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Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
http://tinyurl.com/3y7bqe
shows a tubful of Lobelia Fan scarlet that are singing their last verse. There are four or five plants in the tub, and for a long time in the spring, I was not sure whether I hadn't by mistake planted some curious variety of reddish-green lettuce. But since it stopped raining, the tub has delighted us for two months with a stunning display of red spikes up to four feet tall. Being an absolute beginner at this gardening lark, I now wonder whether anyone could advise me how to maximize the potential for an equally spectacular performance next year. One of the photos shows that many of the spikes have new leaf growth, some at the bottom, some halfway up and some at the very top. Should I cut the spikes back? How far? Can I save some seeds for sowing next spring? If leave the tub outside all winter, should I protect it somehow? (I'll have to leave it out, anyway - no indoor storage here.) You were all very kind answering my last query about a pot plant, so I'm hoping for a repeat performance. -- Noel |
Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
"Ildhund" wrote in message
... http://tinyurl.com/3y7bqe shows a tubful of Lobelia Fan scarlet that are singing their last verse. There are four or five plants in the tub, and for a long time in the spring, I was not sure whether I hadn't by mistake planted some curious variety of reddish-green lettuce. But since it stopped raining, the tub has delighted us for two months with a stunning display of red spikes up to four feet tall. Being an absolute beginner at this gardening lark, I now wonder whether anyone could advise me how to maximize the potential for an equally spectacular performance next year. One of the photos shows that many of the spikes have new leaf growth, some at the bottom, some halfway up and some at the very top. Should I cut the spikes back? How far? Can I save some seeds for sowing next spring? If leave the tub outside all winter, should I protect it somehow? (I'll have to leave it out, anyway - no indoor storage here.) You were all very kind answering my last query about a pot plant, so I'm hoping for a repeat performance. -- Noel You appear to have Lobelia cardinalis Queen Victoria http://tinyurl.com/33vhtb which is a hardy perennial. This site will help you regarding propagation http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....lia+cardinalis Regards, Emrys Davies. |
Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
i have attemted to grow lobelia but the snails and slugs destoy theme.
i can't use pellets as they might get in the pond how did you stop the pests? "Ildhund" wrote in message ... http://tinyurl.com/3y7bqe shows a tubful of Lobelia Fan scarlet that are singing their last verse. There are four or five plants in the tub, and for a long time in the spring, I was not sure whether I hadn't by mistake planted some curious variety of reddish-green lettuce. But since it stopped raining, the tub has delighted us for two months with a stunning display of red spikes up to four feet tall. Being an absolute beginner at this gardening lark, I now wonder whether anyone could advise me how to maximize the potential for an equally spectacular performance next year. One of the photos shows that many of the spikes have new leaf growth, some at the bottom, some halfway up and some at the very top. Should I cut the spikes back? How far? Can I save some seeds for sowing next spring? If leave the tub outside all winter, should I protect it somehow? (I'll have to leave it out, anyway - no indoor storage here.) You were all very kind answering my last query about a pot plant, so I'm hoping for a repeat performance. -- Noel |
Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
"Emrys Davies" wrote ... "Ildhund" wrote ... http://tinyurl.com/3y7bqe shows a tubful of Lobelia Fan scarlet that are singing their last verse. There are four or five plants in the tub, and for a long time in the spring, I was not sure whether I hadn't by mistake planted some curious variety of reddish-green lettuce. But since it stopped raining, the tub has delighted us for two months with a stunning display of red spikes up to four feet tall. Being an absolute beginner at this gardening lark, I now wonder whether anyone could advise me how to maximize the potential for an equally spectacular performance next year. One of the photos shows that many of the spikes have new leaf growth, some at the bottom, some halfway up and some at the very top. Should I cut the spikes back? How far? Can I save some seeds for sowing next spring? If leave the tub outside all winter, should I protect it somehow? (I'll have to leave it out, anyway - no indoor storage here.) You were all very kind answering my last query about a pot plant, so I'm hoping for a repeat performance. You appear to have Lobelia cardinalis Queen Victoria http://tinyurl.com/33vhtb which is a hardy perennial. This site will help you regarding propagation http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....lia+cardinalis I don't think so, with our cardinalis all the leaves and stems are dark red once they grow above the "baby lettuce" stage. Our Lobelia cardinalis or L "Queen Victoria" has been in our pond as a bog plant for 25+ years and has survived all that time in situ, winter and summer, sometimes it gets knocked back in a hard winter but it has survived. They do seed around, especially in pots of multipurpose compost containing something else!, but they also produce rooted baby plants on the stems if they bend over and touch the water. You can also cut off shoots from the stems and place them in water until they root. By all means save seed but it will take a season or two to reach flowering size IME. The spikes will die over winter so can be cut back to a foot or so and the tops laid over the plants which will give the roots some protection, don't cover them so you exclude the light as they remain throughout the winter as "baby lettuce". In a tub, and I don't know whereabouts you are, they may need some protection. In my case my pot of self-seeders I saved last year, which have flowered well, will be brought up to the house wall over winter but I do live in one of the countries hotter areas. These plants do like a lot of water at the roots but can be left dryer during the winter. There is another similar species called Lobelia siphititica which is blue. I believe there is another variety called something like "Elmfir" ? ( told the name by the Head Gardener at Loseley House where I saw it growing) that is more robust and can take dryer conditions so would be better for the garden borders but I have yet to see it for sale. -- Regards Bob Hobden 17mls W. of London.UK |
Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
"DB01" wrote i have attemted to grow lobelia but the snails and slugs destoy theme. i can't use pellets as they might get in the pond how did you stop the pests? Bulk up your plant and there will be too much for the slugs to eat it all. Ours gets some damage every year but is big enough to grow through it. -- Regards Bob Hobden |
Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
thanx for that
what does "bulk up" mean TIA "Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... "DB01" wrote i have attemted to grow lobelia but the snails and slugs destoy theme. i can't use pellets as they might get in the pond how did you stop the pests? Bulk up your plant and there will be too much for the slugs to eat it all. Ours gets some damage every year but is big enough to grow through it. -- Regards Bob Hobden |
Reduce watering now then cut your potted loelia to ground level after it has flowered. Your compost should be nicely moist but 'under' rather than 'overwet' if you see what I mean.
Over winter in a shed or carport. (Lobelia can be killed off very easily if left too wet). Then around early late March/April empty pot and divide your plants between other pots adding new compost that will encourage new growth and away you go! |
Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
"DB01" wrote ... "Bob Hobden" wrote after "DB01" wrote i have attemted to grow lobelia but the snails and slugs destoy theme. i can't use pellets as they might get in the pond how did you stop the pests? Bulk up your plant and there will be too much for the slugs to eat it all. Ours gets some damage every year but is big enough to grow through it. thanx for that what does "bulk up" mean Make the clump bigger (by the methods describer earlier). -- Regards Bob Hobden 17mls W. of London.UK |
Perennial lobelia - autumn treatment
thanx again I'll try that
Eugene about 20 miles w of London "Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... "DB01" wrote ... "Bob Hobden" wrote after "DB01" wrote i have attemted to grow lobelia but the snails and slugs destoy theme. i can't use pellets as they might get in the pond how did you stop the pests? Bulk up your plant and there will be too much for the slugs to eat it all. Ours gets some damage every year but is big enough to grow through it. thanx for that what does "bulk up" mean Make the clump bigger (by the methods describer earlier). -- Regards Bob Hobden 17mls W. of London.UK |
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