Lately we have been getting alot of rain so the ground is moist all around. I also have a moisture meter and it stays fairly moist all the time. The area it is in is part sun and part shade. It is completely in the shade by 1 PM here. So it only gets morning sun.

I will try dripping water slowly on it and see if that helps. TY for your input.

Before watering, actually check the soil under the mulch. See what the top of the root ball looks like. Sometimes when a plant is in potting soil there's a problem with the way water moves between the potting soil and the native soil.

Also, a good investment that I made many years ago was a rain gauge. That way I actually know what amount of rain fell. Sometimes I am surprised, either more or less than I thought.

I have been flooding them since the other night and they are perking up. I am thinking about potting them with a diaper in the bottom to retain moisture and I hope this will fix the problem I just wished the tags gave more info on plants like these :/

This plant came up for some discussion on the Native Plants forum recently. Its a bog plant and thats a reason I'd never grow it but a couple people over there had some experience. Sounded to me like they aren't successfully grown unless they are very happy.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3981848/overwintering-cardinal-flowers-in-zone-6a?n=16

I find it to not be that difficult to grow, and mine are currently at least three feet high in their climb to 6 feet or so, and red glory probably next month or at least by early August.

Bear in mind, I'm growing a local ecotype from southern Missourri, so it's quite adapted to my climate.