Spread organic mulch around the root zone but keep it away from the main stems. Although lobelia can withstand a range of soil conditions, this plant grows best in slightly damp soil, especially during the intense heat of summer. Suggested uses City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Containers, Bog garden How to Grow Great Blue Lobelia From Seed Growing Great Blue Lobelia from seed is easy. When to cut back perennials Cutting back herbaceous perennials during autumn restores order and tidiness to the garden. Yes. Most annual lobelias are self-cleaning, so you don’t need to deadhead them. Using your pruning shears, cleanly remove the top 1/2 of the entire plant. Annual bedding lobelias will grow in both full sun or partial shade. Pruning techniques for marguerite daisies, Royal Horticultural Society: Lobelia erinus "Cambridge Blue". Mulch marginal cardinals lightly with 1/2 inch of straw prior to the first freeze. Hold the stalk steady in one hand and prune the stalk the desired height with sharp garden shears. cut back by a ½ after the first major flowering. Cut back the plant by half or more at the end of its bloom period. Roses – If it needs to be shaped, cut back … Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis, is a native American plant that is often used as an ornamental garden plant. Minimise the risk of disease and enhance the appearance of a lobelia plant by trimming off the damaged growth as soon as it appears. Examine your lobelias throughout the growing season. For spiky types, wait until the entire spike has faded before clipping out the stems. Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria' (Cardinal flower 'Queen Victoria') will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years. On plant Lobelia cardinalis 24 Sep, 2010 Answers Seaburngirl I tend to leave the foliage there until the spring to protect the new growth. trivial names: edging lobelia, garden lobelia, trailing lobelia Cutting back a lobelia plant will increase the blooming season and increase the number of new blossoms. Save the seeds from spent flowers to grow new lobelia plants the following year. Place it into the flower pot, pressing it firmly into the moist soil. She continues to empower and encourage women everywhere by promoting health, career growth and business management skills. Sign up for our newsletter. It needs a good, fertile … Cut back by ½ after first major flowering to insure further bloom. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out slightly between watering sessions. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Pinch back the tips when young to keep plants bushy. This includes trimming to remove spent blossoms. Lobelia flowers make a lovely addition to the garden but like many plants, pruning is an important part of keeping them looking their best. Give the plant a light trim any time of year. above the ground. They may also be in just a slightly too shady spot. Do not hesitate to cut them back when they get too leggy. but you can cut it down if you wish. 2 Dig up a small clump of edging lobelia from the edge of the mound. Without this initial pinching, the stems can grow long and make the plant look leggy and unkempt. 2 -3 ". Laura Wallace Henderson, a professional freelance writer, began writing in 1989. Lobelia requires little care, but older cultivars can suffer from dieback in extreme heat. Cut back the entire plant after the initial wave of blossoms begins to fade. 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