Written by Maggie
Oct 28 2021
Lobelia is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Lobelia in platycodon family. It is of high ornamental value. When flowering, the whole plant appears to be expansive and round, and the plant is almost full of flowers. It is suitable for flower beds, potted plants, hanging pots and garden landscaping. Now, let's see how to grow and care for Lobelia.
Lobelia needs to choose loose, good drainage, rich in humus sandy soil. When we grow and care for Lobelia, put the soil in a pot about 10 to 15 centimeters in diameter and add some base fertilizer. The pot can be planted into 2 ~ 3 seedlings, so that six times the potted flowering more full, exuberant.
Lobelia is not tolerant to shade and must be in full light to grow normally. When we grow and care for Lobelia, it must be placed in the sun can be direct to the place. If you don't get enough light, try to get six times as much light as possible in a well-lit place for three to four hours a day. Flowers bloom normally in long sunshine and low temperatures.
Lobelia belongs to the cold season type flowers, but the cold resistance is not strong, the north can not open the winter. When we grow and care for Lobelia avoid the heat, the summer when the temperature is high into a dormant state.
When we grow and care for Lobelia, watering should be based on the conservation environment, the size of the potting soil, the growth condition, under normal circumstances to keep the potting soil moist. Pour the water thoroughly.
When we grow and care for Lobelia, selectively apply fertilizer as needed. Apply more fertilizer during the growing season and stop when temperatures are low in winter.
Deadhead frequently to encourage more blooms. When we grow and care for Lobelia, keep tips pinched back bushier growth. After the first flowering, prune the entire plant back by about half an inch to encourage more flowering.
Produces abundant 5-lobed, asymmetrical blossoms in shades of white, blue, red and purple throughout the summer months.
The small, lance-shaped leaves are almost hidden by the blossoms. Leaf color ranges from medium green to very deep green. Some varieties have bronzed edges.
Plant Lobelia seeds indoors early in the spring, or sow directly into the moist soil outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Germination time is 14 days at consistently warm (70 degrees Fahrenheit) The seeds can germinate at lower temperatures, but it can take quite a long while. If sowing indoors, allow a couple of months for seedlings to become mature enough to be transplanted outdoors several weeks after the last frost.
If you have a lobelia plant that you are especially fond of, you may wish to try growing more by cuttings or division. If the parent plant is growing outdoors, relocate it to a cool, protected spot indoors early in the autumn. It should receive lots of light but sparse watering through the winter.
In February, move the Lobelia seedlings to a warmer setting. Continue watering and watch for new growth. When it appears, take cuttings and plant them into small pots containing sandy soil or pure sand. They should develop roots shortly. When this happens, move your cuttings to more permanent containers with good quality soil.
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