Home»Flowering»Lobelia
Lobelia erinusis commonly grown in windowpane boxes or around the edge of gardens as an edge plant .
It ’s got flimsy basal leaves and deep blue , over-embellished , or bloodless efflorescence .
The plant life is aboriginal to South Africa and was first naturalise in the 1600s .
It ’s become a popular option for garden around the existence , ensue in hundred of hybrids .
Lobelia erinus , pronounced [ depressed - BEE - lee - a EAR - rin - us ] , belong to to the household Campanulaceae . The plant life has a few common names , including :
There are also two main smorgasbord — a long , get behind works and a curt , compact variety show .
No matter which is grown , it ’s an well-off plant to like for and produces a mickle of modest colorful flowers .
Relatives admit theold fashion bellflower Campanula plantandIsotoma axillaristhe star flower .
Lobelia Erinus Care
Size and Growth
The edging lobelia is the short of the two main type .
It rarely grows more than 6″ inches mellow while the trailing riding habit lobelia can produce leggy growing up to 12″ inches .
Lobelia has thin leaves and delicate stems but may spread out a distich of feet , make it great for butt against borderline .
Flowering and Fragrance
The flora blossom in the summer , producing 100 of little white , pink , purple , violet or gloomy flowers with snowy eye .
There are also many hybrid offering various shades and heyday colors .
flush time run from former summer until mid - gloaming .
Light and Temperature
The garden lobelia needs full sun or partial shade and mild temperatures .
It ’s winter hardy to USDA hardiness zone 10 and 11 but it ’s mostly get as an yearbook in the ice chest realm .
If protected against freezing temperature , it can be get as a perennial , continuing to grow the follow summertime .
Watering and Feeding
The plant should incur regular watering and feeding throughout the summertime to help produce fuller flush .
If it ’s planted in the garden , water supply the plant twice per week and feed every two weeks . For container plant , body of water every during the warmer month .
In the winter , do n’t feed and determine watering .
Soil and Transplanting
Garden lobelia grows dear in robust soil that offers fast drain . If farm as an yearbook , the plant life does n’t need transplanting .
When keeping the plant over winter , add sweet soil or transplant in the saltation .
Grooming & Maintenance
If the plant life is kept outside during extremely strong weather , it may stop flowering . When this pass , trim back the prow and give the plant a thorough tearing .
How to Propagate Lobelia Erinus
The plant may be propagated with cuttings or germ . As it ’s typically grow as an annual , collecting the seeds is the easiest way to keep the plant twelvemonth after twelvemonth .
Sow the seminal fluid at room temperature or about 70 arcdegree Fahrenheit . It should take close to two week for the ejaculate to germinate .
line : The germ will germinate at lower temperatures but it deal much longer .
Use small pots or starter tray to sow the seed on top of propagating soil . Sow in early spring and wait about one calendar month beforethinning seedling outinto different sight .
When repotting , use rich , well - drain grime . leave behind the plant in post until the end of outflow when they can be transplanted into outdoor containers or gardens .
Propagating with cuttings requires planning . In the early fall , move the mother plant to a cool area of the house or thousand . It should be below 70 degrees Fahrenheit most of the day .
insure that the plant gets plenitude of light but confine the tearing until February . Move the plant to a ardent spot and wait for the growth to part .
When the flora start actively get , trim a few shank and plant them in flaxen dirt or pure grit .
Keep the young works in bright light and avoid overwatering . After they take root , transplant them into rich soil , the same as the soil used for the female parent plant .
The Modern plants should flower around the start of the summertime .
Erinus Lobelia Pests or Diseases
Lobelia erinus plants are toxic . The toxins in the leaves , stem , and flowers may be harmful to pets and mankind .
Cats and dogs especially should be kept by from the plant .
Besides maintain favorite and children away from the plant life , a deficiency of water and spider mites are the main issues to vex about .
As mention , Lobelia plants may stop flowering in the summertime .
This is often due to teetotal weather condition from excessive heat but it can also be make by underwatering . ignore the flora back and give it plenty of water .
Eggs and larvae are signs of red spider mite infestations .
The leave of yearly Lobelia may also begin to turn browned or bronze before falling off as the mites take nutrition from the plant .
Mist the plant with cold body of water to help prevent attack or bar small infestations . If the trouble receive severe , try using insect powder .
Suggested Uses For Blue Lobelia
The trailing Lobelia erinus potpourri bet peachy growing in hanging baskets or windowpane boxful .
The edging assortment works well for edging around garden bed or bath , mass as a flat coat covering , used in rock and roll gardens or bringcolor to a small balcony .
With either multifariousness , deal planting tall industrial plant behind the lobelia for a full look .
