Content
- For a long flowering - cut back lobelia
- To extend the flowering period
- Remove withered flowers
- Who wants to reap seeds, should not remove all flowers
- Cutting depends on the growth
- For winter festivities of perennial lobelia
- Tips
A pruning of lobelia prolongs the flowering period
For a long flowering - cut back lobelia
They are considered sensitive and yet easy to care for - the lobelia. If you love them and want to enjoy their splendor for a long time, you should not hesitate with the secateurs, but use them!
Previous article Lobelia: The focus in nursing Next article Lobelia: The few are hardyTo extend the flowering period
The flowering season of lobelia usually begins in May. By July, these plants are persistent and present depending on the species and variety their typical royal blue flowers. Do you want to admire the flowers even longer? Then you should provide the plant with a cut!
Remove withered flowers
The cutting of withered flowers prevents seeds from forming. At the same time, it stimulates the new drive of the lobelia:
Who wants to reap seeds, should not remove all flowers
If you want to harvest seeds, you should not cut away all the flowers. Leave 3 to 5 inflorescences. They form fruit stems and seeds. These can be harvested at maturity. But bear in mind: Forming the fruits and seeds costs the lobelia a lot of power, whereupon their flowering declines significantly.
Cutting depends on the growth
There are upright, uplifting lobelia, such as the varieties 'Rosamunde' and 'Kristallpalast'. They are simply cut down. For other varieties that grow hanging (eg, Richardii '), you should also remove the up to 80 cm long tendrils. Also on them are flowers.
For winter festivities of perennial lobelia
Most lobelia available on the market will arrive in the fall. The reason is incoming frost that these heat-loving plants do not survive.
But in some species, such as the so-called perennial lobelia, it is worth the quartering in winter.Such specimens should be cut back in the fall to one hand wide across the ground.
Tips
Cut back your lobelia on a dry, cloudy day. Cutting on rainy days increases the risk of disease infestation and cutting in the sun weakens the crop strongly.