What are the cultivation methods for Lobelia erinus?
Lobelia erinus, also known as trailing lobelia, edging lobelia, and lobelia, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Campanulaceae family, genus Lobelia, with very high ornamental value. When in bloom, the entire plant takes on a rounded, expanded shape, almost completely covered by flowers. It is suitable for flower beds, potted plants, hanging baskets, and garden landscaping, and is widely loved by households in Europe and America. Let's take a look at the cultivation methods for Lobelia erinus!
Growth habits of Lobelia erinus
Lobelia erinus is native to southern Africa and is also widely distributed in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou and other places in China. Lobelia erinus needs long-day and low-temperature conditions to bloom. It is not very cold-hardy, dislikes intense heat, and prefers loose loamy soil rich in humus.
Propagation methods for Lobelia erinus
Lobelia erinus is sown from January to March and blooms after July. When sown from August to October, it blooms the following year. Seeds germinate 20 days after sowing at 22°C. It is generally commonly used as a potted or hanging basket plant or mixed with other flowers. The plant grows slowly, and the seeds are very tiny, so no covering is needed at germination. It is not suited to high temperatures and grows better at 12-15°C. It can bloom 65 days after sowing, and generally 8-12 seeds are sown per cell.
Cultivation methods for Lobelia erinus
1. Potting soil: Lobelia erinus needs loose, well-draining, sandy soil rich in humus. Put the soil into a flower pot about 10 cm to 15 cm in diameter and add some base fertilizer. You can plant 2-3 small seedlings in the pot so that the potted Lobelia erinus blooms more fully and vigorously.
2. Light: Lobelia erinus is a long-day plant and needs to be guaranteed a relatively long period of light. It needs to receive prolonged sunlight every day. In winter and early spring, when daylight hours are shorter, supplemental lighting is needed for Lobelia erinus to meet the light conditions for blooming.
3. Temperature: Lobelia erinus grows best in a low-temperature environment. The suitable temperature for growth is between 15°C and 18°C. It has poor cold tolerance and is also not tolerant of intense heat. In winter, when the weather is cold, it does not necessarily need to be brought indoors to overwinter, but note that Lobelia erinus is not tolerant of frost, so avoid freezing damage.
4. Water and fertilizer: During the growth period of Lobelia erinus, water once every 7 to 10 days, basically following the principle of watering thoroughly after the soil dries out. Fertilization should be carried out according to the growth needs of Lobelia erinus. During the growth period, to help Lobelia erinus grow healthily, apply nitrogen fertilizer once a week.
5. Pinching: Pinching and pruning Lobelia erinus is a simple way to control plant shape. Pinching during the growth period promotes the growth of lateral buds. With more branches, there are also more flower buds.
6. Pests and diseases: During the growth period of Lobelia erinus, it is necessary to frequently observe the growth condition of the plants. Use some fungicides and insecticides to prevent damage from mold or red spider mites.