Cardinal Flower in a Big Pot

I received a cardinal flower as a gift late last week. I decided almost immediately to put it in a pot since it likes to be kept very wet - wetter than any area stays in my yard. The plant was already beginning to droop in the small pot from the nursery because the water drained away so quickly.

I bought a large pot for the deck that I could keep soggy even in the hottest weather. The shells from South Carolina went into the bottom. Next - every partial bag of potting soil, vermiculite, and sphagnum moss in the garage went into the pot (what joy to finally be using up all cobwebby bags!). The plant was positioned in the pot - and watered.

I’m looking forward to the plant beginning to bloom….anticipating hummingbirds and butterflies.