Lobelia: growing from seeds

Lobelia belongs to the genus of bellflowers, but some scientists prefer to classify these plants as a single genus, Lobeliaceae. To get beautiful flowers for the dacha, it's worth learning more about planting lobelia in the ground and growing it from seeds at home, as you'll need to follow some rules for planting flowers in the ground.

A little history about these flowers

We'll talk about how to grow lobelia from seeds at home a little later, but for now, a little history.

Lobelia is a very beautiful flower, named after a renowned botanist who lived in the Netherlands and served as director of a large botanical garden owned by the kingdom during the reign of James I. These plants can be found in virtually every city in the world, and they thrive best in subtropical regions, though they struggle somewhat in temperate climates. Today, over three hundred varieties of these flowers can be found, some of which are used to create medicinal preparations, which were later marketed and used to treat lung ailments.

Only twenty of the three hundred lobelia species can be used for planting in a front garden. When growing lobelia from seed at home, each variety requires a special approach, as each is unique and requires its own care. It's worth noting that these flowers are not particularly fussy, so it's worth buying several packs of seeds and planting them in the ground. The plant is very similar to petunia.

Most often, to ensure good germination of lobelia when grown from seed indoors (with photos), it's necessary to plant annuals rather than perennials. The bush is very compact, growing to a maximum of twenty centimeters in height and typically having a spherical shape. Of course, other lobelia varieties can also be found that reach heights of up to one and a half meters. Small bushes are ideal for growing in pots indoors. The stems of this plant are quite thin, but the bush is evenly and densely covered with large, dense leaves. After planting, the plant may not begin flowering until June, but it doesn't finish blooming until September. If you collect seeds from this plant, you can store them for up to three years, as they will retain their viability during this time.

To start lobelia growing from seeds To grow lobelia at home (it's worth checking out the forums), you need to prepare the seeds of this plant in advance. As mentioned above, lobelia is propagated by seed. After planting, the bush will begin to produce its first flowers within ten days, but it's crucial to grow small seedlings from the seeds so that flowering occurs within these ten days. To grow the first seedlings, prepare a special seedling container; planting can begin as early as the first days of February.

To ensure good germination, you'll need to prepare drainage. Place a small amount of bark or regular expanded clay in the container. Top the drainage with high-quality, loose soil, preferably purchased from a flower shop. Add a small amount of river sand to the soil beforehand, then water the soil with warm water and let it sit for a few minutes to settle. Once the soil is moist, you can begin planting the seeds. The seeds don't need to be planted deep in the soil; simply place them on the moistened soil and cover them lightly with sand (this prevents the water from evaporating too quickly). Once everything is ready, cover the container with plastic wrap or glass and place it in a warm, sunny spot. This is how lobelia seeds are prepared for growing from seed indoors (how and when to sow was described above), and now it's time to discuss caring for the seedlings.

When the first shoots begin to emerge, it's necessary to water the plants more thoroughly, as lobelia seedlings are not susceptible to excess moisture, but dry soil can completely destroy them. Therefore, if the temperature in the apartment is above 22 degrees Celsius, the plants should be kept under plastic sheeting, which protects the soil from drying out. Furthermore, these plants tolerate cold very well; watering them with warm water is unnecessary; lobelia can tolerate temperatures as low as -2 degrees Celsius and won't die from frost.

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The seedlings will grow extremely slowly, especially in the first month, but growth will accelerate in the second month, and by the end of the second month, the plants will reach four centimeters in height. After this, you can begin transplanting the small plants into individual cups, three per container. When the plants reach six centimeters in height, they should be pinched to encourage faster growth. It's worth noting that lobelia can also be grown from seeds indoors in pots; in this case, the seedlings are transplanted into prepared pots filled with soil, rather than into the ground outdoors.

If transplanting the flowers outdoors, it's recommended to do so only towards the end of May, as this is the only time there will be no severe frosts at night. When planting, consider the location, as lobelia requires plenty of sunlight. Avoid fertilizing the soil if it's not very fertile, as sandy or clayey soil is considered ideal for this plant. Also, avoid using nitrogen, although it will make the plants more lush, but it will prevent the lobelia from producing beautiful flowers. Remove the seedlings from the pot along with the soil and replant them in the new location, keeping the roots intact is crucial. Since the flowers will grow quite lush, it's recommended to leave a distance of fifteen centimeters between the holes.

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Planting trailing lobelia from seeds indoors can also be done outdoors, but instead of in open ground, it's best to plant it in beautiful pots or hanging baskets. This variety of flower also needs to be sown first, and then planted as seedlings, so the flowers will establish themselves better in their new location and survive. These flowers are perfect for decorating both indoors and outdoors. Lobelia is also used to decorate outdoor windows, loggias, or hallways. Growing lobelia from seeds indoors isn't difficult, as long as you follow all the guidelines.

Other growing methods

There are also some other methods for growing this plant, which eliminate the need to sow seeds to grow seedlings. An annual lobelia variety can be turned into a perennial. To do this, gardeners take the plants and plant them in a greenhouse for the entire winter, making sure the greenhouse is unheated. Alternatively, they can dig up the lobelia and bring the flowers indoors, take cuttings, and plant them in pots. The containers are placed in a cool, light-filled area. With the arrival of spring, these flowers are simply transplanted into the ground and awaited for flowering. Gardeners often use vegetative propagation when they are unsure whether the plant's seeds have retained their varietal qualities and characteristics.

Flower care

Take care of these plants after landings While it's fairly simple to care for during flowering, it's crucial to water the lobelia regularly and consistently, especially during the hot summer months when the soil tends to dry out. Lobelia varieties grown in pots, however, require special attention, requiring watering twice a day. It's also a good idea to prune the plants almost to the ground after their first bloom. To prune, leave a 5-centimeter gap from the soil and trim the bush to that height.

Don't be alarmed, as the plant is not large and will begin to grow even faster. New shoots will soon produce flowers again; often, the flowering is more profuse and beautiful after pruning. Every month, you should give the plants a special mineral fertilizer; you can make this from fertilizer purchased at a flower shop. After the lobelia has completely finished blooming, you can simply dig it up from the garden and collect the seeds if necessary.

Now you know how to grow lobelia from seeds at home!