Lobelia Compliment

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:Perennial / first year flowering

Familiy, Origin:Lobeliaceae, North America

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:75 cm,29,53 inch

Flower Size:3,5 cm,1,38 inch

Natural flowertime:July - September

Crop Time:Plug crop: 8 weeks; Green pots: 12 weeks; Flowerings pots: 18-28 weeks, annual production is possible; Flowering pots: 7-10 months, including wintering; Cut flower production: 3-4 years.

Sell Period:May-September

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:14925 K/g

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 18-22 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 6.0-6.5. Requires light for germination. Do not cover seeds. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Avoid direct sunlight by shading seeds after sowing.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 15-18 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,5 EC. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 150-200 ppm.

Growing On:4-6 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (13-16 cm), 2-3 plants into a container (3-5 l). By sowing at long day condition transplant 3 plants into a pot (13-15 cm), because in long day the plants do not form a leaf rosette and the flowering is limited for plants without any leaf rosette. For container production two time transplantation improves the young plant quality, while for pot plant production two time transplantation is not absolutely necessary. Plant cut flower (frost free) in 30-40 x 20-30 cm space. Use nets to keep the stems upright. Approx. 64 plants per m2.

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.

Photoperiod / Light:Long day plant. Keep light levels high. The long day (14-16 h) supports the flower initiation while the short day supports the vegetative growth. 10 weeks of long day are required for flower initiation. At short day condition the plant form a leaf rosette with good basal branching. After development of the leaf rosette cultivate under long day condition for flowering. If cultivation is carried out exclusively under long day conditions, the plants will develop flowering stems immediately without branching and without leaf rosette. In winter and early spring additional assimilation light (at least 2000 lx) is required that will decrease the cultivation time. Night interruption is possible.

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.

Cut Flowers:Cut flower stems can be harvested, when 4-6 single flowers per spikes are open. Avoid to harvest stems having only buds, because these stems have not a long shelf-life. Remove the soft lateral shoots. Vase life: 12-15 days. Cold storage is no necessary. 6-8 weeks after cutting the following flowering is developed.

Cultural Hints:Keep short day until transplantation for a better plant quality. When the cultivation is carried out at long day condition exclusively, cut the main shoots after transplanting, because the lateral shoots can develop and the plant habit becomes more compact. Avoid absolute drought stress and keep constant water supply. The result of drought stress is that the stems bent and are not upright anymore.