Ampelia lobelia is an amazing plant, they can decorate a garden or a summer residence. The bush fits very well into the design of the garden and easily gets along with various flowers, does not need special care, except for watering. But just like all plants, he needs at least minimal care. This article talks about what ampel lobelia is and how to grow it at home, as well as the basic rules for caring for a plant.
Ampoule lobelia: seed cultivation
Florists grow a wide variety of plants. Ampelic lobelia beckons with its beautiful flowers of various shades, pleasing to the eye to deep frosts. Plants with small inflorescences are planted in crates or hanging flowerpots. The flower goes well with other representatives of the flora. How to grow this beauty and take care of it is of interest not only to beginner growers, but also to those who have extensive experience.
What does a flower look like
The most popular variety of lobelia, which is grown by gardeners in various climatic territories of Russia as an annual, is Erius. The flower is presented in various forms. The plant can be with drooping shoots, creeping, sprawling. These species are often used to decorate borders and create flower falls. Compact types of ampel lobelia are often grown as indoor perennials.
The most popular varieties are listed below:
- "Regatta Serpentine" - ampel lobelia with amazing fan-like flowers of light pink shades;
- "Regatta Blue" - flowers of dark blue or sky blue;
- "Regatta Special" - an annual lilac-light bud;
- "Reggata Mix" has a wide variety of flower buds;
- "Anabel" (Anabel Violet Whiskers) - has a light purple and blue flowering;
- "Sapphire" - lobelia blooms with purple buds.
- Red Cascade - buds of dark pink or soft raspberry;
- Dortman - this species is listed in the Red Book, there are very few such plants, can withstand frosts down to -35 degrees.
Proper sowing of seeds
The sowing stage is the most difficult when growing lobelia. This is because the seeds are very small, similar to sand. Therefore, it will be difficult for beginner gardeners, but below you will get help. For beginners, it is advisable to use seeds in granules. In this case, sowing becomes much more pleasant. Caring for lobelia is not very difficult. The best option would be to prepare seedlings in advance instead of sowing the seeds directly into the soil.
Attention! Lobelia blooms only begin three months after sowing seeds. But the plant, which was planted immediately in the ground, will bloom only in the fall.
Lobelia seeds
Growing seedlings
Growing lobelia in the form of seedlings will allow gardeners to admire the buds from the first months of summer, if everything is done correctly and accurately. In order to start planting seedlings, you need to prepare in advance the capacity necessary for planting it. And you need to start the sowing stage from the first of February. First of all, you need to prepare the ground for this amazing flower. You will need garden soil, which must be mixed with ordinary river sand.
Note! And in order to kill various bacteria, you need to hold it in an ordinary oven for 10 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees.
In the container where the seedlings will be sown, you need to make a small hole. It is necessary for the outflow of fluid. Next, you need to pour a fairly thick layer of expanded clay or broken brick. Pre-roasted earth is poured into the container and pressed a little, having leveled it in advance. When the soil is poured into the container, it must be rinsed. After moistening the soil, seeds are placed in it, only they need to be distributed at large intervals from each other. It will be more convenient to carry out with seeds that are in granules. All containers must be closed with glass or a bag. Then the containers with future seedlings are placed in a place where it is warm and there is enough light.
Sowing seeds in flower pots
Firstly, you need to understand that the soil for lobelia needs air, light, moist and loose. The soil should be well-nourished with air to make the plant comfortable. Seedlings need to be planted in open ground, which includes sand and humus. The plant successfully survives in slightly acidic or in neutral soil. To sow seeds, a small planter or any similar container is suitable. Sometimes seeds are placed directly in open ground.
Flower in hanging flower pots
Lobelia: when to plant in the open ground?
The lobelia planting period is from mid-winter to mid-spring. In April-May, flowers are transplanted into a flower bed or in a cache-pot. Lobelia seeds are very small, so they can’t be evenly distributed over the soil. But you can apply some tips for equal location. They must be mixed with a small amount of earth with a stick, then the resulting composition must be evenly scattered on the surface of the soil.
You can simply sprinkle the entire bag of seeds directly into the ground, but through a small hole so as not to spill them. It’s practical to wield a wet match or a toothpick, first lowering it into a bag of seeds and then into the ground. Some use snow - spread it on the ground with a thin layer, and sprinkle lobelia seeds on top.
The easiest option is to buy lobelia seeds in granules, because it is more convenient to spread them evenly on the soil surface. Seeds do not need to sprinkle with an additional layer of soil. In order not to thin out the rows, you do not need to sow them next to each other. After disembarkation, it is necessary to cover the container with film or glass. Every day, you need to wipe the condensate from the inner surface of the glass and ventilate the pot with the planted plant. Thus, the normal temperature for the flower is kept. With early seedlings, you need to provide the flower with a large amount of sunlight. Watering is necessary every day for two weeks with a spray.
Note! When the seedlings grow well, they need to be divided into bushes and transplanted into open ground. In the same way, you can plant lobelia in a pot and hang it outdoors.
Soil preparation
Ampel lobelia is well established in the soil with different composition. But the main condition is the choice of light soil with good friability, so that oxygen is well supplied to the root system. Heavy clay soil will not work, the plant may begin to rot and die. For planting seedlings, ordinary peat tablets or peat are suitable. In the store you can buy the finished mixture.
For planting in open ground, mix garden soil with humus, peat, river sand. The acidity of the soil should be neutral or very weak.
Planting seedlings in open ground or flower pots
When there were severe frosts on the street, and the sun had already warmed up the soil, then it was time to transplant the lobelia seedlings into open ground.
Landing
The plant is very fond of light, but also easily tolerates the shadow. This means that it can be planted in any territory in the garden. The main requirement is that the soil should not be oversaturated with humus, otherwise the plant will bloom weakly, and there will only be a lot of green foliage. Landing is a few steps away.
First you need to make pits with a depth of about 25 cm and at a distance of 20 cm from each other. In each hole put a teaspoon of vermicompost and half a glass of ash. Pour a little soil, mix and pour water. Place the lobelia, or a group of plants from a glass with seedlings on the resulting mixture, and cover it with earth. Planting a plant in a pot is not very difficult, as many think. The flower is planted in a pair of bushes, while the main thing is not to damage the root system of each plant.
Step-by-step steps of the landing process:
- flower watered;
- extracted in a group of a pair of seedlings;
- placed in a pot for planting;
- flowers with straight stems should be planted closer to the center;
- fill the remaining space with soil.
Important! The earth needs to be sprinkled taking into account that there should be at least three cm from the soil to the upper edge of the pot. So it will be more comfortable to water the flower. But the main thing is not to overdo it with watering, you can stimulate the development of certain diseases. For proper flowering, you need to water once a week.
How many pieces to sow in a cache-pot
How many seeds to sow in a pot depends on its diameter. About 15 pieces can be planted in a pot with a diameter of 30 cm. Some gardeners like to plant more: up to 25 seeds in one pot. If seedlings were not enough, then you can plant five each, press the stems to the soil, and after a month and a half the bushes form a magnificent hat. Lobelia seedlings require less space than petunias.
Do I need to pinch ampel lobelia
Pinching the flower is not necessary. But thanks to this, lobelia bushes can be more fluffy and bushy. This is especially recommended if there is still enough time left before planting in a permanent place and the seedlings outgrow. Pinching is done when the sprouts of the flower reach five centimeters.
Pinch process
In conclusion, it should be noted that ampel lobelia is quite easy to care for, the main difficulties can be experienced only when sowing. Experienced gardeners also recommend choosing seeds in granules for more convenient sowing. If the plant is properly planted and given proper care, it will result in lush flowering throughout the summer, up to severe frosts.
Lobelia in the flower bed goes well with other plants and feels great in drawers or flower pots. Previously, lobelia was used in medicine - syphilis disease was treated with the syphilis lobelia variety, now it is used as a decorative decoration for flower beds. So the functions of this plant are quite diverse.
