Lobelia - growing from seeds at home. Secrets of Growing Lobelia Planting Lobelia Flowers for Seedlings

Lobelia is a perennial plant that has taken root in central Russia. Flowering comes in different shades, ranging from blue to purple. Care is needed to grow a quality variety, as germination is difficult in cold climates.

How to determine the time of sowing?

The plant does well outdoors, but only in warm weather. There should be no frost, as the stems and roots will quickly die. Therefore, the timing of sowing depends on the time of year.

Sowing is recommended at the end of February. You can choose any time throughout March. Some gardeners practice planting in December and January. But this is not recommended due to the lack of a large amount of sunlight. If you sow the seeds at the recommended time, the resulting stems will be more viable.

How to prepare planting material for sowing?

Lobelia seeds are very small. Therefore, they must be pre-mixed with sand to improve the degree of germination. Use purchased soil or soil mixture (land containing humus, peat, sand). Thanks to this, the seeds are fed with microelements and minerals, germinating quickly.

Granulated seeds are commercially available. They are specially prepared to plant them in tablets, cassettes. This will eliminate the need to use picks.

When to sow lobelia for seedlings in 2020 according to the lunar calendar?

Many gardeners use the lunar calendar so that the plant germinates quickly, so that the death of the sprouts does not occur.

If it is not possible to get on favorable days, it is recommended to sow seedlings in a neutral period. Seeds will germinate at a moderate rate. The main thing is to avoid unfavorable dates.

Auspicious days for sowing lobelia in 2020 depending on the month

If the gardener has time for this period, the plant will grow abundantly. The risk of missing sprouts is reduced.

bad days

The grower must fail to arrive on any given date. This does not mean that sprouts will be absent. They can be thin, non-viable.

When to plant by region

seedlings

Your climate is observed in different territories of Russia. For example, in the north it is arid, cold. If you go down closer to the south, you will need less maintenance, since the land in this part is fertile, the climate is favorable.

Northern parts (Urals, Siberia). Sowing is carried out at the end of February.
Kaliningrad region. In this part there is not only a cold climate, but also abundant humidity. Therefore, the time for sowing is shifted to the end of February - the beginning of March.
Middle lane (Moscow and Moscow region). In February, the seeds are not used, they will not germinate. March is recommended.
Southern part of Russia. The climate is mild. Spring and summer are long. Therefore, the seeds are planted at the end of February. This can be done immediately on open ground, since frosts are rarely observed after March. Care is carried out on open beds.

Weather conditions strongly influence germination. Therefore, it is recommended to make sure that frost does not occur. The type of plant affects the time of appearance of the first stems. For example, an ampelous species grows more slowly than others. Therefore, it is better to sow it in advance.

Planting lobelia seeds step by step

Seeding is easy. To do this, follow these steps:

a hole is made in the container for drainage so that more oxygen enters (you can buy ready-made ones);
soil is placed in the container, tamped, watered (to ensure rapid germination, various water additives are used, for example, a fungicide);
put a handful of seeds on paper, fold it into a corner;
lightly tapping on the paper, gently distribute the seeds in the ground;
it is forbidden to put the earth on top;
spray scattered seeds from a spray bottle with a very weak solution of potassium permanganate;
from above the container is covered with glass, for example, a jar;
put the container in a warm place.

Depending on the preferences of the gardener, the soil can be used ready-made or made independently. Vermiculite is recommended. This is a tool that increases the porosity of the soil. Due to this, a large amount of oxygen passes inside.

How to care for lobelia seedlings, what tricks

There are basic rules that gardeners choose for better germination of lobelia seeds. If you use them, the risk of plant death is reduced.

Lobelia seeds sprouted, what to do next

The first stems appear after 7-10 days. They are thin, subject to adverse environmental conditions. From the first days, the following care is required.

Watering. Lobelia is not a moisture-loving plant. Therefore, it is necessary to water in moderation, but without waiting for drying out. Use settled water at room temperature. Hot or cold liquid will damage the sprouts, root system. With excessive watering, rotting will begin, the lobelia will die.
Lighting. The light should fall on the seedlings, but direct rays should not be used. Burning of young stems may occur. Lighting should be natural. Light day at least 12 hours per day.
Temperature regime. Optimally, it should be 20-25 degrees. Then the sprouts will appear earlier.

These are the optimal conditions under which the sprouts become stronger and taller.

Watering seedlings

How to feed lobelia seedlings

Fertilizers - substances necessary for the proper nutrition of the plant. It receives a large amount of nutrients, minerals, trace elements, vitamins. This reduces the risk of contracting infections, fungi.

Use water-soluble, mineral fertilizers. They must be of low concentration in order to be beneficial, but not harmful. It is better to dilute the substance by 2-3 times before distribution on the soil.

Rules for picking lobelia

Picking must be done carefully. This is due to the weakness of the root system and stems. It is recommended to follow the following steps:

choose 5-10 pieces of regrown sprouts;
transplanted into a separate container;
expect the appearance of several leaves, which means the viability of the sprout.

Pinching before the formation of 5 new leaves is not done.

picking

pinching lobelia

Pinching - the procedure for cutting off the first leaves. It is recommended to perform it when 5-6 sheets have appeared. They are carefully pinched off without damaging the stem. This will cause abundant growth, the plant instantly increases by 6-7 cm in height. It is better to immediately remove the top, then the flowering will be plentiful, bright.

Is it possible to immediately sow seeds in open ground

Instant sowing of seeds in open ground is allowed only in areas where frost is not observed. If the lobelia begins to grow from February, any fluctuation in temperature will lead to the death of the sprouts.

Each stalk is planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other to give enough space to the root system.

If a person is not sure about the reliability of the climate, it is better to use closed soil containers first. When living in the southern territories, it can be open, but you need to monitor the temperature, watering, and the amount of light.

When to plant seedlings in open ground

The time of planting in open ground depends on climatic conditions. If we are talking about the northern regions, it is recommended to do this closer to May. In warm climates, the period is a little earlier, from April. Make sure there is enough sunlight for rapid germination.

Interesting facts that a novice gardener may not know about:

care for an annual or perennial plant is similar;
if a perennial variety is chosen, autumn dry inflorescences are removed every year so that the next flowering is extensive;
the bushes must be cut, making the shape of a ball;
if the local climate is warm, wintering is also possible in flower beds, in the northern regions it is recommended to grow a plant in large containers, change their location depending on the ambient temperature;
lobelia is used in landscape design, hanging baskets, decorative flowerpots, flower towers.

When flowering comes, large balls of bushes are formed, resembling clouds.

FAQ

Gardeners are often interested in questions about the life of a flower. However, there are some that are the most common.

What kind of soil to buy for growing seedlings?

It is better to buy ready-made soil, which contains all the useful substances. It should contain humus, peat, sand.

What can stimulate seeds for further growth?

Use mineral fertilizers. Due to the ingress of nutrients, cell reproduction and flower growth occur faster.

Why don't seeds germinate?

Seeds do not germinate due to lack of moisture and sunlight, planting in open ground during the freezing period, the presence of pests and infectious diseases. For successful germination, all environmental factors must be stable.

Why soak seeds?

Soaking is used for rapid germination. When the seeds are moved into the ground, the stems appear instantly (within a few days). The risk of developing diseases is reduced.

How to harden lobelia seedlings?

The hardening procedure is carried out immediately after the dive. The plant is taken out to fresh air in favorable weather. It should not be permanently in the room. This will allow the stems and leaves to get used to the changing temperature.

What to do if lobelia seedlings do not grow?

It is recommended to check the soil moisture. It should be moderately saturated with liquid. Do not overdry or spill. A container with soil is placed on the windowsill so that the sun hits the soil. But there should be no open sunlight, otherwise the sprouts will burn. You can add a small amount of mineral dressing. Previously, the substance is diluted 2-3 times.

Conclusion

Lobelia is a plant that germinates in any climatic conditions. But still, it is not recommended to plant in open ground if frosts are observed in the area most of the time. There are certain rules of care that any gardener must adhere to. This will allow you to achieve rapid germination, high-quality flowering.

In the ⅩⅥ-ⅩⅦ centuries, during the reign of King James Ⅰ of England, for some time the Royal Botanical Garden was headed by the Dutchman, botanist and medical doctor Matthias De L'Obel. In his honor, the plant was named lobelia.

It belongs to the bell family, genus Lobelia. There are annual and perennial species, but in culture, lobelia is grown as an annual herbaceous plant.

There are ampelous and bush forms. Ampel forms of lobelia are used in container floriculture in hanging baskets. Blooms from June until frost. In flower beds, compact lobelia bushes, completely strewn with flowers, look spectacular as a border plant.

lobelia seeds

At first, young plants develop very slowly, so you need to sow lobelia in the second half of January. Lobelia seeds are small, almost like dust, and this is the main difficulty in sowing it, since the sprouts are also small. But lobelia sprouts well, and if you follow some tips, you can get good strong seedlings. Seedlings appear amicably in seven to fourteen days. And sometimes a little earlier.

If purchased seeds:

in a simple paper bag, then you should add a small amount of sand to it and mix the seeds and sand using a toothpick. Then pour this mixture on a thick sheet of paper (for example, on a sheet from a sketchbook) and sow the soil from it, slowly tapping the sheet with your finger. It turns out almost evenly sow the seeds;
in a plastic bag, then cutting off the lock from the stripes, carefully fingering, sow directly from the bag;
in a paper bag, inside with a plastic layer - before sowing, you need to scrape off the electrified seeds from the walls of the bag with a piece of strip of paper, and only then sow. You can do this directly from the package, but it will be more convenient to pour them out on a piece of paper beforehand.
If you bought granulated seeds: spread the granules over the surface of the soil with a wet skewer or toothpick. Each granule can contain up to 5 seeds.

Soil for sowing and sowing

soil for this plant need nutritious, loose and light. It can be store-bought soil for growing seedlings of flowers. If desired, you can make the soil mixture yourself: soddy land, humus or compost, peat, river sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. You can use the following composition: humus and sand 1: 1.

If the soil turns out, then it needs calcareous materials, since lobelia loves a slightly acidic or neutral soil reaction. In terms of pH, it is 5.5-7.0. You can use litmus paper to determine the acidity level.

In order for small lobelia sprouts to be able to cling to the ground, it should not contain stones, large lumps and other debris. To get rid of such debris, the soil mixture must be sieved or sorted out manually. Be sure to disinfect the soil a few days before sowing, use some fungicide or a hot solution of potassium permanganate for this. The expediency of roasting the soil is doubtful, because of this it becomes sterile, that is, not only harmful microorganisms are destroyed, but also useful ones. But steaming can very well disinfect the soil, and destroy weed seeds and pest larvae. Purchased soil does not require such thorough disinfection, as it is processed by the manufacturer.

Sowing seeds

For sowing lobelia seeds, you need capacity low, about 3 cm. Arrange the prepared soil in containers, slightly compact, disinfect. Spread a small layer of snow on the surface and sow seeds on it, immediately after sowing, spray with a solution of Epin or Zircon. Seeds from the snow will not get cold, on the contrary, they will receive additional hardening. When sowing in the snow, the plants will have enough moisture, and they will not have to be watered for some time.

Do not cover the seeds with earth, do not slam, let them find their own place in the soil. The snow will melt and the seeds, along with the melt water, will find their place. Be sure to lightly compact the soil before sowing so that the seeds do not get very deep.

After sowing, it is necessary to close the containers with film or glass, thus creating greenhouse conditions for seed germination.

You can sow evenly over the surface of the soil, you can do it in bunches, in each bunch of 5-7 seeds, or in rows, then the seedlings will be better ventilated. Rows do cm 3 from each other. If granular lobelia seeds were purchased, then spread them in rows on the surface. Each dragee contains 3-7 seeds.

For sowing, it is convenient to use the wet tip of a toothpick, or the blunt edge of a pencil, or a wet finger, or you can use the advice given earlier in this article, based on seed packaging. Sown in rows or heaps, the plants will be convenient to water and dive in the future.

Seedlings should germinate in a warm (+22º+25º) and bright place. Be sure to ventilate the greenhouse for half an hour a day to remove condensation on glass or film.

Watering you need to keep the soil moist at all times. With a lack of moisture, small sprouts will immediately begin to die. Excessive moisture also threatens the death of plants.

Water the seedlings carefully so that water does not fall on the plants. Do it better with a syringe. Watering is convenient to combine with ventilation. In the future, a bottle with a drilled hole in the cork and a rod of the desired diameter inserted into this hole is suitable for irrigation.

After 2 weeks, after germination, lobelia is fed. If this period is missed, then you can feed after transplantation. Use for this complex fertilizer for flowers, applied according to the instructions. Trade offers many different brands of fertilizers, you can choose any that is available. Plants need three main components: phosphorus for a good development of the root system, nitrogen for building green mass and potassium for further lush flowering. Therefore, in the first top dressing, a higher content of phosphorus, nitrogen and less potassium is desirable. Fertilizer packages usually indicate the ratio of these substances: for example, 10:10:5 or other numbers.

Temperature and lighting

After the seeds germinate, the temperature must be reduced to + 15º.

It is very important during the growth period of seedlings to provide them with sufficient lighting so that the seedlings do not stretch out. Additional illumination is necessary at 14-16 hours a day. If this is not possible, then it is not worth sowing lobelia in January or February, the seedlings will stretch and may die. The deadline for sowing is March. At this time, the day is already increasing and the plants may not stretch.

As the seedlings grow, the airing time increases, but in no case do not remove the film immediately, this will destroy the seedlings in a day. They simply can not withstand the sharp dryness of the air.

picking

You need to dive when the first true leaves appear in separate cups. This can be done both one plant at a time and in groups - 3-5 plants in a group. The plants are still small and you can take them out of the ground with any convenient tool at hand, for example, the handle of a teaspoon if it is thin, or a small plastic spoon, etc., the main thing is to do it carefully so as not to damage the plants. Lobelia takes root well, do not forget to water the seedlings before picking.

When growing in a box, the distance between plants when picking is 5-7 cm.

And even better, if you first dive the seedlings into low boxes or cups, where the soil layer is no more than 6-7 cm, and only then, when the plants grow up and become strong, with a developed root system and can master a larger amount of soil, plant them in separate containers of the desired size (300 - 500 ml).

After 10 days, when the seedlings get stronger after transplantation, they need to be fed with complex fertilizer for flowers, or take 1 tbsp. spoon "Effekton-C" and "Ross" and dilute in a bucket of water.

When the seedlings get stronger and begin to grow vigorously upwards, she needs to pinch the top so that the axillary shoots wake up and the plant becomes not long, but a fluffy beautiful bush. Ampelous forms of lobelia are not pinched, since these species are specially bred for the formation of long shoots - amples.

In general, a pick is needed when the plants become crowded. If by some miracle it was possible to sow the seeds evenly, and the plants do not interfere with each other, then you should not plant them again. For example, granulated seeds can be sown in such a way that later seedlings are planted once in a larger container when it becomes noticeable that the plants do not have enough soil.

Seedling hardening

For hardening, the grown seedlings are taken out at the end of April to a glazed loggia or to a greenhouse.

If there is no loggia and a greenhouse, then on a quiet warm day, put the seedlings in the shade, then in a lighter place, then in the sun. First, the time spent in the fresh air can be 1 hour, then 2, then the time is increased. You can not take out seedlings immediately into the wind and the sun for a long time. The meaning of hardening is gradual accustoming to the sun, wind, dryness, dampness, etc.

Hardening is the last step in growing lobelia seedlings.

So, when growing seedlings of lobelia, the soil for sowing needs neutral or slightly acidic, it is better to do sowing in small groups, water it carefully, seedlings need a low temperature, backlight in February and March, picking and hardening.

In mid-late May, when the nights are set without frost, lobelia seedlings are planted in a permanent place.

planting seedlings in a permanent place and care

The place for lobelia is chosen light, but some species (L. Erinus) tolerate the shadow quite patiently. When planting in a container, you need to carefully monitor the soil moisture.

In a limited space in the sun, the soil dries out quickly and plants can die from drought.

Heat, high soil temperature and its dryness are the main reasons for the poor flowering of lobelia.

Lobelia should be planted in a container or planter in 3-5 pieces for the splendor of the bush.

In the open ground, the scheme of planting flowers is 10 × 15 cm.

To stimulate permanent flowering, wilted flowers are removed. Abundant flowering until frost can be ensured by the following method. In early August, cut the plants to the very soil, leaving the length of the shoots 5 cm from the ground. Then water the soil, feed and loosen.

soil, watering and fertilizing lobelia

Lobelia will grow and bloom well on nutritious soils that are not oversaturated with organic matter. From an excess of nitrogen, which is abundant in organic matter, lobelia grows green mass very well, but does this at the expense of flowering.

The most suitable soil is sandy or loam with the addition of compost or well-rotted humus.

It is important to provide lobelia with moisture, it does not tolerate dryness.

The first top dressing were made during the growth of seedlings, the next one is due in june using fertilizer "Agricola - fantasy" and "Agricola for flowering plants", each take a tablespoon in a bucket of water and pour this solution over 2 or 3 liters per square meter.

Two more such top dressings are done in July and August.

In August, top dressing is carried out after pruning.

Lobelia is a very cute flower, it can be used not only in container floriculture, but also planted in a border, rockery. If you plant an alyssum next to it, then the beauty and tenderness of the lobelia will be complemented by the aroma of alyssum.

varieties of lobelia

crystal palace- a bush of this variety is compact, branched, with beautiful dark blue flowers, plant height 15 - 20 cm, flower diameter 1.4 cm.

Lobelia Cambridge flowers sky blue, 2 cm in diameter, spherical bush, up to 15 cm tall.

Mrs Clibran- deep blue flowers with a white eye, 2 cm in diameter, bush up to 15 cm high.

Ampel Blue Cascade- shoots grow up to 35 cm long, flowers 2 cm in diameter, blue.

Ampel Fountain pink- grows up to 25 cm wide, shoots form a cascade 20 cm long, flowers 1-2 cm in size.

snowball- white flowers, 1-2 cm in diameter, bush height up to 15 cm.

Ampel Marquise- shoots up to 50 cm, red flowers 2 cm, good in hanging baskets, balcony boxes, in borders, as a ground cover.

white cascade- ampelous plant, white flowers 2 cm in size, shoots up to 50 cm long.

There are many other varieties of lobelia with long shoots, that is, an ampelous form, there are also bush forms, with flowers of white, pink, blue, blue, purple and various shades of these flowers. In general, there are plenty to choose from. Often they sell a mixture of varieties and colors in one bag.

For example lobelia pearl thread- a plant 10 cm high and with a length of creeping shoots up to 40 cm, flowers are white, pink, ruby, red, blue up to 2 cm in diameter.

Lobelia is not in vain loved by both landscape designers and ordinary gardeners. Properly planted lobelia can drastically change the appearance of the entire garden plot. It is great for decorating and, and discounts, and flowerpots, and is used to create alpine slides. At the same time, it is not at all difficult to grow this plant yourself from seeds. To make it work, you need to know how and when to plant lobelia seedlings.

The term "Lobelia" unites the genus of semi-shrub, herbaceous and shrubby plants, among which there are both annuals and perennials - about 300 varieties in total. They belong to the Bellflower family, although now botanists distinguish them into a separate subfamily Lobelia. Interestingly, only about 20 species are used in horticulture and landscape design.

Homeland lobelia - the southern part of the African continent, but now they grow almost everywhere. In South Africa, this plant is a perennial, but in Russia and other temperate countries it is usually grown as an annual.

Lobelia is a small spherical shrub, all covered with small and graceful bell flowers - no more than 2 cm in diameter. The flowers are axillary, located on short peduncles. They bloom so luxuriantly that they cover even the green leaves of the plant. Flowers are usually white, blue, blue, purple or pink. The flowering period lasts throughout the summer, starting in June. Fruits-boxes give seeds with very good germination rates, which last up to 3 years.

The stems are low - up to 20 cm, although selection has also made it possible to obtain plants that grow up to 2 meters in height. Branching very luxuriantly, completely covered with small lanceolate leaves.

Lobelia is used in landscape design to decorate flower beds, rabatok, often planted along the contour of flower beds, and is able to set the background for an alpine hill. It looks very good in hanging planters or flowerpots, it is used to create flower carpets, as it has low stems. It has been used in floriculture and horticulture for over 100 years.

Note! Together with lobelia, verbena, pelargonium, salvia and many other plants look good in a flower bed.

Despite the fact that lobelia is considered an annual in Russia, it can be transplanted into pots in the fall and carried into the house. And the next summer, land again in a flower bed. Thus, it is easy to turn an annual into a perennial. Lobelia winters well, although it usually stops developing in an apartment in anticipation of heat.

Lobelia is rightfully considered one of the most important crops in landscape design, because it can decorate any flower bed. In addition, it is not capricious, unpretentious and easily grown from seeds at home.

Lobelia seed prices

lobelia seeds

Sowing dates

Lobelia reproduces by seeds - that is why it will be necessary to grow it for your summer cottage from them. Since it grows and develops extremely slowly, you need to sow it for seedlings even while there is snow on the street if you want to get flowering plants in early summer.

Lobelia blooms no earlier than 8-10 weeks after sowing - this figure will allow you to calculate the approximate timing of this procedure. As a rule, it is necessary to make sure that the seeds have already begun to germinate no later than April. In general, the sowing period for lobelia seeds varies from February to April, depending on the region where these flowers are planned to be used.

On a note! Some sow lobelia even in January - this is done in order to get a beautiful bush at the very beginning of summer, when the development of flower beds is just beginning. This will also allow you to immediately arrange curbs along garden paths.

The difficulty in growing lobelia for seedlings is as follows: since the crop is sown very early, the daylight hours are still too short. Therefore, it is important for seedlings to be illuminated with lamps and fixtures.

Attention! There is an opinion among gardeners that lobelia seeds sown in March germinate earlier and quickly catch up with seedlings obtained from sowing in February. You can check if this is true.

Soil and containers for lobelia

Before you open packages of lobelia seeds, you should carefully prepare the containers for planting and the soil in which the seeds will be sown. To please the flowers, it must be airy, loose, neutral in pH. Usually, newcomers to the world of gardening use potting soil, which is purchased from gardening stores, but you can also make your own.

As a substrate for the cultivation of lobelia, a soil mixture is perfect, including coarse river sand (1 part), humus (2 parts), peat (2 parts) and turf (2 parts). A little dolomite flour is added to the soil in order to reduce acidity. Lobelia also germinates well on soil created in the following way: mix vermiculite, humus and river sand or earth from the garden, sand and vermiculite. Both the one and the other mixture will appeal to lobelia seedlings.

Note! Not all gardeners advocate that organic matter be introduced into the soil for lobelia without fail. The fact is that with an abundance of humus in the composition of the mixture, the green part of the plants grows, but flowering will be scarce.

They have become very popular lately. They will relieve you of the need to search for containers for germinating seeds and picking seedlings, and young lobelia can be planted in the ground without removing them from the substrate. The most important thing is to remove the packaging film from the tablet before disembarking at a permanent place of residence.

Usually, wooden or plastic boxes are used for sowing lobelia seeds. You can also use food jars. Any containers should be washed well with soap and water. It is very convenient to sow seeds and in - then the need for picking small sprouts will disappear. Also, for example, it is good to use yogurt cups or small jars of sour cream.

The original way - lobelia seedlings in eggshells

Attention! Do not forget to make drainage holes in each seedling container, otherwise excess moisture will accumulate in the container, the earth will become waterlogged. In a plastic container, drainage is most conveniently done with a thick nail heated over a fire.

Any soil, whether it is from a summer house or from a store, should be disinfected before use. It can be calcined in the oven, steamed (steamed), spilled with boiling water or a weak solution of fungicide. You can also use a hot solution of potassium permanganate saturated color. After the earth has been spilled, it is allowed to cool and dry.

Prices for peat tablets

peat tablets

Sowing lobelia

Often sowing seeds depends on the packaging in which they are produced by the manufacturer.

As a standard, lobelia seeds are produced in paper bags. In this case, sowing is carried out in the traditional and simplest way, that is, simply in the ground. It is convenient to first mix the seeds with sand and, pouring them out onto a sheet of paper, gently sprinkle them on the surface of the earth.

Seeds can also be produced in a paper bag, the inside of which is covered with polyethylene. And here certain difficulties arise: the seeds become electrified and stick to the walls of the bag, which makes it not so easy to pour them out (taking into account the fact that lobelia seeds are extremely small). It is convenient to remove the seeds from the bag with a paper strip and spread them on a sheet of paper.

Seeds can be sold in a plastic zip bag. Then they are taken out with their fingers and laid out on a sheet of paper.

Lobelia seeds are also sold in ampoules. Be prepared that not one flower will appear from one such capsule, but a whole bush at once. They will be very convenient to dive. When sowing, the granules are simply distributed with a toothpick dipped in water over the surface of the soil.

Lobelia seeds are very small, 1 gram contains about 45 thousand of them. How to sow them in the traditional way?

Table. We sow lobelia traditionally.

Steps, photo	Description of actions
	First of all, seedling boxes are filled with earth. The soil is compacted, spilled with fungicides or potassium permanganate.
	Lobelia seeds are sprinkled on a piece of paper and mixed with fine sand. Then, gently tapping with your finger on the tilted sheet, you need to scatter the mixture over the surface of the wet soil in an even layer. They should not be buried in the soil.
	Labels are glued or stacked on each container with seedlings, on which the name of the crop and the date of sowing are signed.
	Seeds are covered with a sheet of glass or polyethylene and are sprayed a couple of times daily with a spray bottle. It is good if immediately after sowing the seeds it will be possible to spray them with a growth stimulator. The container with seedlings is removed in a shaded warm place (18-20 degrees), after the first shoots it is transferred to the light. The first shoots will appear in about 6 days.

If we talk about the middle lane, then watermelons here (as well as some other crops - for example, melon) are preferable to grow through seedlings. In fact, there is nothing complicated in this process, the main thing is to know and how to do it correctly.

Another way to sow

Lobelia seedlings can also be sown in another, very popular way recently. Growing "in Moscow" at first saves space in the house and allows you to germinate even capricious crops. This method is better known as. To do this, you will need seeds, polyethylene, a glass, water and the paper itself.

Table. Germination of lobelia seeds in rolls.

Steps, photo	Description of actions
	A strip of polyethylene (or a plastic bag) is taken, from which a strip about 10 cm wide is made. 2-3 layers of toilet paper are laid out on top of the polyethylene.
	All paper is wetted with water from a syringe or spray bottle.
	Lobelia seeds are laid out on the surface of the paper at a distance of 2-4 cm. At the same time, the strips retreat from the edge by only 1.5 cm. When laying out the seeds, it is convenient to use tweezers from a manicure set.
	The seeds laid in a row are covered with a strip of paper.
	The resulting workpiece rolls into a neat roll, which is fixed with a thin elastic band. At this stage, a tag with the name of the variety and the date of sowing is also glued to the film.
	3-4 cm of water is poured into a plastic glass, a roll with seeds is placed there, the entire container is covered with a bag to keep warm. After the first shoots appear, the plants can be fed by adding a little fertilizer to the water.
	Young lobelia grown in this way are convenient to dive. As soon as the first leaves appear, the roll is rolled out, and the plants, together with a piece of paper, are cut off from the entire strip. Those seeds that have not yet risen can be wrapped back in cellophane and left in a glass.
	The sprouts are dived one at a time, together with paper, into separate containers.

Video - We plant lobelia for seedlings

seedling care

In order for fragile and tender lobelia seedlings to turn into strong plants, it is important to properly care for seedlings. There are certain difficulties associated mainly with the small size of the sprouts.

Watering is done as the soil dries up. Do not flood lobelia seedlings, as in this case they can get sick. But from a lack of water, the leaves quickly curl and wither, because drought is much more dangerous for them than waterlogging. It is important to water lobelia with settled water at room temperature. The most convenient way to do this is with a spray bottle or syringe, gently supplying water under the spine itself.

Lobelia seedlings, like other seedlings, also need airing. The container where the seedlings are located should be opened daily for a while. This will allow the plants to ventilate and at the same time get used to outdoor, rather than greenhouse conditions.

Note! The optimum temperature for lobelia seedlings is + 13-17 degrees.

Light is important for seedlings, which is why in winter (after the first shoots have appeared), lobelia is illuminated with lamps. Otherwise, the plants will begin to stretch towards the light source and bend.

At first, lobelia is in no hurry to grow - the first 4 weeks the sprouts increase in size slightly. But as soon as the seedlings reach 4 cm in height, it can already be dived into an individual container. Due to the tiny size of the seedlings, it is most convenient to plant them in bushes of 3-4 pieces. It is recommended to dive with a teaspoon or tweezers.

After diving, as soon as the sprouts stretch up to 7 cm, pinch the tops. This is necessary for the formation of a bush.

Usually, lobelia begins to bloom while still sitting in "children's" pots. It is transplanted into open ground when the danger of frost has passed (tentatively - the last two weeks of May). It is advisable to choose a well-lit place for the formation of a flower bed from lobelia. Culture prefers sandy loam and loam. Bushes are placed at a distance of at least 10-15 cm from each other.

This is how simple and easy it is to grow a charming lobelia, which will certainly become a real decoration of your garden. Its role cannot be underestimated - it is thanks to these wonderful small but lush bushes that sometimes it is possible to create that very atmosphere of fullness and completeness of a flower bed.

Let's talk about Lobelia today. This is a beautiful flower of the bell family. Its popularity is growing with each season. With the help of this small plant, loggias, balconies, terraces are decorated. Lobelia has proven itself well in flower beds and discounts. This flower begins to bloom two to two and a half months after the first shoots. So it is advisable to plant it in seedlings. Here's how to plant Lobelia for seedlings, how to grow it and wait for beautiful flowering today and we'll analyze it.

Lobelia is native to South Africa. There it grows as a year-round plant, in our area it is grown as an annual. Lobelia belongs to the Campanulaceae family. She got her name in honor of Mattiaas de L-Obel. For some time he headed the royal botanical garden of the English King James the First.

Lobelia - flower description photo

A plant with thin, strongly branching densely leafy stems. The bush looks like a small ball. Leaves, like flowers, are small. Flowers no more than 2 cm in diameter are located in the axils of the leaves. Off-centered flowers, making some petals appear larger than others.

The color of the petals can be white and purple and purple, but blue Lobelia is still more common. Flowering begins in June and lasts until September. After the flowers fade, seed pods appear, in which seeds are formed. Lobelia seeds are extremely small, with up to 50,000 seeds per gram.

Lobelia is provided in 5 forms:

Spreading - bush height 15 cm, shoots 15-30 cm;
Dwarf - height 8-12 cm;
Climbing - shoots 30-35 cm, which are abundantly covered with flowers;
Upright - the shape of the bush is columnar, the height of the bush is 25 cm;
Compact - the bush has a rounded shape, height 10-15 cm.

Important! Until now, Lobelia red or yellow has not been introduced. Be careful when buying seeds.

Lobelia ampelnaya "Red Cascade"

This plant does not have many different varieties. The following are the most popular:

Sapphire- small, blue flowers with white dots form a rather lush bush. Shoots that grow up to 35 cm.
blue fountain- This is a small compact bush. And 5-7 shoots strewn with flowers are formed from it. Shoots about 30 cm long. Blue flowers with a white spot in the middle.
Red cascade- well developed bush. The length of individual lashes can be about 35 cm. Like all other varieties, the Cascade is completely showered with small flowers. The color of the flowers is not red at all, but dark pink or even raspberry.
Regatta. Another variety of Lobelia. The bush is lush, the flowers are painted in various colors: Pink and lilac.
Very popular ampelous Lobelia Ricardi. Just keep in mind that this is a hybrid and you can’t wait for seeds from it. Therefore, it propagates only by cuttings.
Lobelia is strong. In this variety, the bush is formed by hard shoots and the shape can be either columnar or spreading. The flowers of this variety are slightly larger than others - 2.5 cm. The color is lilac or pink-purple.
Lobelia the thinnest. It forms a rounded bush about 25-30 cm high. Flowering is very abundant, cornflower blue or pale pink flowers, 2 cm in diameter, completely cover the bush. Great for planting in pots and flower beds.
lobelia beautiful. Not only is it a very decorative variety, but it is also frost-resistant. In some regions, it can be grown as a perennial crop. This plant is tall, the height of the bush is 50-80 cm. And its flowers are 3 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is bright red, raspberry or purple. The stem is erect, the leaves are elongated.

Seedlings of Lobelia develop extremely slowly, then seeds for seedlings should be sown in the period from February to April. If sown, seed in January. Then you can get flowering bushes even earlier. But here it is already necessary to make additional illumination, just like, for example, for petunias.

In the regions

The terms from shoots to the first flowers of Lobelia are similar to the terms of Petunia. Therefore, you can sow them for seedlings in each region at the same time:

Regions of the Moscow region and the Chernozem region - throughout February.
In the Urals - starting from mid-March.
In Siberia, it is worth sowing seeds another 10 days later, at the very end of March.

According to the lunar calendar in 2020

Like any other seedling, Lobelia is best sown according to the lunar calendar.

Many seeds should be soaked before planting for swelling and better germination, and the date of planting according to the lunar calendar is considered the date of soaking. Lobelia seeds are very small, so you can skip the soaking procedure.

How to grow lobelia from seeds at home

There are a lot of similarities in growing Lobelia with Petunia. Lobelia also requires minimal care in adulthood, but while growing seedlings, you will have to work hard. But as they say, the eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing. If everything is done correctly, then beautiful clouds from Lobelia will be provided.

Lobelia loves soil that is loose, soft and not acidic. The soil can be bought the usual "Universal" or "For flowers" they are sold at any flower shop. Or you can take care of it in the fall and cook it yourself. It must be remembered that the composition included:

Sod land;
Sand;
Humus.

As containers, you can use any shallow containers, these can be:

Special cassettes for seedlings;
Mayonnaise, baby food, yogurt cups;
Disposable cups and containers;
Plastic container for cakes;
Peat tablets.

Drainage holes must be made in any container.

The most common varieties have already been mentioned. Let's talk a little about types. Lobelia can be:

Ampelnaya. Her flowering is not so plentiful and the form is very loose, unlike the bush Lobelia.
Bush. This species requires much less maintenance than ampelous. In addition, flowering occurs more magnificently. Such Lobelia looks like a beautiful neat flowering ball.

Lobelia also differ in color:

Lobelia white. They are very beautiful, but it is problematic to sprout, and their development is slower.
Blue-blue Lobelia. The most resistant plant and flowering is more abundant in contrast to the white-flowered.
Lilac and purple specimens. They look very decorative, but painfully capricious.

Knowing the types and colors of this plant, you can choose according to your taste and match the overall picture of the flower garden.

Lobelia seeds are very small. Flower growers have found some tricky tricks for planting them.

In tandem with sand. Seeds are mixed with sand and scattered on the surface of moistened soil. Without deepening and without falling asleep from above with soil. Sand must be disinfected before planting.
Snow landing. A layer of soil is poured into the containers, snow is placed on top of the soil, and seeds are already scattered on top of the snow. The snow will melt and take the seeds with it. Also, with this method of planting, the seeds undergo stratification.
Landing with a toothpick. A toothpick or other pointed stick must first be moistened with water, then brought to the seeds, light seeds will stick to the toothpick and they can be transferred to the surface of the soil.
With the help of paper. Bend the white sheet into a corner and, using such a simple design, place the seeds on the surface of the soil.
Landing in peat tablets. The tablet is allowed to swell - soaked for a while in water. Then a few seeds mixed with sand are placed in the recess. In the same way, you can put a little snow on top of the swollen tablet and sow the seeds.
You can use granulated seeds. But this method is not very common among gardeners. Since empty granules fall. It takes time for them to dissolve, there are fewer of them in the package than ordinary seeds and, accordingly, they will cost more.

Important! When planting with snow, it is not necessary to moisten the soil; in other cases, moisten the soil until the seeds are distributed.

When planting in any way, the seed container is covered with glass or cellophane and placed in a warm but bright place. The temperature at this stage should be within 18-22 ° C. Seedlings will appear in about a week.

Such mini greenhouses will need to be checked, it may turn out that the fungus (mold) will appear before the seedlings. As soon as the first shoots appear, the planting can be placed on the windowsill. The temperature is not lower than 18 ° C. But it is necessary to open the container only after the appearance of friendly shoots and when they grow up a little.

The greenhouse must be ventilated and the condensate formed on the glass removed with a cloth. If the topsoil has dried up (if the soil was sufficiently moist before planting, this will not work), then it must be watered from a spray bottle with very small holes and low pressure.

Important! Young shoots of Lobelia are very afraid of drafts.

Seedlings of Lobelia in the early stages are very tender. Some sprouts will die in the first days. Therefore, you should not plant it immediately in open ground.

After the first shoots have risen, the most crucial period begins. At this time, seedlings are very vulnerable. To save it, you need to carry out the following manipulations:

It is not recommended to water tender shoots in the usual way; it is better to do this with a syringe. By injecting into the soil.
Landings need additional lighting.
The temperature should not fall below 18 degrees Celsius.
Avoid drafts.

Lobelia rose, what to do? - video

After germination of seedlings about 2 cm, it must be thinned out. This is easy to do with tweezers.

Gradually it is necessary to open the lid of the greenhouse. First, open for 10-15 minutes, then increase the time and leave the seedlings at room temperature without shelter.

About a month after the first shoots, the time came for a pick. So plants are very gentle gardeners often resort to the help of an ordinary spoon. With its help, part of the plants is simply separated and transplanted into a larger container.

After picking for two days, the seedlings should be placed in a slightly shaded place so that the direct rays of the sun do not fall on the plant.

If the flower was planted in peat tablets, then the picking process will be easier:

It is necessary to remove the protective mesh from the tablet and simply carefully divide the resulting lump of peat, trying not to cause much harm to the plants.
Next, the separated parts are placed in cups and simply sprinkled with earth.

Watering after picking should also be very careful. Either pour water into the pan, or irrigate from a syringe or water with a spoon without touching the delicate leaves.

Important! Lobelia has very fragile roots, moreover, they are located in the upper layers of the soil. Therefore, loosening, if necessary, must be carried out very carefully.

Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers before planting Lobelia in a permanent place is not recommended.

Lobelia grows well in sunny areas, but it can endure light partial shade, but it will not bloom in the shade. When choosing a place, this must be taken into account.

You also need to pay attention to the garden compositions near which it will grow.

Low-growing lobelia is perfect for borders.
Tall individuals will complement other flowers. Ampelous Lobelia will be an excellent decoration. It is planted in flowerpots and pots on balconies, loggias, terraces and in vertical beds, it will look exceptional.

Ground Requirements

This flower prefers light loose sandy or loamy soils. There must be good aeration. Lobelia is one of the few plants that does not require a large amount of fertilizer. Since when they are applied, a large amount of foliage will grow, and not flowers.

Seedlings should be planted when the threat of frost has passed.
The soil should be loose, air and water permeable.
Planting holes must be prepared before planting. About 30 cm in diameter and 20 cm deep.
There should be a distance of at least 10-15 cm between the pits.
Drainage is placed in the hole.
3-4 lobelia seedlings are planted in each seat along with a clod of earth.
The soil is covered very carefully, as the plant is very fragile.

Lobelia can be fed a little liquid complex fertilizer, but just a little, and you should not use nitrogenous fertilizers. With an excess of nitrogen, flowering will be poor, only leaves will grow.

Lobelia blooms until October. To preserve the variety, you can place the plant in a pot and bring it into the room. In winter, the plant will grow more slowly, and flowering will be more modest, but the variety can be saved.

Diseases and pests of lobelia

More often Lobelia is exposed to fungal diseases and root rot. They occur due to improper watering. Sometimes there is rust and powdery mildew. The most common pests are aphids and slugs.

Watering. Watering should be plentiful, but so that the water does not stagnate at the roots, which can lead to black leg disease.
Pinching. To keep the bush neat, the shoots of Lobelia must be pinched. This is not necessary, but after pinching - cutting, the bush looks more branchy and fluffy. They also resort to this procedure if, for some reason, it is not possible to plant seedlings in open ground, and the plant stretches.
Pruning. Around July, it is necessary to significantly cut the plant so that the second wave of flowering occurs.
Top dressing. Fertilizers should be used to a minimum. Literally 1 tablespoon of liquid fertilizer per 10 liters of water.
Watering a flower, even already on the street, must be very careful not to fall on the petals in order to avoid burns.

The most convenient way to plant lobelia seedlings - video

There are not so many flowers with blue petals, which also bloom all summer. By planting this unpretentious flower on the site, you can make up for the deficiency of this color.

It is impossible not to fall in love with blooming lobelia. A whole cloud of delicate butterfly flowers - bright blue, sky blue, white, purple, red - pleases the eye all summer, until the autumn frosts. Lobelia is suitable for growing in pots, boxes or hanging containers, or directly in the ground. This is an excellent ground cover and ampelous plant, a wonderful companion for many horticultural crops, a very unpretentious and elegant annual.

Lobelia is grown from seeds through seedlings. This is not at all difficult, but there are some features that are useful to know and consider in order to get quality planting material. With our tips, you can easily cope with this task.

What you need to know when buying lobelia seeds

It happens ampelous and bush - pay attention to this nuance when choosing seeds. Bush varieties form a compact flowering "bump". They can be grown both in the ground and in containers if you want a composition that holds its shape and volume well without growing too much.

There are not very many bush varieties, here are the most common:

‘Emperor Willy’;
'Blue Flash';
‘Crystal Palace’ (‘Crystal Palace’);
variety series ‘Riviera’.

Ampel varieties are also suitable not only for hanging pots, but also for planting in flower beds, but they will need much more space than bush plants. Long thin shoots of ampelous lobelias can beautifully descend as a waterfall of flowers from a balcony box or wall planter, or they can act as a blooming bedspread in a flower bed.

The range of ampel varieties of lobelia is extremely wide. Most often found:

'Sapphire';
‘Niagara’;
‘Margo’;
variety series ‘Cascade’;
variety series ‘Fountain’;
variety series ‘Regatta’.

The choice of color depends mainly on your preferences and intentions. For example, varieties with blue and blue flowers are ideal for creating a flowery "stream" or a small "lake". Lobelia blooms continuously all summer, and such a decorative element will become a real decoration of the garden.

Also note that some manufacturers produce lobelia seeds in the form of a multi-drug. This is very convenient when sowing: a seedling bush immediately grows from one dragee, saving you from problems with picking.

Where and how to sow lobelia

Ordinary (not coated) lobelia seeds are extremely small, so they are sown only on the surface of a well-moistened soil substrate, trying to distribute as evenly as possible. There are two ways to grow seedlings of this annual - with and without a pick. Let's consider both.

How to sow lobelia so as not to dive seedlings

In order not to dive tiny seedlings, peat tablets are used for sowing, preferably the smallest or medium diameter. They sow and coated seeds, and ordinary. The last to lightly “add” the surface of the tablet, and then very carefully moisten it from a spray bottle, trying not to wash the seeds off with water.

Tablets with crops are placed in a micro-greenhouse, which is ventilated daily to avoid the accumulation of condensate and the formation of mold. It is important that the substrate in the tablets does not dry out. In favorable conditions shoots appear in 5-7 days.

Subsequently, a tablet with grown seedlings is simply placed in a seedling pot with suitable soil. At the same time, the lobelia bush does not fall apart, the root system of the seedlings is not injured, and for the grower such an operation will be much less laborious than the usual dive of seedlings.

Instead of peat tablets, you can use plastic seedling cassettes with small cells, filling them with the usual purchased soil. This is less convenient: when transshipped into separate pots, an earthen ball often falls apart, because it does not have a shell, like a tablet. But this method is more economical: the soil is cheaper than peat tablets.

Compare the pros and cons of sowing lobelia in peat tablets to evaluate the possibilities of this method:

Sowing lobelia followed by picking seedlings

Many flower growers sow lobelia in small containers with purchased soil for seedlings, and then the seedlings dive. For sowing, shallow (3-4 cm deep) containers are used. The soil substrate is slightly compacted and well moistened, and then seeds are scattered over its surface, trying to do it as evenly as possible.

For convenience, lobelia seeds are sometimes mixed with dry coffee grounds, but this does not always give the desired result. Crops, if necessary, moisten again, gently spraying water from a spray bottle, and cover with plastic wrap or glass.

You need to dive seedlings from such a container into separate pots in small bunches, which are convenient to separate using small spatulas and scoops for indoor flowers or just an old teaspoon. But you need to understand that small losses with this method are inevitable: it is almost never possible to extract the required number of seedlings without damaging others.

A carefully separated bush is placed in a pot of soil mixture, poured soil and slightly compacted to fix the seedlings. Transplanted plants are watered, trying not to get water on the leaves and shoots.

When to sow lobelia

The term for sowing lobelia for seedlings should be chosen based on the climatic conditions of your area, the characteristics of the variety and the opportunities that you have. At first, seedlings develop very slowly, and if you want to have flowering seedlings for planting in May, you need to start sowing in January. However, this will require considerable effort, so many flower growers prefer to sow later - in February and even in the first half of March. Such seedlings will bloom later, but will save you a lot of time and effort.

Please note that about a month after germination, lobelia of ampelous varieties begin to grow very actively. If bush plants retain their shape for a long time without requiring too much space, then ampelous plants need space to accommodate rapidly elongating shoots. If you keep such seedlings in close quarters, thin branches are intertwined, and when planting, plants can suffer greatly when you start to separate them.

Lobelia seedling care

Care is simple, the main thing is to provide the seedlings with good lighting and regular watering. Lobelia does not tolerate drought, so do not let the soil dry out in pots, but do not flood the plantings - seedlings die from excess moisture. Watering seedlings before picking into separate containers has its own subtleties.

If you use peat tablets, it is very convenient to water the seedlings by pouring water into the container where they stand. This ensures that moisture does not get on tender seedlings. But be careful: be sure to immediately drain the excess liquid, if any, and even better - do not water too abundantly so that the water does not stagnate.

If you used a container for sowing, watering can be a rather complicated procedure. Lobelia shoots are usually very dense, and it is impossible to water the seedlings with a conventional watering can. In such cases, a disposable syringe without a needle helps out: it allows you to deliver water in a dosed and accurate way to the roots of plants.

With a lack of lighting and high room temperature, lobelia seedlings begin to stretch. Shoots and leaves turn pale, internodes lengthen, the plant may look oppressed. If you notice that this is happening, provide seedlings with additional illumination and, if possible, lower the temperature (to +15 ... +17 degrees). The warmer the room, the more important good lobelia lighting is.

If plants (especially ampelous varieties) grow too quickly, the shoots can be pinched or carefully cut with scissors. This, among other things, stimulates branching and helps form a strong, healthy, compact seedling bush. But you can resort to a haircut only if the seedlings are provided with optimal conditions; if the reason for stretching is a lack of light, pinching the shoots will not solve the problem and may only weaken the plant.

In April, lobelia seedlings need to be hardened off (on a balcony, loggia, veranda or in a cold greenhouse in the country), and in May, when the threat of return frosts has passed, it's time to plant it in the ground or outdoor containers.

Growing lobelia from seeds may seem rather laborious at first glance, but believe me, this is a very grateful plant that will more than reward you for all the trouble with abundant continuous flowering.