Lobelia: cultivation, care, reproduction

Lobelia is an annual plant that has a decorative appearance. It is grown not only in gardens or vegetable gardens, but also in the city on balconies. If you properly care for this plant, then it will be decorated with a large number of flowers. lobelia. Growing it is not difficult, the main thing is to know the basic rules.

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Sowing lobelia seeds brings a lot of trouble, as it can be compared to jewelry work. This is due to the fact that the seeds are quite small, resembling dust. There are different packages of such planting material on sale. If a person is still a beginner and has never grown lobelia before, then it is better to purchase seeds that are in granules. Several seeds were placed in one granule. Later, a group of plants will emerge from it.

Experienced gardeners initially mix seeds with sand. This must be done carefully. After this, they plant the mixture in the soil. To get seedlings, seeds need to be planted in late January or early February. If you perform this procedure in April, then the plant will delight you with its flowers much later. For landings you should choose a suitable soil. It is better to purchase special soil for flowers. It should be light and loose. Before planting, the soil should be well moistened with warm water.

Seeds should not be covered with soil. To keep the soil from drying out and the temperature to be stable, the containers are covered with glass or film. But mold may appear, so it is recommended to ventilate the pallets several times a day. Planted seeds need to be monitored. The appearance of condensation will have a negative effect, since large drops can push the seeds deeper into the soil, which makes it much more difficult for them to germinate. Shoots should appear on days 3-6. Watering deserves special attention. The seedlings need to be watered carefully. This is due to the fact that they are very small and delicate. To do this, it is better to use a small spoon or syringe.

The most important problem that a person may encounter when growing seedlings is the water regime. If there is a lot of moisture, then mold will appear on the stems of the plant. If the lobelia gets too dry, then its foliage will begin to curl.

Problems may arise if the plant does not have enough lighting. This will lead to shoots will stretch out. Therefore, if seedlings are grown in a place that is poorly lit by the sun, additional lighting should be provided. Particular attention should be paid to feeding. You should not do this procedure when the sprouts are very small. At the initial stage of plant development, fertilizing can be harmful. It is better to apply fertilizers already in open ground or in containers where you plan to grow lobelia.

It is also important to remember that the seeds do not need to be covered with soil when planting. Otherwise, shoots may not appear, since from the first days lobelia needs lighting.At this stage of development, you need to water the plant properly, since a stream of water can wash away small sprouts, so they die. Lobelia loves moisture, but excessive watering can cause blackleg disease.

So, the main enemy of lobelia is blackleg disease. It is provoked by undisinfected containers and frequent watering. When this appears disease, sprouts begin to fall to the ground. In this case, the following measures should be taken:

Lobelia is propagated using seeds. But, if you wish, you can transplant one strong plant into a container in winter and move it indoors. In spring, it is cut into the required number of cuttings. After this, they need to be rooted and then planted in the ground. If you follow all these simple rules, lobelia will delight you with its flowers all summer. But it’s easy to grow and care for.

When the first leaves appear, then a dive should be made. Fragile seedlings need to be transplanted into plastic containers. They are also planted in groups. Caring for lobelia is easy. She doesn't like the soil to dry out. If you don't water the plant well, it will quickly die. The first sign of moisture deficiency is curled leaves. It is recommended to water in the morning and evening every day. You should especially not forget about this in hot weather. If the plant is not given proper watering, it will not even bloom.

Lobelia is practically indestructible diseases. The only thing that can destroy it is improper watering, since there is no need to moisten the plant much. When the frosts end, then you can begin planting seedlings in open ground. They are placed in the ground in groups, as in a dive. Lobelia pleases with its flowers until mid-autumn. It is a wonderful decoration for a garden or balcony. It is recommended to start seedlings early. This will extend the flowering period.

To ensure that there are many flowers and that lobelia develops normally, it is recommended to fertilize it several times during the summer. To form a whole cap of inflorescences, you need to pinch the plant. This is a simple procedure. When the shoots reach the required length, then you need to pinch off the top of the sprout. This will prevent long branches from appearing. This procedure is not performed for hanging varieties.

If lobelia is grown in flowerpots, then you should pay attention to the water that can accumulate at the bottom of the container. This can cause the roots to rot. There should be holes in the bottom of the pot so that excess liquid disappears. But then you need to increase watering. If the foliage darkens, this means that the lobelia is overheated in the sun, and this will quickly dry out the ground. Therefore, it is necessary to increase watering in such cases. But it is better to hide the plant from direct rays of the sun.

Video on how to grow lobelia: