This blue beauty has recently become very popular with gardeners. She was loved for a wide range of white-pink-blue colors, as well as different shades of lilac and almost crimson.
Gardeners are attracted to the profusion of flowering and variety Bush habit is both compact and cascade, cascade. And Lobelia very well fit into flower beds, grow well in pots and in the garden and on the balconies.
Botanical information
We get acquainted with the plant closer. Among the Lobelia there are annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as trees and shrubs. All of them within 300 species.
Unusual blue color
Widespread, present on almost all continents, but most of them in the subtropics: in the temperate zone of diversity is significantly reduced.
Annual Lobelia
In floriculture used about 20 species, but the most famous and favorite was Lobelia erinus. It is she and her various varieties grow in our flower beds.
Native to South Africa, it grows on moist soils among the stones in the bushes. From there in the late 18th century was brought to Europe, where he became a favorite of gardeners. This natural species is a small annual plant with abundant branching fragile shoots 10-40 cm long. Leaves are medium-sized, simple, with scalloped edges.
Flowers of Lobelia
Flowers Lobelia small-from 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, have 5 petals: 3 lower larger and are fan, and the top 2-small and narrow. The natural look has amazingly pure blue color, and already a variety of colors available now is a work of breeders.
In addition to Lobelia erinus most common types of:
- lobelia alida-has large, coarse stems and flowers of blue or purple color, decorated with a white spot in the center;
- lobelia tenuior is a plant, on the contrary, more small and elegant, but with beautiful large flowers.
Varieties of Lobelia
Different varieties of Lobelia differ not only in the variety of colors, but also in its shape. Bushes can be very compact in the form of a ball, there are long shoots, forming a fluffy flowering cascades, others-in the form of pads. In this regard, they are United in two main groups:
Compacta Group
Plants of this group form straight low stems up to 15 cm. They look beautiful on the beds with the same low annuals, in the curbs along the track, good and in containers with higher colors.
Compact Lobelia
Varieties of this group:
- ‘Cristall Palace’ – 10-15 cm, dark blue flowers;
- ‘Kaiser Wilhelm — – 10 cm, bright blue flowers;
- ‘Deep Blue Star’ – 10-13 cm, deep blue flowers;
- ‘Paper Moon — – 8-10 cm, white flowers;
- ‘Riviera Blue Splash — – 8-10 cm, white flowers with blue spur;
- ‘White Lady — – 10-12 cm, white flowers;
- ‘Kaleidoscope’ – 10 cm, a variety of colors.
Pendula Group
Ampel Lobelia with very long, drooping shoots, they are most suitable for hanging pots and ground containers. This group of flowers are small, and their color is very different.
Basket Lobelia
The best varieties of Lobelia basket:
- ‘Curacao Blue White Eye — – blue with white eye;
- ‘TechnoHeat Trailing Light Blue — – sky blue with white eye;
- ‘Curacao Busket White evolution’ – white color.
Long-term Lobelia
These types of Lobelia are much less common than annual. But they are quite attractive and deserve our attention. Let’s get acquainted with at least two most interesting species.
Flowers of Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis – a fairly high plant, flowers unusually bright red color form an inflorescence-brush. It grows well, forming large groups, likes moist soil, suitable for low areas and artificial marshes or shallow water in a small pond.
Lobelia fulgens-high plant (75 cm), the leaves can be not only green but also red.
How to grow Lobelia
Grow Lobelia is not particularly difficult, you only need to follow the necessary rules and do everything carefully and carefully. Despite the fact that Lobelia comes from Africa, it is quite cold-resistant. She is not afraid of both spring return frosts and autumn cold snap – she will bloom until the frost.
Lobelia in the basket
Lobelia moisture-loving, because in the dry summer needs mandatory watering, otherwise it will be bad to bloom. To light undemanding: grows well in the bright sun, but in partial shade, and even in the strong shadow continues to bloom. This quality makes it indispensable in the shadow flower beds of annual plants.
Sowing time
At the end of February, it is a good time to start sowing Lobelia seeds. You can do this in early March, but not later than the first decade.
Some growers do not risk to grow this beauty, for fear of the difficulties associated with the cultivation of seedlings. And this is mainly due to the fact that Lobelia extremely small seeds. But it is quite possible to cope with this. There are different ways of sowing Lobelia seeds: in the soil, in cassettes or peat tablets.
Sowing seeds of Lobelia in the ground
It is best to buy ready – made soil in the store-light, loose and nutritious. The soil for sowing seeds is prepared in advance, a day or two before sowing. Fill a small container with earth, pour the solution of Phytosporin. When the soil slightly dries, clap or sealing anything.
Preparation for sowing
Lobelia seeds can be mixed with sand or coffee, then they will lie more evenly on the surface of the earth. Top of the crops soil cover! Just a little more time clap, as if pushing them into the soil.
Do also so: on the soil lay a small layer of snow and sow on it. When the snow melts, he pulls a little seed behind him. Sprinkle them with earth is not necessary, they will be placed in the top layer of the soil.
Containers with crops are placed in transparent bags or closed with a film, so that the earth does not dry up, and put in a place warmer – to the battery. Every day you need to remove the shelter for a while and ventilate.
Seeding into cassettes or tablets
Are the seeds of Lobelia in the form of pellets: in this case, each pellet contains several seeds, up to 8 pieces. Such pills it is best to sow in the cassette. In each cell there is a recess in it and put the pellet. With this sowing will be much easier to carry out the landing.
One-week seedlings of Lobelia and petunias
Approximately the same is carried out in seeding and peat tablets. If the seeds are not granular, you can use a toothpick: wet its tip, lower the seeds (to the tip stick a few pieces) and move them to the center of the tablet.
All, sowing held, waiting for shoots that will not take long to wait. Usually Lobelia seeds germinate in a week, and sometimes before.
Growing seedlings
When the shoots appear, our containers with crops are immediately moved to the lightest place – to the window sill to the glass itself, because plants need light most of all for development. While seedlings are small, they do not require special care.
Lobelia seedling
You only need to be watered, but very carefully, not flooding, and to keep a close watch our little seedlings didn’t get sick. If you see that the first signs of the disease – immediately remove the diseased plants, and the soil pour fungicide and lightly dry.
Transplantation
Transplant (dive) seedlings spend three weeks. You can seat in separate cups, will be sufficient diameter of 5 cm Can be transferred to a box in which the plants are placed at a distance of 4-5 cm
In swordplay Lobelia is one caveat: transplanted plants are not one, and immediately several pieces in one drink. Since its shoots are very small, thin and delicate, literally similar to moss, then it is simply impossible to plant one plant. Therefore, very carefully separate a small pile of seedlings (for example, a plastic knife) and transfer it into the prepared container.
Put the plants in a small depression made in the soil, pour the soil around them and compress it around the seedlings. Water quite a bit and again pour the soil. The work is quite painstaking, but really doable, you just have to be patient.
Quality seedling of Lobelia
After transplanting the seedlings begins to grow quite quickly. In dark evenings or on very cloudy days, it is useful to arrange additional lighting.
If the weather is warm enough, seedlings can be put on a glazed loggia or balcony – closer to the light. Water the seedlings moderately, but do not allow complete drying of the earthen coma. It is good to carry out a couple of times feeding with a weak solution of complete mineral fertilizer.
Planted in the ground
Time runs fast, and now it’s time to plant our Pets in the ground. Well, if you can pre — hold hardening, opening the Windows and letting in fresh air and cool breeze, and even better-to carry seedlings on the porch of the house for a few hours.
Usually a landing of Lobelia in the ground is carried out at the end of may. We prepare the soil in advance: we loosen it, add organic matter or mineral fertilizers. Our sprawling groups of Lobelia are planted in the holes, located no more than 15 cm – then the plants are well closed and form a continuous carpet.
Landing of Lobelia
On the flower beds, as a border, in the rocky hills it is best to plant varieties compact, having the shape of a ball or pads. If we want to create a garden of potted plants, plant ampel varieties with long shoots in pots or containers.
Often Lobelia begin to bloom while still at home, in seedlings. After planting, the plants usually do not get sick, quickly take root, and flowering smoothly continues throughout the summer.
Lobelia in garden design
In conclusion, a few words about what flowers will make the best company for Lobelia. Of course, these are the same low plants-pads, like herself. The magnificent combination of blue Lobelia, white alyssum, or iberis.
Composition with snow-white alyssum, Tropaeolum and Lobelia
In the same company you can add a great yellow or lemon color of short plants.
Also with Lobelia will look great with its silvery glow slightly dim the brightness of these colors.
Lush composition with Lobelia
Do not be afraid to show your love for flowers, imagination and imagination, and beautiful blooming compositions will bring joy to you and all your loved ones.
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