Lobelia "Riviera": description of pink and blue bush lobelia, "Blue ice", "Lilac" and other varieties of the "Riviera" series

Subspecies

Lobelia erinus (long-peaked) is one of the most popular. It is perennial, but it is grown exclusively as an annual. It blooms so profusely that it is completely depleted by frost. In the second year, it is possible to preserve Erinus lobelia only in regions with a warm climate and snowless winters. And with a high probability it will no longer bloom. A distinctive feature of all varieties of this lobelia is a very lush crown. The color is characterized by the presence of a white spot in the central part of the crown.

Lobelia erinus occurs in five different forms: diffuse, climbing, columnar, dwarf and compact hemispherical. The most beautiful varieties are White Lady (snow-white flowers), Kaiser Wilhelm (an unusual blue hue that resembles gentian flowers), Riviera Lilac (pink-blue flowers, light), Regatta Rose (raspberry-pink shades), "Riviera blue splash" (white flowers with blue spurs).

One of the earliest varieties of lobelia "Sky Blue" also belongs to the lobelia erinus and differs in that the beginning of its flowering period is 2 weeks ahead of other varieties. The bush is spherical and compact in size. It grows up to 15 cm high. The shade of flowers is pale blue, while the ebb is purple. Blooms until early autumn. Used for framing or as a background for rock gardens. It grows well on an open loggia. Can be propagated by seed or cuttings.

Homeland of the variety "Riviera Midnight Blue" North America, the culture also has a spherical crown. The height of the bush, like that of "Sky Blue", reaches 20 cm. The leaves have a bronze tint. The flowers are medium in size, have a rich blue tone. It blooms outdoors from May to June. Reproduction takes place for the most part with seeds, which are sown in February. Needs partial shade, open sun rays are destructive.

Erect lobelia varieties “Riviera blue ice” bloom very early, half a month earlier than other varieties. It reaches a height of 20 cm, shoots grow up to 30 cm. Gardeners love it for its unpretentiousness and undemandingness to the soil on which it grows. Blooms for quite a long time. The flowers of this variety are similar to the eyes: blue with a white "pupil" in the center.

Lobelia bush "Riviera marine blue" also belongs to the early varieties, has a rich blue tint of flowers. The bushes are erect, form hemispheres, look beautiful in any of the plantings.

Reproduction

Seeds

Self-grown seedlings at home, take root better, tolerate temperature changes more firmly, are more resistant to pathogenic infections, fungi and garden insects - this is a huge advantage of the method. But for a good result, you need good, competent care for the seedlings, timely picking, pinching the tops.

Especially you need to carefully monitor the substrate - it should always be moist, but not damp.

Seeds are sown in winter, the process is long and painstaking, seedlings may be delayed in development, in the first stages they grow slowly. Also, with improper watering, the entire sowing can be affected by the fungal Blackleg.

How to choose seeds?

Lobelia Riviera seeds retain their qualities for 3-4 years. The seeds are very small, like dust particles - 1 g contains up to 25-30 thousand seeds, 1 g is enough to plant a whole flower bed. The peculiarity of planting seeds is that they should not be buried with a soil layer, the seeds are slightly pressed against the soil.

Reference! To sow evenly, the seeds are mixed with sand or peat - 1: 5.Can be sown on snow by spreading it in a thin layer on the surface of the substrate in the planting container.

In modern gardening, it is convenient to purchase special seed granules or dragees for the convenience of planting them in the ground.

Landing procedure

Sowing and growing seedlings is a painstaking and lengthy process that requires compliance with some rules:

Drainage holes are made in the seed container.
The planting container is filled with a pre-prepared substrate with a layer of 5 - 6 cm.
The substrate is tamped, moistened through watering with a spray bottle.
A day withstand the tamped and processed substrate.
Spread the seeds evenly over the entire surface of the planting container.
Moisten the sowing by spraying.
The planting containers are covered with a glass or polyethylene cover. The temperature for germination should be at least 22 - 24 ° C.
Seedlings are aired daily, removing condensate from the glass. Airing time - from 20 minutes, as the seedlings mature, the time increases.
After 7 - 10 days, the seedlings will germinate and grow.
The shelter is removed from the greenhouse for hardening the seedlings after 4 weeks.
The air temperature is slightly reduced to 17 - 18 ° C.
4 weeks after sowing, picking of seedlings into larger pots or peat cups is required. Transplant immediately with a small bush of 6 sprouts in each.
For planting in a garden or flower beds in open ground, the seedlings dive again, in May - early June. In open ground, the distance between the holes is at least 15 - 20 cm.
When the seedlings grow to 2.5 - 3 cm in height, pinching of the tops is necessary. The pinching is carried out 2 - 3 times every 3 weeks.

Important! A fungicide is added to the water for primary moistening of the substrate to disinfect the substrate. Further, for irrigation, it is necessary to use only settled, warm, clean water.

Cuttings

Advantages and disadvantages

Propagation by cuttings does not take much time, the rooting of cuttings takes place quickly, for 20 - 25 days, the procedure itself is simple. The rules for caring for cuttings until rooting are simple:

fertilizers are applied once a week;
good abundant watering is required so that the earthy clod does not dry out.

But propagation by cuttings of Riviera lobelia is rarely used, mainly the method is suitable for hybrid terry varieties that do not produce seeds.

It is necessary to prepare the soil mixture for grafting in advance, choose the desired container, follow all the rules of care and cultivation throughout the entire rooting.

What are the best cuttings to choose?

To use the Riviera hybrid grafting method, you need to dig up several adult, healthy, strong bushes in the fall. Using the transshipment method, keeping an earthen lump, transplant them into pots or flowerpots. The procedure is usually carried out in March.

For grafting lobelia Riviera, it is advisable to use a sandy substrate:

Coarse sand - 1 tsp
Vermiculite - 1 tsp

Reference! Vermiculite retains moisture well in the soil, protects the roots from unwanted temperature changes.

Landing procedure

Scheme of the cuttings procedure:

Cuttings are cut diagonally at 10 - 12 cm.
The seedlings are lowered for 3 - 4 hours into a solution with a growth stimulator.
Cuttings are planted in a sandy mixture.
The seedlings are covered with foil or glass.
Cuttings take root in about a month.
Regular feeding is carried out 3-4 r per month.
After 1 - 1, 5 months, the rooted seedlings are transplanted into open ground.

How to care?

Temperature. Seed germination temperature - up to 24 ° С. The optimum temperature for keeping lobelia Riviera at home is 18 - 20 ° C.
Watering. Watering is required moderate, but regular - you cannot overdry the substrate, but pouring the roots is also dangerous for Riviera lobelia. In summer, the flower is watered 2 times a week under the root so that water does not fall on the flowers.
Light.Lobelia Riviera loves good lighting, but in extreme heat, the bushes should be shaded from the direct burning sun. It is advisable to select places in the garden and on window sills with diffused light - the western and eastern sides of the house.
Pruning. Pruning is carried out when the seedlings reach 3-4 cm in height - usually the tops are cut off for the development of a lush bush. After the first flowering, the stems turn yellow, they should be cut in half, which allows the buds to develop, flowering is repeated after 2 to 3 weeks.
Pot. For sowing seedlings, they take transparent shallow containers with a lid, you can use special cassettes with pallets, from available tools, plastic containers for sweets, egg trays, any wide bowls, etc. are perfect.
Top dressing

Complex mineral fertilizers are used for adult seedlings.
Important! A solution of fertilizing for young bushes should be weakly concentrated, not contain a large amount of nitrogen. Organic fertilizers are also contraindicated, this can affect the splendor of flowering.

Lobelia Riviera - looks picturesque in any flower arrangements in the garden, on alpine slides and multi-tiered flower beds, decorates garden paths and terraces.

Plant features

This type is valuable not only for professional flower growers, but also for ordinary people who like to decorate their areas with beautiful plants and create interesting flower arrangements. This is not surprising, since Lobelia Erinus is characterized by lush flowering, which can last until winter frosts.

By itself, the flower grows in the form of a small bush that is prone to branching. When the flowering period begins, the plant becomes dotted with many small flowers of different colors. The main shades of the flower bowl:

White;
blue;
pink;
blue.

Lobelia erinus is a perennial plant that is commonly grown as an annual. It is characterized by the following features:

highly curly stems with lanceolate-linear foliage;
a small dense artisanal plant that can reach up to 25 centimeters, the shape of the bush is similar to a spherical;
flowers can grow in different sizes depending on the variety, the average size is 2 centimeters;
the presence of one bud in the axils of the foliage is characteristic;
a wide range of colors, but most of them are close to cold shades;
the plant loves a lot of solar heat and requires abundant watering;
has good cold resistance.

It is customary to distinguish 5 main forms of this type of plant. They are all classified according to their size and structure.

Sprawling. Height reaches 15 centimeters, and the length of the shoot varies from 15 to 30 centimeters.

The flowering period of all varieties begins no earlier than 70 days after sowing. The flowering period itself is quite long - from June to September (sometimes before the first frost begins). Some gardeners cut off already faded peduncles and thereby prolong the flowering period of the plant. In place of wilted stems, special fruits begin to form, inside which there are small seeds. Their germination lasts exactly 3 years.

You can pick up any kind of Lobelia Erinus you like and plant it in your flowerbed or place it on the windowsill among the rest of the "pets". Having acquired such a plant, you will never have to regret it, since it will be pleasant to delight you with its beautiful and lush flower stalks.

Can I grow outdoors?

For hardening seedlings of lobelia Riviera in the fresh air, the temperature of 15 ° C can be considered optimal. Before planting in open ground, the seedlings are usually hardened for further painless rooting in the soil. In mid-May, Riviera lobelia can be planted in balcony boxes and in open meadows. It is necessary to provide for the absence of night frosts, such a drop is destructive for seedlings.

The planting procedure itself is simple:

A piece of land is being dug up.
Mineral fertilizer granules, peat, sand are introduced into the soil.
Shallow planting holes are dug at a distance of at least 20 cm.
The soil is well moistened.
A bush of 5 - 6 seedlings is placed in each hole along with an earthen clod.
The bush is moistened, the substrate around the base is compacted.

For each bush, you need to use up to 1 kg of substrate.

Subspecies: what do they look like?

"Sky Blue"

It begins to bloom two weeks earlier than other varieties. A spherical bush, compact and dense. An adult bush has erect stems reaching a height of 15 cm. Branching is abundant, so the bushes quickly grow up to 20 cm wide.

The foliage is dark green, small and dense. Numerous inflorescences are located tightly to each other and are abundantly strewn with flowers. They are painted in pale blue with a shade of purple.

The plant blooms for a long period from the moment the first flowers appear until September. Lobelia "Sky Blue" is used for planting in flower beds, when decorating mixborders and alpine slides (it is convenient because of the short stature of the bush). Some gardeners use it to decorate balconies or loggias, planting them in pots.

Propagated by seed or cuttings in the spring. The seeds are small, so it is difficult not to thicken the planting. It is recommended to buy granular planting material for easy distribution in containers.

"Midnight Blue"

This variety is a native of North America, an early hybrid of the Riviera series. Grows up to 20 cm in height. The decorativeness of the bush is given not only by bright blue flowers of medium size, but also by leaves with a bronze tint. Blooms in open ground in late May - early June.

The main method of reproduction is by seeds, which are planted in February, but can be cuttings. The variety "Midnight Blue" requires planting in partial shade, does not tolerate open sunny spaces.

With proper pruning, the bush gets re-flowering before the onset of the first frost. Looks great in hanging pots, flowerpots and baskets.

It is used in the creation of flower arrangements, in flower beds, in flower beds and for framing borders.

Description of appearance

It is a perennial herb from the Kolokolchikov family with a compact spherical crown. Small bush - 15-20 cm high and up to 20 cm wide.

Lobelia's leaves are small, lanceolate, green in color, but there are varieties with bronze-colored foliage. The inflorescences of the plant are 2 cm in diameter, most often found in blue and its various shades, but there are also white flowers.

Habitat and features

The plant grows in different countries, because it is not capricious to growing conditions. But still, a warm subtropical climate is preferable for lobelia.

Please note that it is demanding on good illumination, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. There should be no drafts at the landing site

Seed reproduction, sow it in February and March.

When flowering ends, the decorative properties of the bush are not lost, because its shape remains unchanged, and the leaves are dense, rich in color, pleasing to the eye.

There are many varieties of lobelia "Riviera" and they are all suitable for edging borders, creating carpet plantings in flower beds or along the perimeter of water bodies. Used to complement alpine slides, landscaping balconies (planting in pots or flowerpots).

Advantages and disadvantages

Decorative variety of ampelous petunia Shock Wave has received positive reviews among gardeners. Most of them are about spectacular and long flowering, the period of which begins earlier than that of other petunias. It is worth noting the variety of color shades, unpretentiousness during cultivation, as well as high resistance to inclement weather and wind. The refined pleasant aroma of the plant complements the coziness of the decorative atmosphere on the lawns in gardens and summer cottages.

Minor disadvantages - Shock Wave petunia has an excessive amount of ovaries with seeds, which negatively affects the quality of flowering. Properly organized care and timely pruning will help hide this feature.

Taking into account the detailed description of the Shock Wave variety, as well as reviews of gardeners and amateur flower growers, you should take into account some of the nuances necessary for growing petunias

It is not recommended to combine petunias of different varieties in one container, which differ in growth intensity and different flowering periods. Since stronger shoots will "interfere" with the growth of weakened ones and delay the beginning of their flowering.
It is necessary to strictly control the amount of minerals introduced with fertilizing, and not to allow an excess of them.
To reduce the risk of the formation of putrefactive diseases, it is recommended to provide good drainage in flower pots.

See the video below for an overview of the "Shock Wave" petunias.

Planting and growing

The key to rapid growth and fruitful flowering lies primarily in the correct conduct of all the processes of planting a flower. For everything to go well, you should adhere to some fairly simple recommendations of experienced florists.

The cultivated soil will be the ideal soil for planting, as it contains all the necessary nutrients and minerals. However, an excessive amount of nutrients can provoke a flower to grow too quickly. This, in turn, is fraught with the absence of peduncles. It is necessary to plant seedlings after May 15, when the threat of frost has completely passed.

The seed growing period is in January-March. They must first be germinated at home.

We draw your attention to the fact that during the preliminary preparation of the seeds for planting, in no case should they be covered with soil on top. The first shoots should appear after three weeks.

After this time, it must be taken out and placed on a windowsill or in a special greenhouse. As soon as you see a few leaves, the seedlings should be planted in separate cups.

Planting is carried out in several pieces with a distance of approximately 15 centimeters between each "pile". By the time of planting, the seedlings, as a rule, already have formed buds.