When to sow Lobelia erinus? Analysis of the best sowing time

Lobelia erinus is a flowering plant that produces a relatively large number of blooms when in flower, and it is quite popular in many regions, so when should Lobelia erinus be sown?

1. Basic introduction to Lobelia erinus

Lobelia erinus is an annual herbaceous plant in the Campanulaceae family and the genus Lobelia, and it also has many other names, such as edging lobelia, trailing lobelia, and South African lobelia.

Lobelia erinus grows about 12-20 cm tall, with fine, dense stems and branches. The upper leaves on the stems are smaller and lanceolate, while the leaves near the base are slightly larger and broadly spoon-shaped. The leaves are alternate, and the flower colors include red, peach red, purple, violet-blue, white, and other colors.

Lobelia erinus needs long daylight and low temperatures to bloom. Among these, the distinctively blue-flowered varieties of Lobelia erinus are an important type for spring flower beds. When in bloom, the whole plant takes on a rounded, expanded shape, with the plant almost entirely covered by flowers. It is suitable for flower beds, potted plants, hanging baskets, and garden landscaping, and it is widely loved by households in Europe and America.

2. When should Lobelia erinus be sown?

Lobelia erinus is generally sown in spring and autumn. The sowing time in spring is around March, and the sowing time in autumn is around October. Lobelia erinus generally takes 3-4 months from sowing to flowering.

3. Propagation methods for Lobelia erinus

The seeds of Lobelia erinus are very small, so when sowing, you can mix in some fine sand before sowing, or first raise seedlings and then transplant them into pots or cultivate them in flower beds when they have 6-8 true leaves. Use a fine-nozzle watering can to water, and never use too strong a force, to prevent the seeds from being washed away.

The seeds can germinate 20 days after sowing at 22°C. They are generally commonly used as potted plants and hanging basket plants, or planted mixed with other flowers. The plants grow slowly, and the seeds are very small, so no covering is needed during germination. It is not suited to high temperatures and grows better at 12-15°C. It can bloom 14-15 weeks after sowing. Generally, sow 8-12 seeds per cell.