Detailed Explanation of Lobelia Planting Methods and Technical Points
Lobelia (scientific name: Lobelia chinensis Lour.), a perennial herb of the genus Lobelia in the family Campanulaceae. The stems are slender and weak, creeping, rooting at the nodes, with upright branches. The leaves are alternate, sessile or nearly sessile, elliptical-lanceolate to linear. The flowers are usually solitary, borne in the axils of the upper leaves of the branches; the pedicels are slender, and the bracteoles are hairless; the calyx tube is obovate-conical; the corolla is pink or white. The capsule is obconical, about 6 mm long. The seeds are elliptical, slightly flattened, and nearly flesh-colored. The flowering and fruiting period is from May to October.
Lobelia cultivation techniques:
Seed propagation, cuttings propagation, and division propagation are used. In production, division propagation is the main method, and cuttings propagation can also be used to expand propagation.
For division propagation, in spring from April to May, after new seedlings emerge, each clump can be divided into 4-6 plants depending on clump size. Then trenches are opened, and planting is done at a row spacing of 15-25 cm and a plant spacing of 6-10 cm.
For cuttings propagation, the suitable period for cuttings is the high-temperature and high-humidity season. Cut the stems and branches from the plants and insert them into the soil. At a temperature of 24-30°C and with the soil kept moist, they will usually take root in about ten days. In the following spring, transplant them to the field. For field management, when the seedlings are about 6 cm tall.
After lobelia is planted, it can be harvested twice a year. The first crop is harvested when growth is luxuriant in summer, and the second crop before frost in autumn. When harvesting, use a sickle to cut evenly, then cut and collect; wash clean of sand and mud, remove all debris, and dry directly in the sun or by artificial drying. Dry material that is fresh in color, free of impurities, free of mold, free of insect damage, and green is considered good; otherwise, it is inferior.
1. Lobelia tends to bloom in seasons with large day-night temperature differences and strong light duration. If you want lobelia to bloom faster, you should appropriately extend its light duration.
2. If summer light is too strong, leaf edge scorching may occur, so lobelia should be shaded in time.3. When the temperature exceeds 30°C, watering should be done in time to prevent lobelia from becoming too dry and dying.
4. During the flowering season of lobelia, do not fertilize it or apply pesticides.
5. When watering lobelia, try to choose the morning or late morning time period; avoid watering in the afternoon and evening as much as possible.
6. Temperatures are lower in autumn and winter, and pests and diseases are likely to occur, so timely measures should be taken to deal with them.