Lobelia ampelnaya the best varieties

Lobelia ampelous is an amazingly beautiful plant with a lush cap of small flowers. Ideal for planting in pots and other hanging containers to decorate balconies and garden areas. Differs in a long flowering period. Having chosen the ones you like most from the best varieties according to the photo and description, do not forget about caring for the plants so that they please with their delicate flowering until the frost.

Description of ampelous lobelia

Lobelia belongs to the Kolokolchikov family. There are many varieties of this plant, some of which are even medicinal. But only some of the species are used in floriculture. The most popular is ampelous lobelia. It is a perennial plant, but in the conditions of our country it is more often cultivated as an annual, since these flowers are thermophilic and do not tolerate severe winters.

This type of lobelia is distinguished by thin shoots, leafy enough densely. The stems can grow up to 50 cm in length. But when they reach 10-15 cm, they begin to slope. The leaves are small, oblong in shape.

Lobelia looks wonderful in a pots

Ampelous lobelia flowers are also small, irregular in shape, up to 1.5-2 cm in diameter, located along the entire length of the stem. They form a beautiful lush cap, and the flowering plant looks like a ball. The range of flower shades is wide enough. Various shades of blue and blue are more common. But there are also white, pink, purple-crimson, lilac.

Attention! Lobelia is never red or yellow. When talking about the red color of flowers, pink or crimson shades are meant, which must be taken into account in order not to fall for the tricks of unscrupulous sellers.

Popular varieties

Lobelia ampelnaya does not differ in a large varietal variety, but the gardener still has some choice. Among the varieties most popular with flower growers are:

• Sapphire - forms a lush bush with hanging shoots up to 35 cm long. The flowers are small, blue in color, there are white blotches on the petals;
• Blue fountain - up to 6-8 flowering shoots are formed on a compact bush. The length of the stems is about 30 cm. It blooms in blue. There is a white speck in the middle of the inflorescence;

Blue fountain variety

• Red cascade - the bush of the plant is well developed, the shoots are strong. The length of the stems reaches 35 cm. Differs in abundant flowering. And although the word “red” is present in the name of the variety, there is no such color for lobelia. The color of the flowers is not at all red, but dark pink or closer to crimson.
• The Regatta variety is also quite in demand. This lobelia plant forms a beautiful lush bush. There are different colors of flowers, there are even pink and lilac shades.
• Among the popular varieties can be called Ricardi's ampelous lobelia. Only this is a hybrid variation, and it reproduces not by seeds, but by cuttings.

Growing from seeds

Of course, now you can buy seedlings ready for planting. The flower will only have to be planted in a container with prepared soil.But it is much more interesting to grow lobelia from seeds, although it may seem rather difficult for beginners in floriculture at first. And the fact is that the seeds of these flowers are very small, smaller than a poppy seed, and this causes some difficulties when planting.

Lobelia develops for a long time, so seeds are planted early enough. The most suitable time for sowing is February or early March. But many growers sow even earlier, at the end of January. The soil for planting should be light and loose with neutral acidity. For growing seedlings, you can take ready-made soil.

Advice. If ordinary garden soil is taken for planting seeds, it is necessary to pre-heat it in the oven. It is also better to thin it a little with sand to make it looser.

Features of planting ampelous lobelia

This is not to say that lobelia is too difficult to grow. Some difficulties can only be caused by planting seeds and caring for young seedlings, since at first they are very thin and weak. The seeds are very small in size, so it can be difficult to spread them evenly over the soil surface and avoid thickening. To make this process somewhat easier, you can use one of the following methods of planting lobelia seedlings:

Lobelia seedlings

1. Mix seeds with fine sand. Then evenly spread this mixture over the surface of the prepared soil in the planting container.
2. Moisten the tip of a toothpick in water. Dry seeds will stick to it in several pieces. In this way, they can be accurately and evenly transferred to the surface of the ground.
3. Buying seeds in granules is the easiest way to quickly and easily plant lobelia.

Peat tablets or small cups filled with prepared soil can be taken as planting containers. Seeds are planted on a superficially moistened soil. From above, the container must be closed with glass or foil before seed germination and for some time after germination. Care must be taken to keep the soil moist, and daily ventilation is also required. Watering is first carried out by spraying from a spray bottle. And then, when sprouts appear, it is better to use a small syringe for watering so that water does not fall on the young leaves.

Attention! Lobelia seeds germinate only in the light, therefore it is unacceptable to sprinkle them with soil when planting.

Lobelia care

Seedlings develop very slowly at first. When the first leaves appear on young seedlings, they can be dived, planting several pieces in pots or boxes. With the onset of warmth, when the threat of frost is no longer there, containers with plants are placed in a permanent place in the open air. Lobelia blooms profusely and for a long time.

Lobelia needs proper pruning

When the first wave of flowering comes to an end, it is better to prune the plants. This will contribute to the rapid regrowth of the bush and its next flowering. The second pruning can be done somewhere in August, in order to continue the flowering of lobelia in this way until the very frost. But if you plan to collect your own seeds from the plant, the second pruning is not done so that they have time to ripen before the cold weather.

Lobelia ampelnaya is a beautiful plant that, during flowering, resembles a lush ball. These flowers, planted in hanging boxes and pots, can become a real decoration of a balcony or a suburban area. You just need to take into account some of the peculiarities of growing lobelia, and it will delight the eye with its delicate flowering from the beginning of the summer period until the very cold weather.

Planting lobelia: video

Annual ampelous lobelia "Regatta", "Sapphire" or "Cascade" for a garden or balcony can be used in the form of a falling river of continuous flowering throughout the summer and autumn.And with early planting, budding can begin from mid-April, which greatly extends the period of admiring the natural beauty.

In gardens and to decorate balconies, flower growers practice the cultivation of the Lobelia culture, which belongs to the genus of the same name of the Bell family. All varieties represented by these specimens are abundantly flowering grasses and herbaceous shrubs in horticulture. Matthias de L'Obel gave this culture to the world, and now there are a huge number of varieties that allow you to effectively decorate balconies and loggias, terraces and verandas. We will consider the basic rules of growing in this article.

In the wild, it is a perennial; it can look like a shrub, shrub or miniature tree with a distinct woody growth shoot. In the natural habitat, ampelous lobelia is found on almost all continents where temperate zones are present, it mainly grows in the subtropics and humid tropics. It is possible to grow a perennial outdoors in our country only as an annual crop; planting in pots is carried out. The process of caring for the crop is very simple and always gives results of impressive beauty.

Look at the ampelous lobelia in the photo below, where it is presented in a wide palette of shades of its flowers:

Description of ampelous culture and its photo

At home, some growers grow lobelia as an ampelous plant. The fact is that its flexible shoots have the ability to hang from hanging pots. For this reason, the flower is considered an ideal decoration for balconies and loggias. Creeping thin branches branch well and quickly form a dense herbaceous bush. A description of the culture can begin with the fact that the cap of green leaves reaches a height of 10-20 cm. There are decorative varieties of lobelia, in particular the Erius species, up to 50-60 cm high. The leaves of the plant are alternately located on intertwining shoots. They have a solid edge and are lanceolate. The crown of the leaves is very dense and dense, capable of forming an openwork cap of a dark green color.

Ampelous lobelia blooms at a late stage of seedling development, after planting it with seeds. If the plant has multiplied by self-sowing, then it will bloom a little later, usually 3-4 weeks, than those that were grown at home. Abundant flowering, at this time, two-lipped buds are formed, up to 2-3 cm in diameter. Delicate flowers can be of various shades.

Plants with blue, blue, purple, white and violet flowers are most commonly found. Less commonly, they can be red or pink. There are a lot of small flowers on one bush, they are attached with short pedicels. The main characteristic of lobelia is that the buds are composed of corolla petals arranged in a fan. An annual blooms in the garden or at home from early June to September. If you take proper care of the plant, you can make it bloom again. Usually, re-blooming is more abundant and colorful.

Look at the photo of ampelous lobelia - the most amazingly beautiful representatives of this culture are presented:

Types and varieties

The most famous type of lobelia, which is grown by flower growers in different climatic zones of Russia as an annual, is "Erius". The plant comes in many forms. It can be with drooping shoots, spreading, spreading, climbing or erect. Varieties of this type are often used to decorate borders and create flower streams. Compact varieties of ampelous lobelia are often grown as indoor perennial flowers.

The most famous are the following varietal groups, their names are presented below:

• "Regatta Rose" - ampelous lobelia with beautiful fan-like flowers of pink tones;
• "Regatta Blue" or "Sapphire" - blue or sky-blue buds;
• "Regatta Lilac Splash" (Lilac splash) - purple-white bud;
• Reggata Mix has a rich variety of flowering colors;
• "Anabel" (Anabel Violet Whiskers) - with delicate lilac and blue blooms;
• "Uyat" - lobelia blooms with white flowers.

Another well-known annual for the garden is the "Ricarda" ampelous lobelia. Unlike "Erius" this type of shrub is larger. Shoots drooping, rough with numerous green leaves and voluminous flowers. Some botanists suggest that this species is a hybrid form of "Erius".

Delicate thinnest lobelia is the name of a species that is also grown in our gardens as an annual ornamental plant. The height of the herbaceous bush is about 20-35 cm. Inflorescences are strewn with long creeping shoots. The buds reach 2 cm in diameter and can have a shade of blue, white, cream or lilac.

Seed propagation method

Lobelia propagation by seeds is the main way to get this plant on your site. Some growers who live in subtropical humid zones use cuttings, but this is only appropriate for dividing perennial forms. The seeds of the plant are easy to get from their plantings at the end of the season, since after abundant flowering, the fruit quickly sets - a multi-seeded box. The planting material retains a high percentage of germination for 3 years, after reaching this age it sharply decreases.

You can use peat tablets or flat containers to grow lobelia from seeds. As a container for seedlings, cassettes are suitable, no more than 5 cm deep. If you grow lobelia seedlings in peat tablets, then they are pre-soaked in boiling water. Let's look at a method that involves using a cassette to plant a plant.

Use sterilized soil based on peat and river sand as a substrate; instead, you can initially try germinating with seeds in other compositions. A potting mix based on peat, turf, and garden soil from your garden is suitable. The germination substrate must remain moist throughout the time it takes to form young plants. Dry air and soil are detrimental to both seedlings and adult lobelias. Do not add humus or rotted compost to the soil mixture. The soil for lobelia seedlings should be light, therefore it is recommended to wipe it with your hands before placing in cassettes. To lighten the potting mix, stir in an equal amount of coconut fiber.

In the seedling cassettes, lay out the drainage in the first layer. Use dry bark, expanded clay, broken brick, fine gravel or coarse river sand. In order to maintain the moisture content of the soil, flower growers lay out pebbles instead of such materials. After drainage, we lay the prepared soil and sow seeds on its surface. It is impossible to close up the planting material, since it will not be able to ascend. Lobelia sprouts, as seen in the photo below, are very thin and delicate - they cannot penetrate the soil layer. Instead, sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of clean sand on top. Such material will retain moisture in the soil. From above, the container is covered with a transparent cover made of polyethylene or glass and placed in a room with bright diffused light. Do not open the mini-greenhouse for ventilation if the temperature in the room is above 22 degrees. For the emergence of seedlings and their active development, the optimal temperature regime is in the region of + 18-20 degrees. In such conditions, as soon as the first signs of life appear, the plant can be aired twice a day.

At this stage, growth will develop extremely slowly. But, in a few weeks, the growth will be very active. A delay in development occurs only for the first month, and after 8-10 weeks the first flowers on the seedlings begin to bloom. Most importantly, follow the watering schedule when caring for seedlings. The soil should always remain slightly damp.With dry air and soil, the stems are depleted and die.

As soon as the lobelia seedlings reach 3-4 cm in height, you can dive the plants in separate containers. Plastic cups are suitable for this. 3-4 seedlings are placed in them. The tip is pinched in young lobelias for active formation of a bush, when they reach 6-7 cm in height.

Planting and caring for lobelia outdoors

As you know, seedlings before planting in open ground or pots already have several buds or open flowers. You can transplant a plant to a permanent place in the garden at the end of spring, when there is no threat of frost. For planting ampelous lobelia, choose a sunny place; in the openwork shade, caring for an annual can bring some problems. Loves bright diffused light. It does not bloom in the shade. Ampel lobelia takes root well on loamy and sandy light soils. Wetlands are not the best option for growing this plant, since with an excess of moisture, the plant rots.

For planting, we dig holes, 20-30 cm deep. Keep a distance of 15-20 cm between the bushes. This is the best option, since with greater scattering it will not be able to take up so much space and it will be difficult to achieve the desired decorative result. In the hole for planting we spread a thick layer of drainage and plant lobelia seedlings on this pillow by transshipment. You cannot destroy the earthen lump, since the plant has a fragile root system. After planting, watered with melt water.

As for leaving, the ampelous lobelia is completely independent, does not require careful care. The only thing that should be observed with special attention is the watering schedule. Even a short-term drought will ruin plantings. Watering is recommended at least 2 times a day. Also, use a hydrogel to retain moisture. In a drought, the number of procedures can be increased.

An important moment in the life of ampelous lobelia is its pruning after the first wave of flowering. At this time, all growth shoots are cut off 5 cm above the ground level. This is followed by abundant growth and active budding.

Mineral compositions are used as dressings, which are applied no more than 3-4 times over the entire summer season. You can not abuse nitrogen, since with its excess it does not bloom, but simply forms a large amount of green mass.

Some growers leave ampelous lobelia for the winter at home. The variety you like is dug up, and in the spring cuttings are cut from the mother bush. Then they are rooted in a nutritious substrate and planted in their permanent places in the garden.

Lobelia ampelnaya is an ideal beautifully flowering plant that can be used to decorate a garden or flower bed for the whole summer. The plant fits perfectly into any garden design and coexists well with other flowers, does not require special care, except for planting and watering. Be sure - this flower will become the real queen of your garden and the most exquisite decoration of the site.

External description

Lobelia ampelous represents a lush undersized bush (15-25 cm), strewn with flowers, in a hanging pots resembling a fountain of flowers. The ampel variety is characterized by long vines up to 35 cm, which hang from the pots or grow in the flowerbed to form a lush carpet.

The flowering period falls in May-September, and with the onset of cold weather, the lobelia dies. The plant thrives in the open field and in hanging flower pots. The flower is annual, although in countries with tropical climates it can grow as a perennial. With good care, it can overwinter on a balcony or a heated greenhouse.

The leaves are dark green lanceolate, serrated at the edges, no more than 3-6 cm in size. The flowers are very similar in appearance to a violet, but larger, about 2 cm in diameter. Depending on the variety, the color can be different: sky blue, juicy blue, bright purple, lilac, romantic pink, white, purple. The color can be solid and with a white center, like a violet.

Among the ampel varieties there are:

• Shrub, has the shape of a spherical bush no higher than 20 cm;
• Lobelia is erect, grows up to 30 cm;
• Lobelia is climbing, the branches of the plant descend in cascades up to 40-50 cm.

Ampelous lobelia varieties:

• Popular varieties: blue, blue, lilac, lilac, for example, Reggata Blue Splash, Marine Blue, Lilac, Mix, Sky Blue, Blue White Eye, Saphire, Rosamund lobelia »(A carmine-red flower with a white eye in the middle).
• Rare varieties: dark pink shades, pure white - "Reggata Lilac Splash", "Rose", white lobelia - "White".
• There are no orange and red colors.

In tropical climates, lobelia flowers are perennial, but in our latitudes it is an annual due to freezing in severe frosts.

Same

The lobelia flower looks great on a flower bed, in a flowerpot at the entrance to a gazebo or on a balcony, in tall flowerpots placed around the site and as a roadside curb. It can also be grown as a houseplant.

Gallery: ampelous lobelia (25 photos)

Growing and care

Cultivation and reproduction of lobelia occurs with the help of seedsthat ripen towards the end of flowering. The dark brown seeds are very small and their size is difficult to sow. In open ground, seeds are sown with the onset of warmth, and the germination period takes 6-8 weeks, which slows down the onset of flowering. In the open field, seedlings will bloom in late July - early August.

Boxes are used for planting lobelia seedlingsno more than 5 cm high, special cassettes or cups. If the plant grows in a flowerpot or pot, the seeds are sown immediately there.

Getting seedlings

When planting seeds for seedlings, there are tricks. Experienced plant growers recommend mixing them with sand, and then sowing this mixture into boxes with soil. This will help avoid overly dense seedlings. Thinning seedlings is difficult because they are very tender. By removing one sprout, you can accidentally damage the roots of neighboring ones, which leads to their death. Watering the seedlings should also be very careful.

Seedlings are sown in February. For the correct development of seedlings during this period, it is necessary to provide enough light and heat. With a lack of moisture and light, the seedlings will be weak and painful!

For planting seedlings, you can use a ready-made soil mixture or make it yourself. To do this, the garden soil must be mixed with sand. in a 1: 1 ratio, add vermiculite. To disinfect the soil, it is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

It is not necessary to deepen the seeds; after sowing, the soil is slightly pressed with fingertips and covered with foil. The optimum temperature is 18-20 C. To remove condensation and prevent the formation of fungi, the film is lifted daily for ventilation.

On the 12-14th day, the first shoots will appear, with their appearance the film is finally removed. Seedlings should be sprayed daily from a sprayer, preventing the soil from drying out.

Picking and transplanting into the ground

When the seedlings have grown to 3-4 cm they are dived into separate shallow containers of 2-4 pieces, depending on the size of the cup. To do this, carefully dig in moistened soil (you can use a spoon or a knife) and separate the roots, trying not to damage the delicate stems. Seedlings are planted in a new place along with the old soil and trample the ground around the root a little. Care remains the same - watering and additional lighting.

With a growth of 7 cm, the top of the young is pinched. This is necessary for the branching of the stem in the future.

Planting plants in open ground is carried out in late May - early June, when there is no threat of frost and sudden cold snaps. By this time, the seedlings will grow up, get stronger and the first buds will be tied, which will bloom after planting the lobelia in the garden. The best place for lobelia in a flower bed is a sunny outdoor area.

Before planting, prepare the site:

• Dig up for loosening and renewal;
• Sprinkle with fertilizer and sand;
• Pour chalk, slaked lime or housewife flour into the acidic soil;
• Allow to stand for 2-3 weeks and then begin the transplant.

For planting seedlings, holes are dug up to a depth of 5 cm where the young are planted by transshipment (with a lump of soil), trying not to damage the roots and stem. Plants are planted at a distance of 10-15 cm for lush growth and dense flowering. At the end of the procedure, the soil around the root is slightly compacted and watered abundantly.

Sowing in open ground

If you do not have time to grow seedlings you can sow lobelia seeds directly in the flower bed... To do this, the soil is loosened and fertilized as described above, the soil is moistened and seeds mixed with sand are sown. As an additional care and growth stimulator, you can spray on the surface a weak solution of manganese or Epin, diluted with water according to the instructions. For quick germination, the crops are protected with plastic wrap, which is not opened until shoots appear.

Additional care

Seedlings are watered daily according to the principle spraying water, direct watering can damage weak and delicate shoots.

When young plants grow up to 4-5 cm, they need to be thinned out, leaving stronger and stronger shoots. The procedure is carried out in a well-moistened soil. Re-planting of remote but not damaged shoots is possible.

The main care includes moderate but constant watering. It is impossible to allow the earthen coma to dry out strongly, which is fraught with the death of greenery.

With the growth of the plant, you need to pick, it is done several times:

• When the growth reaches 7 cm;
• After the first flowering.

At the base, almost all the stems are removed, after which the plant begins to branch and grow profusely. Do not be afraid to prune and do not feel sorry for old branches, feel free to remove branches, leaving 5 cm from the base. Frequent renewal of the bush promotes good branching and flowering.

An adult plant is watered 1-2 times a week. under the root. In hot weather, spraying should be avoided, as it can cause leaf burns. In summer, the frequency of watering is increased to 1-2 times a day, preferably in the early morning and evening after sunset.

For active and full-fledged growth, top dressing is included in the list of additional care. It is carried out 2 times a month using mineral fertilizers for flowers.

After flowering, you can harvest the seeds. Do not rush, you need to wait until the seed pod is completely dry and open. It is cut off and the contents are shaken out onto paper or into an envelope. Store seeds in a paper envelope or other container in a cool dry place.

Interesting Facts

With proper planting and further care, you will get a wonderful lush bloom throughout the summer, right up to severe frosts. Lobelia in a flowerbed perfectly coexists with other flowers and feels good in flowerpots and pots. In addition, in addition to its decorative properties, lobelia was previously used in medicine - the variety "Lobelia syphilitic " they treated the illness of syphilis, now it is used as a decorative decoration of the garden.

Lobelia Dortman is an endangered variety and is listed in the Red Book, and Lobelia Gerardis is the tallest and frost-resistant representative that survives at temperatures of -30 C.

Variety "Red cascade" has nothing to do with its name, its flowers are dark pink, rather even lilac-pink or crimson, but the red color is characteristic of the leaves of some varieties.

Overview of ampelous lobelia

Attention, only TODAY!

Lobelia flowers adorn various flower beds and flower beds. To get gorgeous lobelia garden flowers, planting and caring for the plant must be carried out within the framework of the recommended crop farming practices. Check out the highlights on this page. The material deals with planting a lobelia plant, caring for it throughout the growing season.Much attention is paid to the choice of varieties and species. It tells in detail about growing seedlings in peat tablets and special pots. By creating the right conditions for growing lobelia, you can get the perfect flower garden that will delight the eye with gorgeous buds throughout the summer and fall. The most important thing in this process is to plant the seedlings in a timely manner in order to get the earliest flowering.

Characteristics and description of the plant lobelia erinus

These beautiful flowers complement a wide range of annuals that delight the eye with their flowering. Lobelia is considered an annual plant. However, you can transplant it into flower pots for the winter and grow it indoors as a perennial. Lobelia blooms from June to the beginning of autumn frosts.

It is worth starting the characterization of the lobelia plant with the fact that it is a short plant, which, during the flowering period, is strewn with blue, pink, lilac and crimson flowers. The most popular is lobelia erinus. A short description of lobelia erinus is that its lush small bushes, most often covered with small bright blue flowers, form a carpet. Under good growing conditions, the flowering of the plant is so abundant that the green parts are not visible.

Lobelia erinus has many varieties that differ in flowers of different colors:

Blue

Light blue

Purple

Reddish

White

Among them there are even varieties of two-tone lobelia - most often the middle of the flower is white.

Lobelia is native to South Africa... This plant has up to 300 species. One of them, swollen lobelia, contains alkaloids (lobelin) and is used in the pharmaceutical industry to make medicines.

What a lobelia flower looks like: photo and description

The proposed description of the lobelia flower, accompanied by a photo, will allow you to get a complete impression of this garden culture:

Lobelia erinus is a highly branching plant with a height of 10-25 cm. The flowers are small, 1.3-2 cm in diameter, located one by one in the leaf axils, white, blue, pink, purple or dark blue in color, one-color or with an eye. In addition to the usual (bush), there is an ampelous form with stems up to 45 cm long. It blooms well both in sunny and semi-shady places, on light garden lands with sufficient humidity.

See what a lobelia flower looks like in the photo, which shows the different stages of plant development:

The best types and varieties of lobelia: photos and descriptions

The best lobelia varieties can be viewed on this page with detailed descriptions and accompanying images. The culture is divided into types and varieties of lobelia, which have a very different purpose. Lobelia erinus prostrate has shoots 15-30 cm long, and the height of the bush is small (up to 15 cm). The erect form of lobelia of the same species reaches a height of 15–25 cm. Lobelia erinus dwarf differs in height - only 8–12 cm. In compact lobelia, erinus bushes grow up to 15–20 cm in height and spread less in width.

The following are the most popular varieties of lobelia with photos and descriptions that will help you choose the right plants for your personal plot.

The most revered varieties of lobelia erinus are compact plants.

Among them, the Crystal Palace variety stands out.

This plant has very beautiful bright blue flowers, and the leaves on young plants appear black in summer.

The Kaiser Wilhelm variety is distinguished by a pronounced branching of bushes.

As a result, they close together and look like a solid carpet. Lobelia flowers of this variety are light blue in color.

Lobelia variety White Lady is distinguished by its white flowers.

In varieties of dwarf lobelia, flowers are red and dark blue with a white center.

There is a rare form of lobelia erinus with double flowers. They come in white, blue, purple and pink.

Lobelia Erinus Crystal Palace.

This is one of the best dwarf varieties.A beautiful plant with dark green foliage, completely covered with blue flowers, a bush 10-15 cm high. It blooms from June to September. The place is sunny, loamy soil with the addition of organic fertilizers. The seeds are sown in February.

Lobelia hybrid varieties have longer branches.

They are grown as ampelous plants in hanging pots.... Lobelia with hanging branches is often planted on balconies and along the walls of buildings.

Plants of the Amanda cultivar are distinguished by red flowers with a white center or mauve flowers.

Lobelia of the Miranda variety has pink-lilac flowers with a white center.

Sapphire has dark blue flowers with a white eye.

Another type of lobelia is shiny lobelia.

This plant is taller (60–90 cm) compared to Erinus lobelia. It belongs to perennials and has dark green leaves with a reddish tint. The flowers of this lobelia species are bright red. This plant, unlike lobelia erinus, does not propagate by seeds, but by cuttings.

The most popular varieties of glittering lobelia are:

Victoria

Illuminations

Climbing lobelia Red cascade is a hanging plant up to 30 cm.

The plant is covered with purple-red flowers with a white center. Blooms from June to September.

Climbing Lobelia White fountain is a hanging plant 30 cm high, covered with pure white flowers.

Look again all the presented types and varieties of lobelia in the photo, which illustrates the distinctive external features of flowers:

Lobelia in flower beds is combined with yellow mimulus, red pelargoniums and brilliant salvia. At close range, the plant looks most attractive.

Lobelia is suitable for creating borders, mixborders, arabesques and carpet beds.

It is also planted in rock gardens, near water bodies. Ampel varieties of lobelia in hanging pots are used to decorate balconies and verandas.

Blossoming lobelia, planted in one or two rows, forms a solid ribbon and is often used to create narrow borders and patterns.

How to plant lobelia seedlings correctly (with video)

Lobelia grows well on loose sandy and loamy soils. She prefers open and lighted areas. How to properly plant lobelia on seedlings is described in detail in this article, which offers information from sowing to the rules for caring for seedlings.

Lobelia is propagated by seeds, which are usually sown for seedlings in February. The seeding boxes are filled with a light nutrient mixture. The seeds are very small, so they are spread over the surface of the moistened soil and lightly sprinkled with the same moistened nutrient soil mixture. It is recommended to water crops with a spray bottle. The boxes are covered with glass and placed on shelves in the greenhouse, in a place protected from direct sunlight. After 10-12 days, the first shoots should appear. After the full development of the cotyledon leaves, the first picking of the plants is carried out, planting them in bunches of 2-3 pieces at a distance of 2 × 2 cm. The second picking is carried out after closing the plants, seating them at an interval of 3 × 3 cm.

Growing lobelia from seeds in peat tablets: seedling care

For better tillering, when growing lobelia from seeds in peat tablets, pinch the tops when the plants reach a height of 2.5-3 cm. Flowering begins in June and continues throughout the summer. If in August the plant is cut low, fed, loosened and watered, a second flowering occurs, which will last until frost.

Peat tablets are ideal for growing lobelia seedlings. They are poured with hot water and after 10 minutes, when they swell, seeds are planted in them. You can learn how to plant seeds in peat tablets from the instructions attached to them.

Next, peat tablets with seeds are placed in a greenhouse or greenhouse. With such a planting, it is not necessary to thin out the seedlings. If lobelia seedlings in peat tablets have sprouted up in a group, then they are transplanted into open ground.

When caring for lobelia seedlings, you need to remember that its shoots are vulnerable. They need regular watering, which is carried out very carefully so as not to damage the delicate small leaves. The difficulty of growing lobelia lies in the fact that the plant is harmed by both excess and lack of moisture. The tops of young lobelia bushes are pinched to make them more branched. If the lobelia is grown as an ampelous plant, then you do not need to pinch the top.

How to grow lobelia seedlings from seeds

Before growing lobelia seedlings from seeds, you need to choose the right place for the plants in your garden plot. When planting seedlings in the ground, the soil should be light, moist, fertile. The holes for the bushes should not be too deep, 20-30 cm is enough. The distance between the holes should be 15-20 cm. At the bottom of each hole we pour expanded clay (or crushed brick) - it will serve as a drainage system. The bush extracted from the pot is placed on a drainage "pillow", the roots are covered with soil. Bushes of young seedlings - 3-5 pieces can be planted in one hole.

The first feeding is carried out two weeks after planting the seedlings in a permanent place or after germination. Lobelia is fed only with organic fertilizers: 1 tablespoon of liquid fertilizer "Rainbow" and organic fertilizer "Flower" are diluted in 10 liters of water.

The second feeding is carried out in June, at the beginning of flowering: 1 tablespoon of liquid fertilizer "Agricola Fantasy" and 1 tablespoon of complete fertilizer "Agricola" for flowering plants are diluted in 10 liters of water. Solution consumption 2-3 liters per 1 sq. m.

This top dressing is given in July, and also after cutting the plant - in August.

Lobelia does not bloom intensively all summer. In the second half of July and in August, the number of flowers on the bushes decreases. In order to return attractiveness to the flower beds, new plants grown in flower pots are planted at this time. There is another option to return a lush bloom to lobelia. Bushes, on which there are few flowers and buds, are cut at a distance of 3 cm from the ground. Soon the ground part of the plant grows back and abundant flowering begins again.

Watch how to plant lobelia for seedlings in the video, which demonstrates all the subtleties of agricultural technology:

What you need to know about lobelia

In case of insufficient lighting, lobelia seedlings are strongly stretched. This happens when the containers with plants are located on the northern windowsills or planting too early. To improve the growing conditions in this case, lobelia needs additional lighting.

When growing seedlings in pots and planting in open ground, together with them, lobelia bushes grow weaker, but bloom more abundantly.

In very hot weather or insufficient watering, the flowering of lobelia stops. Therefore, at high ambient temperatures, it must be watered in the morning and evening.

Diseases. Lobelia is not affected by pests and rarely gets sick.