It's winter here in South Africa and time for Lobelia! As an annual, Lobelia will grow nearly anywhere and they are great in hanging baskets – which is the route I go as my chickens destroy anything delicate planted directly in the ground!
Native to Southern Africa, trailing Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) needs plenty of sun to bloom its best. Technically they are to be planted late winter and will flower from spring well into midsummer or even longer, but here in Tarlton our heat can get pretty intense, so I prefer to plant them in Autumn and every winter I have a blue mass of beauty. I hang them under the eaves of the patio so that they don't get any direct frost and where they get morning sun and mid-afternoon shade.
When planting Lobelia in hanging baskets and hanging planters ensure your basket or planter has plenty of holes for drainage. Then select a good, lightweight, airy potting soil. In summer, they will need watering daily as the temperatures start to warm up, but in winter I water only once a week.
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I can see them in my imagination. Blue is beautiful! Hope they bring you much joy Maree....love your painting, so simple and lovely.
ReplyDeleteOh they do Liz, lots of joy! I hope this year I'll be successful with them, last year they didn't last very well...
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