BLOODY DOCK

[Mmathis]

This is a striking plant, but I'm not having much luck with it. From what I can find, it is mostly a garden plant that adapts to water (bog?) situations. I ordered 2 plants a while back, and planted them per directions (top of pot slightly submerged). They looked good for a few days, then started to look like the "stems" we're rotting. But there was some new growth. So I elevated the pots where they were still in the water, but only the bottom of the pots were submerged. They died.

I recently ordered 3 more. They came out of the shipping pkgs. looking great -- crisp & perky. But as soon as I potted them [took them out of the plastic pots they came in], they went droopy and so far (4-5 days later), they haven't recovered. I have them in pots, again with just the bottoms of the pots in water. They get about 4 hours of sunlight, some AM, some PM. But again, they are starting to put out new growth.

Yesterday I cut off all the droopy leaves, mixed them with mint & rosemary (all from my yard), chopped them up, added turtle food and fed them to the boxies . Alphie (my little girl, who is also the "tamest" one) ABSOLUTELY LOVED the new food dish! Thought she would never stop eating

So, would I do best by forgetting about making the bloody dock work as an aquatic and stick it in the turtle-garden? Understand it can be invasive, but if the turtles like to eat it, I can go either way. Just thought it would look cool as a marginal-type.

 

[sissy]

I bought them also at lowes as they grew great in my garden but not in the pond

 

[Mmathis]

I bought them also at lowes as they grew great in my garden but not in the pond

As of yesterday afternoon, they were perking up just a bit, and seemed to have put out a lot more new growth since I cut them back. I probably will go ahead and plant them, but will give them a couple more days in the water just to see. Oh, no, I can't do that 'cause I'm leaving town Monday [Michigan trip] -- they might die before I get back, so guess I better plant them sooner rather than later.....

Sissy, do you have a problem with their being invasive?

 

[sissy]

Not so far put I want them to spread out and cover a hill spot .But heard from people that they are invasive in the south ,longer growing season .Mine have only spread about 2 feet on one side the other side I keep trimmed up .

 

[Mmathis]

So far, so good. After I trimmed off the cruddy looking leaves, then left for a week , all 3 plants are at least thriving. New growth, they're just not "taking off," but at least look healthy!

 

[ididntdoit99]

Well i had to look it up to see what it looked like, and this is the website i just happened to click on

http://www.mwgs.org/index.php?rte=pltviewd&pid=10&cid=6#

That's very strange nobody has had luck growing it in their pond, it says it loves water, and the picture looks like it in a pond.