fertilization and Nutrition
- Requires balanced macro and micro nutrients
- Iron supports deeper red coloration
- Nutrient deficiency may cause pale leaves
🌡️ Water Parameters
- Ideal Temperature: 20–28°C
- pH Range: 5.5 – 7.5
- Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
- Performs best in clean, stable water
✂️ Planting Instructions
- Remove the plant from the TC cup
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all gel residue
- Separate into individual plantlets
- Plant gently into the substrate
- Leave adequate spacing between stems
🔁 Growth and Maintenance
- Moderate growth rate
- Regular trimming encourages bushier growth
- Cuttings can be replanted
- Stable once established
⚠️ Important Notes
- Color intensity depends on lighting and nutrient balance
- Broad leaves may shade smaller plants
- Requires stable aquarium conditions
🏷️ Quick Product Information
- Scientific Name: Lobelia cardinalis
- Product Type: Aquatic plant – Tissue Culture
- Producer: Sreepadma Aquatic Plants
- Placement: Midground / Background
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium
