Content
Lobelia erinus is a plant with very beautiful blue, purple, blue and white flowers. It grows quickly and completely covers the ground, thanks to which it decorates even inconspicuous corners of the garden. The flower belongs to perennials, but in the climatic conditions of Russia, it cannot winter in the open field, therefore, it requires transplantation into a greenhouse. Saplings are grown from seeds.
General description of lobelia erinus
It is a perennial herb with well-developed shoots. Includes several varieties and species of great decorative value. Lobelia erinus is often called blue because its flowers are colored in various shades of cornflower blue - from blue to deep purple.
Other synonymous names for lobelia are: black, curb, garden, long-peaked.
The bushes of the plant spread on the ground, reaching no more than 30-40 cm in height. The leaves are solid, oval in shape, small in length (up to 6 cm) and width (up to 1.5 cm). They can be light or dark green. Some varieties have leaves with lilac shades.
Lobelia erinus blooms throughout the summer
Flowering features
The lobelia erinus bush (pictured) gives many small flowers of different shades: light blue, saturated or dark blue, purple, white.
The flowers are small (up to 2 cm in diameter). They have an irregular shape - 2 and 3 fused petals each. But the lack of symmetry gives them a certain charm.
Lobelia erinus flowers resemble beautiful butterflies flying from leaves
Application in landscape design
Lobelia Erinus can decorate both a large garden and a small flower garden. It is used in a variety of design options. Culture adorns mixborders discounts, used to create live edging along garden paths.
Lobelia wins thanks to its modest and rare color. Almost all flowers of bright shades - red, orange and yellow - look great against its background. Even lilac or blue are in harmony with lobelia.
Flower beds with lobelia and other flowers, kept in turquoise-purple tones, look especially attractive.
Ampel varieties are used in pots, which are hung in a gazebo or on a porch
Lobelia will fit perfectly into a flower garden, it looks good both in the open field and in street pots
The crop is often used to cover the soil in selected corners of the garden.
Lobelia Erinus species
Depending on the size and shape of the bush, there are 5 main types of lobelia erinus.
view | bush structure | height, cm |
sprawling | volumetric | 12-15 |
compact | dense, spherical | 15-20 |
dwarf | flat | 8-12 |
erect | classic | 20-25 |
ampelous | hanging | 8-10 |
All varieties are suitable for growing in the garden. Ampelnye can also be hung in a planter on a veranda or in a gazebo. Spreading lobelia, which is used as a ground cover plant, is especially popular.
Lobelia Erinus varieties
There are several different varieties of lobelia. The most interesting of them are:
- Lobelia Erinus Crystal Palace Is a variety that produces numerous small flowers of a unique pale purple color.
- Royal - an early flowering bush with miniature dark pink flowers, the diameter of which does not exceed 1.2 cm. The seedling is compact, gives many shoots.
- White Is another early flowering form. The bush spreads almost completely on the ground (no more than 12 cm in height), is often used in the design of flower beds and borders.
- Emperor Willie - lobelia erinus with classic blue flowers. It resembles a small cloud in shape.
- Miss Cleburn - a short but lush bush with purple flowers and a white center.
- Cambridge Blue - a variety of lobelia erinus with blue flowers.
- Sapphire - a kind of hanging (ampelous) lobelia with bright blue flowers. The shoots are quite long, growing up to 35 cm.
How lobelia erinus reproduces
Breeding methods for lobelia depend on the variety. Allocate the following methods
- dividing the bush;
- cuttings;
- growing from seeds.
The latter method is universal, it allows you to grow seedlings at home. To do this, you need to ensure the correct temperature, lighting and humidification.
Planting lobelia erinus seeds for seedlings
It is not so difficult to get seedlings of lobelia erinus - the process is similar to growing vegetables (tomatoes or cucumbers). However, there are some peculiarities. For example, the seeds of this plant are quite small, so you need to work with them carefully.
Timing
Lobelia Erinus seeds are sown in late February - early March. If the deadline is missed, you can have time to do it before mid-April.
Selection of containers, soil preparation
Preparatory measures directly affect the quality of the resulting seedlings. For growing lobelia erinus, the following are suitable:
- peat tablets;
- small boxes;
- special cassettes.
Plastic cups are not used in this case, because the containers should be wide and low enough.
Growing lobelia requires a versatile seedling soil. A few pinches of river sand or coconut fiber are added to it. You can also create your own mixture - for example, with equal amounts of garden soil and peat. In this case, it must first be held for 10-12 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
How to sow lobelia erinus seeds for seedlings
It is not necessary to pre-dress the seeds. After opening the package, it is not recommended to take them with your fingers. To do this, use a toothpick soaked in water. Sequencing:
- The container is disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate. Rinsed and wiped off. Pour out the soil mixture, level the top layer.
- The seeds are transferred with a moistened toothpick.
- They are laid on the surface and left as they are. It is not necessary to sprinkle or deepen.
- Moistened from a spray bottle.
How to grow lobelia erinus from seeds
Immediately after planting, the containers are covered with glass or foil. In the future, seedlings of lobelia erinus are grown according to the general rules:
- They maintain a stable temperature of 20-22 ° C - this is a common room environment, the seeds do not need special warmth.
- Moisten the soil periodically to keep it moist.
- They are regularly illuminated with a phytolamp so that the duration of daylight hours is at least 12-13 hours.
- At first, the film is not removed, in the future it can be removed for 30 minutes for airing.
- As soon as the first shoots appear (after 7-10 days), the time for airing is gradually increased.
- At the stage of formation of three leaves, the seedlings dive, i.e. seated in separate containers. Several sprouts can be placed in each pot.
- After a month, the film is removed.
- The temperature is gradually reduced - it can be kept in the range of 16-18 ° C.
Before picking, seedlings grow rather slowly, which is considered the norm. After the transplant, the process goes faster.To accelerate growth, shoots need to be pinched in different places every 3 weeks. The seedlings will quickly grow stronger and stretch out.
You can moisten the soil where the seedlings of lobelia erinus grow with a spray bottle or syringe.
The tablets are then simply transferred to individual containers or cassette compartments.
Transfer to the ground
The plant can be transferred to open ground in late May or early June. The specific time depends on the climatic features of the region - first of all, the transplant is carried out in the South of Russia, later - in the Urals and Siberia. The main requirement is that the night temperature should not fall below 5-7 ° C, and the threat of recurrent frosts should be minimal.
Choosing a place for transplanting Erinus lobelia is quite simple. The main thing is that it is open - the plant loves light. The culture is low, so even medium-sized bushes and trees will create shading.
You should not place flowers in a low area where water accumulates. Excessive soil moisture is fraught with rotting of the root system and the death of plants.
Seedlings can be transplanted into pre-prepared pits at intervals of no more than 15 cm. The plants will grow and form a beautiful floral border. The site is dug up in advance, there is no need to form deep holes, because the roots are very small. You can transplant seedlings into a pot and put it in a conspicuous place, hang it in a flower pot or dig it into the ground. Then it will be easier to move it into the house in the fall.
When transplanting, the plant is carefully buried in loose soil and sprinkled with soil so that the roots are completely hidden
Rules for caring for lobelia erinus in the ground
Since lobelia erinus is native to South Africa, it needs regular watering. Provide them as needed. If it rains, the extra moisture can damage. When drought occurs, water it 2-3 times a week so that the soil always remains moderately moist. It is advisable to mulch the roots with peat or sawdust - the material helps to retain moisture and inhibits the growth of weeds.
Top dressing is carried out 3-4 times per season:
- Immediately after transfer to open ground, nitrogen or complex mineral fertilizer is given.
- Then, with an interval of 2-3 weeks, superphosphates and potassium salt are added to maintain lush flowering.
- The last dressing should be done in mid-August, it is not worth fertilizing later, since the lobelia must prepare for winter rest.
Timely watering and feeding will ensure the lush flowering of lobelia erinus throughout the season
After adding nutrients, it is useful to loosen the soil a little so that they quickly penetrate to the roots, and from there enter the plant tissues.
Lobelia erinus wintering
Despite the fact that biologically the plant is a perennial shrub, in temperate latitudes it is grown as an annual. This means that in the spring (April - May) lobelia is planted in open ground, and for the winter it is transferred to a shelter, otherwise it dies.
Plants can be planted on a flower bed in containers, simply by digging them into the ground, or by hanging the pot in a pots.
Transfer to the greenhouse is carried out at a time when the temperature drops to 5-6 ° C at night. You should not wait for the onset of the first frost.
Winter storage is optimal at a temperature of 8-10 ° C. If it is warmer, the lobelia will start to grow, and it needs rest for lush flowering. Therefore, the pots are usually placed on an insulated balcony, loggia or in a cellar. They must be protected from direct sunlight.
Pests and diseases
Although lobelia erinus has some resistance to disease, sometimes it is still affected by various fungi and infections. The most common root rot and rust. Signs are determined visually:
- brown spots (rust) appear on the leaves;
- foliage darkens, peduncles are formed smaller than usual (with root rot);
- a white bloom is visible on the surface of the tops (indicates powdery mildew).
For treatment, special drugs are used: Bordeaux liquid, Topaz, Skor, Fitosporin and others.
Lobelia erinus bushes are sprayed in calm and clear weather, preferably in the evening.
Conclusion
Lobelia erinus is a flower culture that can be used to decorate flower beds, highlight the boundaries of a garden path, and plant greenery in desert corners of the territory. It is often grown in pots as a houseplant. Seedlings are obtained from seeds, providing comfortable conditions for the emergence of seedlings (lighting, watering, room temperature). Thanks to the original blue shades, flowers will decorate any flower bed.
