Lobelia speciosa Fan Scarlet Compact

Culture guide

Crop Time: Spring: 18-20 weeks

Height: 60cm

Exposure: Sun – Partial Shade

Heat Zone: 9-2

Hardiness Zone: 6-10

Best uses: Bedding, Cutflower, Landscape

Usage
Perennial for border and cottage garden, container plant, bedding, cut flower plants

Sow time
January-March for flowering in pots from July onwards, August-October for flowering in pots the following year, April-May for cut flower production outdoors

Sowing method
1 seed per plug for short day conditions 3-5 seeds per plug for long day conditions, because in long day the plants do not form a leaf rosette.

Germination
10-14 days at 70 °F (21 °C), do not cover seeds, maintain high humidity

Growing on
Transplant plugs after 10 weeks. Transplant one plant into a 4-6″ (10-15 cm) pot, or 2-3 plants in a 6″ (15 cm) or larger container. Apply a well balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. Grow on at 60-65 °F (15-18 °C). Vernalization is not required for flower initiation.

Media
Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 0-15 % clay, 1-1,5 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 2-3 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 6.0-7.0. Field: humus, sandy humus soils with a good drainage. Standard fertilization: 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer.

Temperature
Grow at 15-18 °C, later decrease the temperature to 10-15 °C when the roots development in pots should be very good. Cultivation outdoors is possible, too. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. Outdoors fleece cover needed. L. speciosa are very sensitive to strong frost temperatures. In spring the plants start to grow at 15-18 °C and long day. Cold temperatures at 10-12 °C will increase the cultivation time. A chilling period (vernalization) for flower initiation is not required.

Fertilization
Moderate-high fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen (at 0 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Don’t fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize with 100-150 ppm nitrogen of a complete balanced fertilizer. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Field: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer per year, applied in several portions.

Stage I Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.

The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.