Professional lobelia haircut
Luxurious cascade of flowers or bright multi-colored bouquets decorate the cottage throughout the summer. However, like all plants, ampelous lobelia fades, thereby acquiring a not entirely aesthetic appearance. To renew the flowering period of this unpretentious plant, it must be cut off in time.
This procedure is only necessary for those varieties that are very much pulled up. Experienced gardeners pinch them at the seedling stage, when the seedlings reach 5 cm.However, there are varieties on sale that do not require such a formation.
Lobelia under the edge of a knife
Agronomists advise pruning the bush 2 times during the entire growing season. In the middle of summer (July), when the buds begin to dry out, the stems are cut low enough, leaving only 10-15 cm. As a result, after a few weeks the culture will bloom even more in a larger scale. But the second "haircut" is best planned for early August.
The technology for pruning a lobelia bush is usual:
- remove 20-30 cm of the tops of the stems;
- cut off dry branches from the very root;
- tear off dried buds.
Also ampel plant advise to give a certain shape. Such a radical intervention in the life of the flower does not harm it in the least. On the contrary, it will rejuvenate and give it new strength for the next wave of luxurious flowering. If the lateral shoots are not cut off in time, the bush will thicken, and the flowers will only appear on the tips of the stems, which is not very decorative.
Some growers cut lobelia up to 3-4 times per season. At the same time, they shorten the shoots by only 10-15 cm.
Room lobelia in winter apartments
Many people like to grow ampel varieties in pots. They look very sophisticated on the veranda, balcony or garden. However, with the onset of autumn, the flowerpots shed their lovely greenery. In order to continue to enjoy their luxurious bloom, you need to organize proper care for them. When night temperatures drop to 5 ° C, flowerpots are brought into the house.
Then the florist needs:
- cut off their shoots, leaving only 5-7 cm from the ground;
- feed the plants with complex fertilizers;
- reduce the frequency of watering - once every 10 days.
Temperature conditions play a key role in this. The buds are laid at 15˚С. However, some do not want lobelia to bloom, so they constantly prune the stems. Then, in the spring, you can expect the formation of young shoots, which are used as cuttings. They are placed in water for rooting, and then planted in the ground. This is another easy way to reproduce a flower.