Lobelia. Growing from seeds and caring for seedlings.

Lobelia is a fairly popular plant among gardeners around the world. Uncomplicated, beautiful and minimal care is all lobelia. Cultivation from seeds is the only way that is available to gardeners who want to get this plant in their collection. It comes from Africa, it feels great in all corners of the world, but it is especially spread in countries with a tropical and temperate climate.

Lobelia is great for forming low curbs in floral arrangements, and some varieties will help decorate your balcony. Now we know about 300 different varieties of this plant, which in turn are divided into three landing forms: a compact (15 centimeters high), upright (25 centimeters high) and lace (this form differs in excellent flowering, and shoots reach a height of 35 centimeters) .

Despite the fact that this is a perennial plant, it is used as a one-day-old, it often frightens beginning gardeners, because they think they can not grow sprouts properly, but do not be afraid, because you are unlikely to find a more beautiful and grateful plant than lobelia . Cultivation from seeds begin in the winter. Since the vegetative period is tightened to achieve flowering at the right time, sowing of lobelia seeds is best done in February, at the extreme - in early spring. For normal seed emergence, it must be ensured that the room temperature does not fall below 20 degrees. Seeds are planted in a specially prepared soil, the main thing is that it is light and loose, as an option, you can use a coconut copra. In order for seeds to germinate, they need light, so they do not need to be sprinkled with soil. Make sure that the soil is always moist, and two weeks after emergence, you can lower the temperature to 15 degrees, fertilizing fertilizer is allowed only two weeks after emergence.
If you used special boxes to plant seeds, then you can forget about the picking for one month, if the plants grow chaotically, then you need to look at the circumstances. Picking is done very carefully, do not be afraid to grab several plants at once, the main thing is not to touch the root system, all plants are very sensitive to such damage, especially lobelia. Cultivation from seeds can be considered successfully completed only when you transplant the flower to its permanent place in the garden.

In the open ground lobelia can be planted in mid-May. To make the bushes well taken root and feel comfortable, they should be planted at a distance of not less than 15-20 centimeters from each other. If you want to give the plant the right shape, you need to take care of it at the very beginning, as soon as it reaches 2-3 centimeters in height - to make a pluck and give the plant the correct round shape. Also it is worth noting that lobelia is often transplanted into pots and brought into the house for the winter, in which case this beautiful plant will please you all year round. The only care that this plant requires is abundant watering, because at home it grows mainly on wet soil on the shores of lakes and rivers.

Also, gardeners very much appreciate lobelia for another important quality: the fact is that until now no pest or disease has been identified which can damage this plant, so that no additional chemicals and medicines are needed for a normal and prolonged life. Pleasure with its flowering plant begins already after 75-80 days after planting the seeds. Once the plant blooms, you need to trim it at a height of about 5 centimeters, then the bush will shoot new shoots and blossom stunning with beautiful flowers. So, if you are looking for a beautiful and unpretentious plant, then exactly you will be approached with lobelia. Growing out of seeds, of course, is a relatively complex process, but your work will more than pay off the first bloom of this wonderful flower.

Now you know how to grow lobel from seeds, and I can only wish good luck to the gardeners who decided to decorate their garden with this unsurpassed plant.