This flower is easy to grow and readily fills its pot, elegant, dreamy and full of charm, even a beginner's balcony can turn into a sea of flowers

Today's recommendation

Every flower lover wants their plants to bloom into a pot-busting display. Today I recommend a small flower that fills pots with incredible ease: "Lobelia". One plant per pot is enough to fill it completely, blooming so densely it forms a big ball of flowers, flowers everywhere and no leaves in sight. The elegant, dreamy blue blooms look like butterflies dancing, like a flock of blue sprites, utterly charming, so beautiful they seem to float.

Rich in flower colors

Herbaceous flowers win by sheer flower quantity, and Lobelia is a prime example, a true pot-filling marvel. A single seed can genuinely fill a whole pot, beautifully and movingly, giving you a real sense of achievement. The little lobelia you usually buy comes as "pelleted seed", with a coating of pelleting material around the seed that helps with sowing. One pelleted seed often contains several seeds, so what sprouts is a small cluster of seedlings.

Trailing Lobelia

Lobelia is not only beautiful but also easy to care for, very suitable for beginners. Whether in pots or sown yourself, it is especially easy. Right now is a good time to sow: spring sowing is usually in March to April, with flowers in autumn. If sown in autumn, it blooms in spring. The flowering period lasts several months, blooming gloriously, docilely repaying sunshine, rain and human care many times over. A fine choice for balcony pots and hanging baskets.

It likes long daylight hours; keep it on a balcony or windowsill for everyday care. Summers are scorching, so be careful to shade it and keep it ventilated, and it will get through summer without trouble. Water when the soil is dry and water thoroughly when you do. When a small side shoot of a young plant has 8 leaves, you can pinch it: remove the growing tip and keep at least 4 leaves to encourage branching. Repeat two or three times and it easily fills the pot, and your balcony instantly becomes a sea of flowers, romantic and lovely.