Lobelia is an interesting ornamental plant, a perennial belonging to the bellflower family. The birthplace of this flower is South Africa, Australia and America, where it grows on rocky slopes, along river banks, among shrubs and with sufficient humidity, it blossoms unusually beautifully, and the color of the buds can be very diverse: white, purple, bright scarlet.
Plants of many varieties, for example, such as shiny lobelia, blood red and ampelous, are considered one of the finest used for decorative purposes. They are used to decorate garden plots, flower beds, balconies, terraces and hanging planters. Lobelia go well with many other plants, so they are often used as a "background" for large-flowered species. As an annual in parks and gardens, a blackberry variety is grown that is perfectly adapted to the temperate climate of central Russia. In this article we will talk about this beautiful garden plant under the gentle name "lobelia". Planting and care of this perennial are a complex of agricultural operations that are not particularly difficult for any, even a beginner grower. The main thing is to know how to properly water, fertilize and plant it.
Lobelia: planting and care. Temperature, lighting, watering and top dressing
These plants can be of different shapes: upright (up to 25 cm in height), ampelous, with hanging shoots (up to 50 cm in length) with abundant flowering on them and compact - up to 15 cm in height.
Lobelia stands out among other garden plants with its abundant and long flowering: its flowers are small, about 2 cm in diameter, but bright and cheerful. With proper care, the plant will delight the eye with its pink, purple or white buds from June to September. If you are considering how to diversify your garden, opt for a plant called lobelia. Planting and care for it consists in the correct selection of the site, timely watering and top dressing. This plant prefers sunny places or partial shade, with insufficient lighting, its flowering can deteriorate significantly. As for climatic conditions, the lobelia feels great at moderate temperatures and tolerates small frosts (up to -1 ° C or -2 ° C). With excessive heat, and heat needs abundant and regular watering, otherwise it may die. A normal cultivated garden land with a small amount of organic fertilizers is suitable for a plant. The soil should be loose, permeable, not swamped. Water the lobelia as needed, teaching hydration in dry weather. The plant responds well to periodic top dressing with complex mineral mixtures. This contributes to a longer and lush flowering of lobelia. In addition to watering and feeding, after the first flowering, the plant is pruned (at a height of about 5 cm) so that it forms new shoots and tied up the buds with renewed vigor.
Beauty lobelia. Planting and care: reproduction
This garden plant is propagated in two ways: by seed and cuttings. Lobelia seeds are sown in containers, from the end of February to April. It is believed that the March seedlings grow the strongest. When planting, the biomaterial is not immersed deep in the soil, is not buried and very carefully watered by spraying. After germination, 2 real leaves pick. For dive seedlings, it is advisable to keep cool (up to 18 ° C) and provide enough light. Seedlings are transferred to open ground in May - when the possibility of cooling is minimized. You can cover the seedlings, for example, lutrasilom, preventing possible spring frosts. Otherwise, lobelia may die. Planting and care (the photo shows the plant seedlings) behind it, as you can see, are quite simple.
The second method of reproduction is also quite easy and convenient. In order to get healthy cuttings, the plant must be left in a pot until spring. And then dissect the bush, cutting branches about 10 cm long.
Lobelia ampelous: landing and leaving
There are no special differences in the cultivation of ampel lobelia from other forms. She also needs bright sunlight, constant humidity, adequate watering, and loamy soil with good permeability. For lush flowering, the plant is abundantly moistened in hot weather and periodically fed. Ampelia lobelia is propagated by seedling method, sowing seeds in boxes from the end of February to the beginning of April. Shoots appear after two weeks, after which the temperature in the room is lowered to 15 ° C.